Horror movies are of course popular, and always have been, especially during and since the 1980s. This decade saw some exceptional films grace cinemas, such as The Thing (1982) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), and of course, Friday the 13th, originally from 1980.
Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th (2009) / Picture Credit: Paramount Pictures Studios
The horror continues, as every year sees more and more horrors release, for example Halloween Kills, which will see cinemas in October this year (2021).
With the real Friday the 13th occurring in just a couple of days from today (Tuesday 10th August, 2021), what better film to take a look back on than this one?
Friday the 13th from 2009 provided a continuation of Jason Voorhees’ (Derek Mears) story while administering a fresh look for both the franchise, and the beloved slasher genre.
The movie follows a group of college students who decide to go camping near Camp Crystal Lake, a place well-known for hosting the murderous rampage of a mother whose son was killed by teasing campers...
However, the group don’t make it through the night as Jason is already stalking the grounds, and leaves no one alive, bar a young woman named Whitney Miller (Amanda Righetti).
Some months later, another group of young adults stay not too far from Camp Crystal, at a cabin belonging to one of the members. They too will become the subject of Jason’s anger, as his towering presence slowly but surely bludgeons every single member of the group...
Friday the 13th (2009) may not be a fan favourite, or even the best slasher out there, but there is something unique and note-worthy about this movie.
Of course, what Friday the 13th feature would be complete without the classic eerie music? To create great tension and atmosphere, a horror film (a slasher in particular) must utilise simplicity to get the maximum effect of terror; and this movie does that perfectly.
The use of the classic whispering-sounding noises tells viewers that Jason, a bringer of death and terror is close; almost like when playing a video game and the music pipes up to let you know an enemy is near.
This sound is extremely significant, as it not only links the movie to others within the franchise, but it builds the feeling that Jason is not far away, as it sounds almost like he is breathing right next to you, whispering in your ear.
Silence is one of horror’s biggest allies when done right, and while Jason’s theme tune is obviously not silence, it still appears to slow down time and grant Jason power to bring even more horror to audience members as his giant yet completely quiet demeanour cuts through those around him, quite literally.
This movie does follow classic tropes, like seeing naked women and showing sex scenes; it’s simply a known fact that sex sells when it comes to horror. Not every time, but most of the time.
This could be due to the excitement characters feel when they get intimate with someone, and we, the audience, know that they will not live for long as the darkness outside is host to Jason; shrouded in his hockey mask and wielding his machete. We all know what is to come, it’s simply a matter of when.
Friday the 13th also brings in a new idea for Jason. In previous films, he has left no one alive; he kills anyone he sees, but not this time. In the first part of the movie when the first group of friends are killed, we see Jason target Whitney last.
Now, she is trapped in his underground lair, screaming for help under Camp Crystal. Her brother Clay (Jared Padalecki) has been searching for months with no avail.
While it is essentially unheard of for Jason to keep a victim alive, it seems that keeping Whitney alive signifies that he perhaps still has feelings and a sense of sentiment, as she reminds him of someone he used to know…
Despite this revival of slasher icon Jason Voorhees not doing tremendously with fans, it is still a testament to what simplicity and utilising tropes that are proven to work can do for a movie such as this one.
The use of the theme tune in perfect places, Jason’s domineering stature, his methods of killing, the dark being used to hide the killer himself, and the gruesome murders really play well with one another to create a chilling and eerie atmosphere in which Jason resides.
Friday the 13th (2009) may not be a horror fan’s go-to when it comes to slasher films, but this movie really does have something special about it, and shouldn’t be left in the dust under other features and franchises.
Check out the trailer for Friday the 13th below!
Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal
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