Friday the 13th Horror Classic Delivers Unexpected Surprises for First-Time Viewer
With March bringing the second Friday the 13th in as many months, it seemed the perfect opportunity to revisit the 1980 horror movie classic of the same name. As a first-time viewer, I anticipated the familiar tropes of the massive franchise it spawned, but the original film proved to be nothing like what I expected.
The Franchise's Surprising Origin Story
Even if you have never seen the film, you likely recognise elements from Friday the 13th and its extensive franchise. The story revolves around an isolated American summer camp where teenagers are murdered one by one in gruesome fashion, accompanied by an unsettling soundtrack. Of course, the terrifying hockey mask-wearing killer Jason Voorhees has become a horror icon.
However, the original 1980 movie holds a shocking revelation for those unfamiliar with its plot. Jason Voorhees is barely present in the film, appearing only for a few moments as a young boy. Instead, the killer is actually Jason's mother, a twist that subverts expectations for viewers expecting the franchise's central figure.
Additionally, the iconic hockey mask is completely absent from this inaugural instalment. This means the first Friday the 13th film lacks two of the most recognisable symbols associated with the series, despite setting the stage for a massive horror phenomenon.
Box Office Success and Franchise Legacy
The original film was a tremendous box office success, earning nearly $40 million (approximately £17.4 million at the time) against a modest budget estimated at around $550,000 (£240,000). This financial triumph spawned an extensive franchise including nine sequels, a remake, and even a crossover film featuring Jason Voorhees battling Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street.
The movie does feature the classic summer camp setting and the obligatory promiscuous camp counsellors as victims, including a young Kevin Bacon decades before his Britain's Got Talent advertising appearances. Yet considering the huge cultural impact of the franchise, it remains genuinely surprising how little of what we associate with the series actually appears in this original film.
Critical Reception and Enduring Legacy
Today, 46 years after its release, Friday the 13th is celebrated as a genre classic. On the movie review site Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 69 per cent critics' rating and a 60 per cent audience score. Reviewers praise it as "a must-watch for horror fans, a defining classic filled with genuine thrills and surprises."
One critic noted: "A classic slasher film. I can see why this movie made such an impact in its time. The filmmaking and plot are executed effectively, maintaining tension and suspense throughout its runtime." They added that while some plot points become repetitive toward the end, the movie succeeds in making characters' decisions feel believable rather than foolish, a feat many horror films fail to achieve.
Another reviewer commented: "What an epic film to start the 80s horror genre. Although the special effects are crude today, they were top of the line back then." A third praised it as "the flick that started the greatest slasher franchise of the 80's! Great premise, great mystery, and an unbelievable ending makes this a timeless horror classic!"
Availability and Viewing Options
Friday the 13th remains widely accessible for modern audiences. The film is available for purchase on multiple streaming platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, the Sky Store, and Google Play Movies. Physical media enthusiasts can also find it on DVD and Blu-ray formats, ensuring this horror classic continues to reach new generations of viewers.
The experience of watching Friday the 13th for the first time reveals a film that defies expectations, offering a different origin story than the franchise's later installments would suggest. Its enduring popularity and surprising narrative choices cement its status as a true horror classic worthy of rediscovery.
