"They were warned... They are doomed... And on Friday the 13th, nothing will save them."
It has spawned countless imitators and one of the longest running horror franchises of all-time, but there is no getting around the fact that Sean S. Cunningham’s influential Friday the 13th remains the least accomplished of the proto-slashers (Bob Clark's Black Christmas and John Carpenter's Halloween included). This is plain-Jane filmmaking, an obvious, workmanlike stab at entertainment first and foremost, lacking a distinct visual style and populated by stock characters and situations. It is also unpretentious, nostalgic fun, possessing a handful of genuine scares, still fantastic gore f/x, and a terrific score. In retrospect, iconic status and a killer ending can do quite a lot to cloud the memory, and though Cunningham’s film is a classic more through influence and reputation than through virtuosity, its place amongst the most beloved and perennial of horror films is more than guaranteed.
Film Rating: B-
Scare Factor: C+
View Date: 10/15
Shocktober Horror Film Count: #10
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