Friday the 13th
Cool site... Much luck to you...
- Harry Manfredini
(Composer for Friday the 13th)
They were warned they were doomed... and on Friday the 13th nothing can save them...
The only real similarity is the holiday title. Halloween was subtle and suggestive with it's horror. Whereas Friday the 13th was more visceral and brutal.
Camp Crystal Lake is reopening after several years. Owner Steve Christy has hired several camp counselors to help get the camp ready for it's reopening. But someone doesn't want Camp Crystal Lake open again. They will stop at nothing to make sure it stays a memory and keeps the title Camp Blood!
The movie starts back in 1958 at Camp Crystal Lake with several Counselors singing 'Down In The Valley'. During the song two of them start making eyes at each other and go off to make love. Before they are able to get very far into it they are interrupted by someone and are killed. The style of killing is actually fairly tame and misleading compared to the rest of the kills in the film. Making you feel the style of killing isn't going to be special or different in this movie. I applaud the decision to do this. Because it makes what you see later that much more shocking.
The movie continues in present day (June 13th 1980) with the cook 'Annie' (Robbi Morgan) hitchhiking to Camp Crystal Lake. She is able to get a few people to give her rides. One of them lets her know the reason Crystal Lake is called Camp Blood.
Meanwhile, the other counselors start arriving at the the camp. There are some fairly memorable performances by the majority of them. Including great ones by Kevin Bacon in his first starring role as 'Jack Burrell' and Adrienne King as 'Alice Hardy'.
There are some great characters in this movie. 'Crazy Ralph' (Walt Gorney), 'Officer Dorf' (Ron Millkie) even 'Sandy the Diner Waitress' (Sally Anne Golden) were all perfect for their parts. I can't imagine anyone else playing any of these roles.
This movie has always had a cozy feeling to it for me. It draws you in from the beginning with the singing of the opening song. Making you feel nice and warm and just builds from there. The dread starts slowly, from the first counselors being murdered in 58 and starts getting eerie when the lightening and rain starts.
The film was a real trend setter in that it defined what the rules of a slasher movie should be. Don't do drugs, don't have premarital sex, don't say I'll be right back and never go anywhere alone. It was filmed in such a way that you had no idea who the killer was, right up until the end. Which was brilliant and rare. It had amazing special effects by Tom Savini which still stand up today. And one of the most classic soundtracks ever by Harry Manfredini. It also started a trend of making surprise endings popular. And this movie has one of the best. I highly recommend seeing this movie. Preferably on a dark and stormy night.
Reviewed by Kyle
Release Date: May 9th 1980
Writer: Victor Miller
Director: Sean Cunningham
Filming Locations: Blairstown, NJ & Hope, NJ
Camp NoBeBoSco in Hardwick Township, NJ
Total Lifetime Earnings: Domestic: $39,754,601
Rare Photos
Trailer created by Page