Post by Lick Ness Monster on Sept 13, 2007 0:20:03 GMT -5
What the heck...I'll give it a shot.
FRIDAY THE 13TH
1980
Director: Sean S. Cunningham
Before the year 1980, almost every film had to have some recognizable feature going for it to be released - a big name actor, director, a big budget, or some such other extravagance. It shocks people that the original "Friday the 13th" was the first movie ever released on a massive, nationwide basis with none of those features, and that series producer Frank Mancusco literally banked his entire career on the fact that he believed this tiny, low-budget horror film would be a success.
Admittedly, there is much in the film that gives that sense of dread that the heads of Paramount in 1980 some creedence. First and foremost is the pulp nature of the plot - a mother who kills for her kid? The over-the-top gory murder scenes, of which nothing like it had ever been seen by a nationwide audience before? The attractive, nubile cast of unknown actors?
Of course, these ended up being virtual pop culture hallmarks - and, I believe, even more than John Carpenter's original "Halloween," horror films owe an undelible debt to this film. And what's even more astounding about this film is how well the sense of tension and dread holds up even today.
It is my belief that this movie, the first of an eleven-film series (if you count F vs J, which I do), is so effective because Cunningham does such a good job painting the victims. Unlike several entries later in the series, these were three-dimensional people. Take, for example, my favorite scene in the movie - maybe the series. It's not a murder scene. It's not one of the trademark terminator Jason 'kills' that riddle the later films. Instead, it is a dark, forboding scene just before the night of slaughter that this film marks as its (admittedly) money sequences, as Marcie, the girlfriend of Kevin Bacon's character, divulges in her childhood nightmares of rain that turns to blood as a storm brews up before the night falls. Absolutely sets the mood for the rest of the film the way few horror movies can, and, even better, it actually makes you EMPATHIZE with the teenage characters involved.
All of the movie's characters have similar scenes - Alice (Adrienne King) is an outstanding character, as well as the requisite prankster character who would be a staple of every slasher film for the remainder of the next twenty years (noticing a trend with this movie?) And the murder sequences are thrilling and repulsing at the same time, even moreso when you take into account that nothing like this had ever been seen by audiences before.
"Friday the 13th" is one of the most influential movies ever made - in any genre, not just in the realm of horror. As far as horror flicks go, I can't recommend it enough.
**** (out of four)
We'll see how far I get with these. My brother passed away recently, and this (my little nerdy horror movie obsession) kind of helps me forget a little bit. I'd like to do reviews for this series, ANOES, Hellraiser, Puppet Master, Child's Play, and maybe the Jaws series. We'll see if I ever get that far. ;D
FRIDAY THE 13TH
1980
Director: Sean S. Cunningham
Before the year 1980, almost every film had to have some recognizable feature going for it to be released - a big name actor, director, a big budget, or some such other extravagance. It shocks people that the original "Friday the 13th" was the first movie ever released on a massive, nationwide basis with none of those features, and that series producer Frank Mancusco literally banked his entire career on the fact that he believed this tiny, low-budget horror film would be a success.
Admittedly, there is much in the film that gives that sense of dread that the heads of Paramount in 1980 some creedence. First and foremost is the pulp nature of the plot - a mother who kills for her kid? The over-the-top gory murder scenes, of which nothing like it had ever been seen by a nationwide audience before? The attractive, nubile cast of unknown actors?
Of course, these ended up being virtual pop culture hallmarks - and, I believe, even more than John Carpenter's original "Halloween," horror films owe an undelible debt to this film. And what's even more astounding about this film is how well the sense of tension and dread holds up even today.
It is my belief that this movie, the first of an eleven-film series (if you count F vs J, which I do), is so effective because Cunningham does such a good job painting the victims. Unlike several entries later in the series, these were three-dimensional people. Take, for example, my favorite scene in the movie - maybe the series. It's not a murder scene. It's not one of the trademark terminator Jason 'kills' that riddle the later films. Instead, it is a dark, forboding scene just before the night of slaughter that this film marks as its (admittedly) money sequences, as Marcie, the girlfriend of Kevin Bacon's character, divulges in her childhood nightmares of rain that turns to blood as a storm brews up before the night falls. Absolutely sets the mood for the rest of the film the way few horror movies can, and, even better, it actually makes you EMPATHIZE with the teenage characters involved.
All of the movie's characters have similar scenes - Alice (Adrienne King) is an outstanding character, as well as the requisite prankster character who would be a staple of every slasher film for the remainder of the next twenty years (noticing a trend with this movie?) And the murder sequences are thrilling and repulsing at the same time, even moreso when you take into account that nothing like this had ever been seen by audiences before.
"Friday the 13th" is one of the most influential movies ever made - in any genre, not just in the realm of horror. As far as horror flicks go, I can't recommend it enough.
**** (out of four)
We'll see how far I get with these. My brother passed away recently, and this (my little nerdy horror movie obsession) kind of helps me forget a little bit. I'd like to do reviews for this series, ANOES, Hellraiser, Puppet Master, Child's Play, and maybe the Jaws series. We'll see if I ever get that far. ;D
