Who the Hell is Jason Voorhees

Friday The 13th Retrospective

ThE Bloody Legacy

Originally devised to simply cash in on the wave of slasher following the success of John Carpenter‘s seminal slasher Halloween, Sean S. Cunningham Friday the 13th grew into a phenomenal franchise that allowed Jason Voorhees, The Camp Crystal Lake Killer, to emerge as a horror icon in his own right.

Doing to summer camp what Jaws did to beaches, Friday the 13th would have been the main reason you balked at the idea of going. And whilst this glorious slathers series launched the hockey mask wearing Jason , it’s worth remembering that he was not the only killer, nor was the series confined to just the cinema. The Friday the 13th franchise was much more than one man or medium, it slugged out 12 films, six novels, two books, five video games and Jason even appeared in the popular fighting game Mortal Kombat.

The Films

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

13 Films

Series Overview

Friday the 13th is a horror franchise that comprises twelve slasher films. The franchise mainly focuses on the fictional character Jason Voorhees, who drowned as a boy at Camp Crystal Lake due to the negligence of the camp staff. Decades later, the lake is rumored to be “cursed” and is the setting for a series of mass murders.

Friday the 13th (1980)

Friday the 13th is a benchmark in horror and although it’s dated quite a lot since it first hit cinemas in 1980, it’s legacy speaks for itself. This glorious slasher film introduced us to one of the most iconic and brutal killers of the big screen, even if Jason Voorhees had a brief appearance.

“When Camp Crystal Lake re-opens , the young and nubile counselors all begin to die extremely bloody deaths at the hands of an unseen killer.”

SCORE

Despite being a generic slasher, it’s final reveal hightens the film, raising it into the levels of brilliance.

62% Fresh

Body Count

Lots of stabbings and slashing, but there are also some highlights such as an axe to the face and a decapitation.

10 Deaths

NUDITY

Apart from a blink and you’ll miss it boob shot and Kevin Bacon’s bum, there’s not much flesh on show here!

Low

Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

Whilst Friday the 13th started the series off, Friday the 13th Part 2 set the whole franchise on it’s rails, introducing us to Jason Voorhees as the main protagonist.

“Five years have passed and The Camp Crystal Lake brings nine visitors who are oblivion to the danger that awaits them.”

SCORE

Filled with violence, gore and sex with a liberal sprinkling of drinking/drugs, part 2 pushes boundaries.

28% Rotten

Body Count

It’s surprising just how many generic throat cuts feature in part 2, missing Tom Savini expertise.

10 Deaths

NUDITY

There’s plenty of flesh on show, with some Full-frontal skinny-dipping that’s for sure a film highlight!

Low

Friday the 13th Part III (1982)

Friday the 13th Part III (also known as Friday the 13th Part 3: 3D) launched into cinemas on the back end of the rapidly declining trend of 3D films. The film marks the debut of Jason Voorhees wearing his signature hockey mask, which has become a trademark of both the character and the entire Friday the 13th franchise.

“Having revived from his wounds, Jason Voorhees takes refuge at a cabin near Crystal Lake. As a group of co-eds arrive for their vacation, Jason continues his killing spree.”

SCORE

There’s more violence and more creative kills but maybe a touch of repetitiveness as we wash rinse and repeat.

12% Rotten

Body Count

More genric Jason kills with plenty of throat slashes, afew stabbings and an axe to the face. Nothing new really.

12 Deaths

NUDITY

Nudity takes a nose dive in Part 3 as we only get a brief shower scene that teases but fails to deliver.

Low

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

The Final Chapter is the fourth installment in the Friday the 13th film series, and as tenuous at the tile is, it certainly was not the final chapter in this franchise. Jason returns once again, picking up immediately after the events of Part III, the story follows a presumed-dead Jason Voorhees who revives and escapes as he is brought to the morgue. With the pull of Crystal Lake and a bunch of new teens to slay, The Final Chapter dials the nudity up to 11, doubles down on the gore and ups the body count.

“After being mortally wounded and taken to the morgue, murderer Jason Voorhees spontaneously revives and embarks on a killing spree as he makes his way back to his home at Camp Crystal Lake.”

SCORE

A brutal but entertaining installment that pushes boundaries and even manages a few laughs.

20% Rotten

Body Count

More brutal and gory than its previous films, The Final Chapter is lavished in visceral.

13 Deaths

NUDITY

With sexy twins, tons of skinny-dipping and a little showing romping , part 4 ups its games in the sexiness scale.

Very High

Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)

Friday the 13th: A New Beginning is as much the continued story of survivor Tommy Jarvis, as it is about Jason Voorhees, further extending the legacy of the series. The film features a hug increase in nudity and violence, and the body count shoots through the roof.

“Still haunted by his past, Tommy Jarvis – who, as a child, killed Jason Voorhees – wonders if the serial killer is connected to a series of brutal murders occurring in and around the secluded halfway house where he now lives.”

SCORE

Not a fan favorite chapter, but there’s plenty of good stuff here for any horror fan.

16% Rotten

Body Count

So much gore it’ll make your eyes pop out. Plenty of creative kills and even a touch of fire eating!

21 Deaths (18 Real)

NUDITY

One of the spiciest entry in the series, the film is wall to wall sex and nudity, with a sprinkling of homicide.

High

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)

Following on from a bunch of bad sequels, the sixth entry into the Friday the 13th film blew the cobwebs away and brought back Jason with a renewed sense of vigor. Embracing Jason’s size and strength, Friday the 13th Part VI drew away from the throat slashing days that had come before and swapped them out from hearts being ripped out of chests, head crushes and dismemberments.

“Tommy Jarvis goes to the graveyard to get rid of Jason Voorhees’ body once and for all, but inadvertently brings him back to life instead. The newly revived killer once again seeks revenge, and Tommy may be the only one who can defeat him.”

SCORE

Jason at his all time villainous in the campiest and most fun chapter of the Friday the 13th franchise.

52% Rotten

Body Count

Let the limbs fly in the 6th chapter, as Jason hacks and rips people apart in this grisly film.

18 Deaths

NUDITY

Wait…what? No Nudity? That’s almost unforgavibek in a Friday the 13th film. Almost…

None

Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)

Jason Voorhees once again returns from the dead, brought back by the uncontrolled telekinetic powers of a young girl. Jason rises from his water grave to once again wreck havoc at Camp Crystal Lake. Sadly, the film seems have taken a back step from it’s previous entry with lack lustre effects and predictable kills.

“Years after Tommy Jarvis chained him underwater at Camp Crystal Lake, the dormant Jason Voorhees is accidentally released from his prison by a telekinetic teenager. Now, only she can stop him.”

SCORE

A more supernatural turn for the series in a much more campier film that hints towards Jason’s sillier future.

32% Rotten

Body Count

If there is one thing the Friday the 13th films gave us, it here in chapter 7. The infamous sleeping bag kill!

16 Deaths

NUDITY

A little TnA here and there makes up for a lack of gore, plot and creativity. It’s the films only saving grace.

Medium

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

Taking the action out of Camp Crystal Lake and setting Jason Voorhees upon the unsuspecting residence of Manhattan, the 8th part of the Friday the 13th series desperately tries to re-invent itself in one of the worst received sequels of the franchise. Whilst Jason does eventually make it to Manhattan , the majority of the film sees him hunting teens on a boat, which opens up so many plot holes, it’s surprising the boat didn’t sink earlier. Despite its failings as a movie, Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan does include some of the most creative kills in the series, with electric guitars, harpoons and syringes all becoming deadly weapons at the hands of Jason. Did we forget to mention Jason punches a guys head off?

“A boatful of graduating high school students headed to Manhattan accidentally pull Jason Voorhees along for the ride.”

SCORE

By trying to do somethign different, part 8 manages to distance itself too far from what fans want.

8% Rotten

Body Count

Jason ditches his usualy weapons for some cretaive tools such as gitars, pipes and a syringe.

19 Deaths

NUDITY

Very little to see here as we only get a brief moment of nudity at the start. AParantly, boats are not sexy!

Low

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday sees our titular villain take on his last remaining descendant, who is determined to put him down once and for all. This awesome addition to the series sees all the toys thrown into the ring, with a high body count, lots of nudity and plenty of bloody special effects.

“Jason Voorhees, the undying serial killer is back at Crystal Lake. Jessica, the last remaining descendant of the Voorhees family is the only person who can kill Jason before he becomes immortal.”

SCORE

As a supernatural thriller, it’s great, but as a Friday the 13th film, it really misses the boat. Plenty of gore though!

24% Rotten

Body Count

There’s so much great stuff here, including squeezed heads and folks melting in a deep fat fryer.

24 Deaths

NUDITY

Plenty to see here as the film goes all out for it’s “final” show!

HIGH

Jason X (2001)

With Camp Crystal Lake a well trod backdrop for Jason Voorhees and the Friday the 13th series, the tenth film departed dramatically from the franchise and shot Jason off into space. This new play ground for the masked menace turned the horror film into a sci-fi extravaganza, filled with ships, holograms and androids, all ripe for Jason to destroy.

“Jason Voorhees returns with a new look, a new machete, and his same murderous attitude as he is awakened on a spaceship in the 25th century.”