Friday the 13th
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Camp counselors are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer camp that was the site of a child's drowning.
What critics thought
DivisiveSavaged on release as a cynical Halloween knockoff with nothing to offer beyond gore, the film has gradually been reappraised as a genre touchstone — though even sympathetic retrospective critics tend to credit its camp value and Tom Savini's makeup work over any real craft or suspense. The gap between its initially toxic critical reputation and its enduring popular following is itself the most discussed thing about it.
“low budget in the worst sense—with no apparent talent or intelligence to offset its technical inadequacies—Friday the 13th has nothing to exploit but its title.”
Variety
“After building terrific suspense and turning over the audience's stomachs, he doesn't quite know where to go from there. The movie begins to sag in the middle and the expectations he has built up begin to sour a bit.”
Bill von Maurer·The Miami News
“The lowest point of the movie comes near the end, when it exploits the genuine grief and madness of the villain. By then, things simply aren't fun anymore.”
Mike Hughes·The Burlington Free Press
“This movie feels at least twice as long as its 90-minute running time and not always in a good way. There are far too many pointless pauses between the bloodletting. On the positive side, Tom Savini's make-up work is flawless, and Betsy Palmer's turn as big bad Pamela V. has to go down in history as one of the meanest 'mothers' in the entire horror genre. For those who think it's a classic–think again. Of a type? Absolutely. Of faultless movie macabre? No way.”
Bill Gibron·PopMatters
Genres
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Sean S. CunninghamDirector
Adrienne KingAlice
Betsy PalmerMrs. Voorhees
Kevin BaconJack
Jeannine TaylorMarcie
Harry CrosbyBill
Laurie BartramBrenda
Mark NelsonNed
Peter BrouwerSteve Christy
Robbi MorganAnnie
Rex EverhartTruck Driver
Ronn CarrollSergeant Tierney
Ron MillkieOfficer Dorf
Harry ManfrediniComposer
Victor MillerWriterFriday the 13th
Camp counselors are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer camp that was the site of a child's drowning.
What critics thought
DivisiveSavaged on release as a cynical Halloween knockoff with nothing to offer beyond gore, the film has gradually been reappraised as a genre touchstone — though even sympathetic retrospective critics tend to credit its camp value and Tom Savini's makeup work over any real craft or suspense. The gap between its initially toxic critical reputation and its enduring popular following is itself the most discussed thing about it.
“low budget in the worst sense—with no apparent talent or intelligence to offset its technical inadequacies—Friday the 13th has nothing to exploit but its title.”
Variety
“After building terrific suspense and turning over the audience's stomachs, he doesn't quite know where to go from there. The movie begins to sag in the middle and the expectations he has built up begin to sour a bit.”
Bill von Maurer·The Miami News
“The lowest point of the movie comes near the end, when it exploits the genuine grief and madness of the villain. By then, things simply aren't fun anymore.”
Mike Hughes·The Burlington Free Press
“This movie feels at least twice as long as its 90-minute running time and not always in a good way. There are far too many pointless pauses between the bloodletting. On the positive side, Tom Savini's make-up work is flawless, and Betsy Palmer's turn as big bad Pamela V. has to go down in history as one of the meanest 'mothers' in the entire horror genre. For those who think it's a classic–think again. Of a type? Absolutely. Of faultless movie macabre? No way.”
Bill Gibron·PopMatters
Genres
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Sean S. CunninghamDirectorAdrienne KingAliceBetsy PalmerMrs. VoorheesKevin BaconJackJeannine TaylorMarcieHarry CrosbyBillLaurie BartramBrendaMark NelsonNedPeter BrouwerSteve ChristyRobbi MorganAnnieRex EverhartTruck DriverRonn CarrollSergeant TierneyRon MillkieOfficer DorfHarry ManfrediniComposerVictor MillerWriterStream
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