They were warned...They are doomed...And on Friday the 13th, nothing will save them.
Camp counselors are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer camp that was the site of a child's drowning.
- Harm to children
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Character
Classical in form, unpretentious, plot-driven and grave.
- classical in formformally daring
- unpretentiousprestige
- character-ledplot-driven
- gravecomic
- effortlessdemanding
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“Is it actually scary?”
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“Would a little humor have helped?”
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“Does Betsy Palmer steal Friday the 13th from Adrienne King?”
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- Wuchakon TMDB · Jul 20198/10
***The beginning of the most successful slasher franchise*** Released in May, 1980, "Friday the 13th" was produced in the wake of the success of 1978's "Halloween" and also shares elements of "Carrie" (1976) and "A Bay of Blood" (1971). The story revolves around a cursed summer vacation spot, Camp Crystal Lake, New Jersey, and the slayings of young camp counselors. Critics slammed the film and I'm not sure why since it's in the same league as the acclaimed "Carrie" and "Halloween." Regardless, it was hugely popular at the box office, making far more than any of the sequels until "Freddy vs. Jason" in 2003. As of this writing there are 12 movies in the franchise and another in the works, making it the most successful slasher series and one of the most successful franchises of any genre. I'm not a gorehound at all and only occasionally watch slasher flicks, but I'm a huge fan of the "Friday the 13th" franchise. Why? It has nothing to do with nostalgia since I didn't become a fan until I was well into adulthood when I saw 1985's "Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning" on TV one night. I think I like these movies because they typically involve young adults in a fun camp-type environm
Read the whole review on TMDB - tmdb17996075on TMDB · Feb 20178/10
Clearly, the team behind “Friday the 13th” expected at least to make a reasonable profit out of it, but I seriously doubt that anyone involved in the making of this film even considered the possibility of it becoming the cult classic that it is today. Victor Miller, who wrote the story, openly admitted that he was riding off the success of Halloween (1978). The late actress Betsy Palmer even claimed that, after reading the script, she thought the story was trash (well… she actually used another word), but she took the job because she needed a new car. Little did she know when she took the role that her character would immortalize her as one of the biggest horror icons of all times. Yes, it is evident that Victor Miller and Don Mancini capitalized on the success of Halloween (1978), but the truth is that “Friday the 13th” manages to stand out on its own, and in the end, other than being two slasher films about a killer who prowls around murdering teenagers; these two films don’t really have that much in common. To this day, John Carpenter’s “Halloween” is considered a more “serious” horror film (for the lack of a better word), while “Friday the 13th” remains a classic, but is still
Read the whole review on TMDB - Gimlyon TMDB · Sep 20187/10
Certainly not the first slasher movie, but arguably the most influential. This original film stands alongside _Part V: A New Beginning_ as the only two movies in a 12 film long franchise where they play the killer as a mystery, I think that premise would wear thin had they tried it every go around, but here it is executed, if not masterfully, at least to the film's benefit. _Friday the 13th_ is a movie I'll watch at least once a year, ever since I first saw it in the early 2000s. Maybe it's not the best movie ever, or even the best slasher movie ever, Hell, maybe it's not even the best Friday the 13th movie ever, but the fact that I'm not sick of it yet has to count for something. _Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._
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Cast
- Adrienne KingAlice
- Betsy PalmerMrs. Voorhees
- Kevin BaconJack
- Jeannine TaylorMarcie
- Harry CrosbyBill
- Laurie BartramBrenda
- Mark NelsonNed
- Peter BrouwerSteve Christy
- Robbi MorganAnnie
- Rex EverhartTruck Driver
Crew
- Sean S. CunninghamDirector
- Victor MillerWriter
- Barry AbramsDirector of Photography
- Harry ManfrediniOriginal Music Composer
- Bill FredaEditor
- Sean S. CunninghamProducer
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
Friday the 13th Part 2 198189% alikeBoth unpretentious, classical in form, plot-driven.
Both unpretentious, classical in form, plot-driven.
Both classical in form, unpretentious, grave.
Return of the Fly 195982% alikeBoth classical in form, unpretentious, grave.
Four of the Apocalypse 197580% alikeBoth unpretentious, classical in form, grave.
Horror Express 197280% alikeBoth classical in form, unpretentious, plot-driven.
Alone in the Dark 198280% alikeBoth classical in form, unpretentious, plot-driven.
Lady in White 198879% alikeBoth classical in form, unpretentious, grave.
CR Ring: Unmei no Hi77% alikeGame · Both unpretentious, classical in form, plot-driven.
Pachislot Ring: Shuen no Koku76% alikeGame · Both unpretentious, classical in form, plot-driven.
Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Tastebuds
