A Visual History Of Jason Voorhees In “Friday The 13th” Franchise

As Halloween creeps in, there’s no better time to revisit the classic horror films of the past. When it comes to horror, Jason Voorhees is a name that everyone is familiar with. He’s been terrorizing audiences for decades and continues to be one of the scariest killers in the horror genre today. He was once described as an unstoppable force of nature that didn’t require any motivation or reason to kill. His trademark hockey mask and machete allowed him to blend in with his surroundings, making it nearly impossible to defeat him.

While the film series is set in a fictional location of Crystal Lake, Illinois, between 1981 and 1984 and based on the campy 1980 slasher horror film Friday the 13th; it also discusses the real-life attack at Camp Crystal Lake(Blog) during which four teenagers drowned after being held captive and killed by a mentally disturbed Vietnam War veteran.

From his childhood to today, this guide will provide an in-depth look at not only who he is but also the history of Jason Voorhees before he became one of the most popular slasher film icons of all time.

Jason Voorhees Is Officially A Horror Icon.

Jason Voorhees is officially a horror icon. But who, you ask? Well, let me tell you all about him! He’s had several different forms of media. Let’s focus on his first appearance in the Friday the 13th movies. The 1980s introduced audiences to Jason Voorhees, the original brute of low-budget slasher cinema, who quickly became a beloved icon and part of the cultural fabric of horror. As Jason, he kills everyone (even his own mother) but is still considered to be a sympathetic character because, well, it’s all just a dream and stuff like that.

The Best Horror Movie Villain.

We live in a time where horror icons reign supreme. The slasher movie has been reinvented over and over again, but there’s one icon that stands out above the rest. Jason Voorhees is the poster boy of horror movies and he earned the title of “icon” after appearing in at least six different movies — including Friday The 13th Part 2. No matter what era you watch his film history, Jason is always evil, menacing and unstoppable.

Perhaps it was his legacy as a sex criminal and murderer, or the fact that he was somehow still hot despite facing off against people half his age, but nearly 30 years after the release of Friday The 13th Part 2, Jason Voorhees continues to haunt both young and old fans alike.

Jason Voorhees And “Friday The 13th” Franchise.

There are a lot of characters in the Friday The 13th franchise, but nobody can match the level of dread that Jason Voorhees possesses. The idea of someone who can come back after dying thrice really gets you thinking. Jason Voorhees is the main protagonist in the 1980s and 1990s Friday The 13th franchise. He’s a relentless killer who won’t even stop until he’s achieved his purpose.

An Overall Review Of The Whole “Friday The 13th” Franchise.

The basic premise of these films is straightforward but horrifying: a group of dumb teenagers are methodically slaughtered over the course of a stormy night while alone at a remote campground. It’s the perfect setting to fully embrace what once made horror movies so unique; the extremely over-the-top kills, sex appeal, and the overwhelming sense of mystery surrounding who makes it to the end and how.

The appeal of the original series lies in its simplicity. There is no magic, no space monsters and no dream-killers; instead, there is a person with a weapon, knit sweater and/or hockey mask, and a bunch of incompetent teens. However, as the series continued it’s 10-film chronological run (with two spin-offs), all of these factors eventually came into play. All of them.

Facts You Didn’t Know About “Friday The 13th” Horror Franchise.

While most people will be familiar with Friday The 13th, there are some key facts that most people don’t know. Here are some of them:

1. Camp Crystal Lake Is Real.

Despite serving as the setting for the original film, Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Hardwick, New Jersey, is still in operation today. It’s a Boy Scout camp with exciting amenities like an archery range, luxurious cabins, and sly shadows skulking around with butcher knives. For what it’s worth, the Boy Scouts are humorous about the camp’s past and there is memorabilia from movies in the area.

2. Lou Reed Gave the Original Film Crew A Free Concert.

A property owned by the musician was not far from the camp. Reed performed there “for free, right in front of us,” according to Richard Murphy, the sound engineer for the first film. “Reed came by the set and we hung out with each other and he was just a very wonderful guy,” Murphy recalled. That’s not too hard to believe.

3. Jason’s Original Name Wasn’t Jason.

It’s challenging to separate Jason’s name from the Friday the 13th franchise. However, Victor Miller’s initial suggestion for the character’s name was somewhat uninspired. That is, we almost witnessed JOSH Voorhees kill all those drugging and sexing teenagers. That would have been a grave mistake. With that name, one may assume the murderer does his dirty deed by bludgeoning or drowning victims with kegs or beer bongs.

4. The Famously Creepy Soundtrack Has Lyrics.

Everyone who has seen these movies is familiar with the eerie, breathy voice on the soundtrack whispering, “ki-ki-ki…ma-ma-ma.” Actually, those aren’t just nonsense syllables; the voice is allegedly Jason as a child, stuttering “Kill, kill, kill…Ma, Ma, Ma.” In case you remember that Mrs. Voorhees was the villain in the first movie, think of it as the voice in her ear telling her to kill.

5. Famous Film Critic Gene Siskel Doxxed Mrs. Voorhees.

Siskel & Ebert really, really hated the original movie. Gene Siskel hated it so much that when he reviewed it for the Chicago Tribune, he dropped a huge spoiler with no warning, then gave the address of actress Betsy Palmer who played Jason Voorhees’ mother. He wrote that Palmer lived “in the little town of Rowayton, Conn. I’m sure a letter sent to General Delivery there will get to her.”

Best Friday The 13th Movies: A Retrospective.

A classic horror series, Friday the 13th has become a successful franchise. Over the years there have been several films in the series. Many of which are well known among horror movie fans and general audiences alike. For example: Friday the 13th 1980, A New Beginning, Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday, and Jason X to name a few have gained their fair share of fans due to their various levels of quality and entertainment value. Due to this success, there have been quite a few horror movies based on Friday the 13th that have been made throughout time. Some work better than others but all have something to offer for fans of the series. Here is my account of the best Friday the 13th movies.

According to Rotten Tomatoes (the world’s most trusted source for recommendations on quality entertainment), Friday the 13^th (1980) got the highest scores throughout the series. Despite its quaintness by today’s standards, this movie “still has its share of bloody surprises and a ‘70s-holdover aesthetic to slightly compel.” About the film info, Crystal Lake has a history of murder, but counselors at a summer camp in the woodsy area are undeterred. Superstitious locals warn against it, but the fresh-faced young people—Jack (Kevin Bacon), Alice (Adrienne King), Bill (Harry Crosby), Marcie (Jeannine Taylor) and Ned (Mark Nelson)—pay little heed to the old-timers. Then they find themselves stalked by a brutal killer. As they’re slashed, shot, and stabbed, the counselors struggle to stay alive against an opponent who seems invincible.

Crystal Lake: The Evolution of Jason Voorhees.

Jason Voorhees, the eponymous character from 1980’s horror film Friday the 13th, is known for his iconic hockey mask and gruesome killing methods. However, evolutionary biologists believe that Jason’s evolution may have played a role in his longevity as a horror icon. Unlike other lethal legends, Jason didn’t arrive fully formed. In that respect, he stands apart from the slasher pack.

Take Freddy Krueger, for example. The killer from the Nightmare on Elm Street series has never changed: He’s been the blade-fingered bogeyman in fedora and sweater since the beginning. In many ways, that’s the goal whenever filmmakers design a killer, as well as best not alter appearances since they’re often the face of a franchise.

Michael Myers has undergone few changes throughout his many iterations. Victor Crowley, who originally appeared on Halloween, owns a single incarnation. Pinhead, Leatherface and Candyman are among the most famous of all slashers; each has never evolved into anything else. However, Jason Voorhees—a character introduced in the original Friday the 13th movie—has grown from a simple murderer with one look to a more complex character whose appearances have evolved over time.

In the initial installment of Friday the 13th (1980), Jason barely even appears in the film. Although the deformities exhibited in Jason’s segment have stuck with him over time, evolution is a gradual process. The pitiably grotesque child almost necessitates the bag worn by the fully grown Jason who arrives in Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981). Masked killers are nothing new. Michael Myers, who predates the Friday franchise, certainly set the standard.

It should be noted that producers of the original movie did not initially intend for Jason to become the main antagonist. In many ways, he has slashed his way into the hearts of horror fans. The original idea for sequels to Friday the 13th revolved around spiritual successors. Part 2 was even originally conceived as an anthology series. According to Peter Bracke’s Crystal Lake Memories, producer Phil Scuderi proposed letting Jason return in a sequel; however, this partly explains why the character evolves the way he does. He was never conceived as a central element of the Friday the 13th franchise; rather, he came into it at some point during production. As such, his character design changed over time and evolved into one that is more defined by later films made about him rather than earlier ones.

A lot is owed more to chance than intention. During test shots, effects supervisor Martin Sadoff gave director Steve Miner a hockey mask to use on Jason. The look appealed to Miner so much that it’s fortunate that—aside from his regular hockey mask—the script called for no specific mask. The film’s mask struck a chord with the audience, and it remains the best-known icon of the series. The mask’s blank appearance is what gives it the haunting power it possesses. In addition, Jason Voorhees benefits from this chaotic development. Though he retains a certain aspect many slashers personify—an unstoppable force of nature—his appearance is cobbled together as the films progress, making him less elemental. Jason Voorhees doesn’t start out as an icon. He becomes the entity audiences recognize as the terror of Camp Blood.

In each installment of the series, Jason becomes more powerful and more dangerous. He begins as a simple axe murderer but grows into an unstoppable juggernaut who can return from the grave. That means audiences get something new with each installment: How does he return? And in what form does he appear? It could even be argued that he comes back less human in each sequel.

The evolution of Jason Voorhees from a woodsman to a killer, as well as his transformation from loner to monster, has led to numerous conversations. Not everyone is going to wax philosophic about slasher flicks or speculate on the psychology of slashers. However, there are always a few folks, spurred by curiosity, who like to debate a character’s choices. Did Baghead Jason choose to wear a mask, or did his mother make him? Does he prefer to hide his deformities because he’s self-conscious? What does that say about his motivations as a killer? Is he monstrous or tragic?

Jason almost seems like a slasher assembled out of necessity. Rather than cut from whole cloth, his haphazard evolution is a crazy quilt of various elements. Watching the Friday the 13th franchise is like observing a tornado swirling to life then acquiring a terrible visage as it tears across the landscape. The way Jason comes together, seemingly at random, gives off the sense anything can become special.

Crystal Lake Memories: Friday The 13th.

With the oldest and most legendary slasher movie franchise, Friday The 13th’s going strong. In fact, it just keeps getting better and better. Crystal Lake Memories is the most comprehensive behind-the-scenes documentary ever made about the Friday the 13th franchise. It contains interviews with producers, actors, and director Sean S. Cunningham; producer Frank Mancuso, Jr.; actor Corey Feldman; and Kane Hodder, who plays Jason Voorhees in all the movies. Crystal Lake Memories is an engaging film for fans of horror movies and production professionals alike because it explores how a series of low-budget films became a hit with audiences over time.

The Best Horror Movie of All Time: Crystal Lake Memories.

Crystal Lake Memories is filled top to bottom with celebrities who had fleeting roles in the Friday the 13th series—Alice Cooper, for example. The godfather of shock rock pops in to discuss his contribution to the sixth film’s soundtrack. Wes Craven also briefly appears to discuss his thoughts on Freddy vs. Jason and what involvement (or lack thereof) he had with the film.

As a bonus, Crystal Lake Memories included an additional chapter dedicated to the TV show Friday the 13th: The Series. Debuting between Friday the 13th Part VI and Friday the 13th Part VII, the televised incarnation deviated from the films in almost every facet. Gone were Jason and Pamela Voorhees; instead, a small group inherited an antique store with cursed objects. Yes, it was a name-only cash grab, but those interviewed about the show had fond memories and were proud to be associated with it even if there was nary a hockey mask seen across all three seasons.

What can be said about this Herculean documentary that hasn’t already been said? Well, there’s no such thing as perfection. There are always elements that could be tweaked and added to cater to the most die-hard fan. Notably absent are Kevin Bacon, Terry Kiser, and Jared Padalecki—to name a few. In the overall scope of a franchise that spans over 30 years, having a handful of cast and crew members do not appear is a drop in the bucket.

As we wrap up our look at Crystal Lake Memories, I would like to touch upon one final aspect of why I love documentaries like this. For film buffs looking to get into the industry or have a fascination with the process of film production, Crystal Lake Memories is outstanding. It documents history and is also a great example of how documentaries can tell compelling stories in a modern format.

Crystal Lake Memories, a documentary about the Friday the 13th franchise and its various films, serves as a history book for fans of the horror series. The film takes us inside the making of those films, with interviews with those who worked on them in the 1980s and 1990s. We learn about everything from how Jason became a killer to why he wears his hockey mask in certain scenes.