Friday the 13th: Jason Voorhees, a Horror Icon

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He drowned as a child, neglected by camp counselors. It was a terrible loss, and the start to a horrific series of killings. People have tried to escape. It was only a matter of time though, they were either curious and died early or hid and it was only a little longer before they were slain. I believe the main character in Friday the 13th, Jason Voorhees, is insane because for one, he was born mentally disabled, but also because of his mother’s actions. Also I believe this horror icon has endured as a popular Halloween outfit, and because the producers just won’t let the series go, finally they have improved the quality of the films over the years.

This movie, Friday the 13th, had me wondering and kept me guessing the whole time. It opened with Jason Voorhees drowning in Crystal Lake, while the camp counselors were paying no attention. Jason’s mother was devastated and furious at the leaders of the camp. She blamed them for murdering her son and killed them in vengeance. She also convinced Jason to seek vengeance on everyone who did drugs or had premarital sex; these were the types of activities that distracted the counselors. Years later, a group of teenagers sign up to help rebuild and work at the same camp. They needed a summer job, but this is not what they planned on. Jason’s mother finds out they are going to open the camp again, unexpectedly she strikes. She is under no circumstances going to let anyone reopen this camp. Mrs. Voorhees kills all of them except one girl, who managed to escape multiple situations. The girl had to result in beheading the psychopath with a machete.

My overall end thought after watching this movie was that movie production really has improved since 1980. Improvements other than ju...

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...ost slasher films, she is the sole survivor usually the one who resists peer pressure and it pays off. This type of film usually ends with the “final girl” killing the tormentor and ending his killing spree, unless it’s Jason who will continually come back from the grave. The violence in slasher movies is on a whole different level than thrillers, it is meant to be more gore and graphic. These are all significant characteristics of slasher films, of which Friday the 13th is categorized.

Friday the 13th has endured in our culture for decades. Jason is brought up each year at Halloween, movies are still being produced adding to the series, and it started a new era in the movie business. What we don’t speak about is him being brought up in that same small town of Crystal Lake. The people have not forgotten him. Will they ever do something about him is the question.

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