Friday the 13th

Director: Sean S. Cunningham Sean S. Cunningham

Overview

After years of inactivity, Camp Crystal Lake opens for the summer season. It has been shut down lo these many years because of a gruesome, unsolved murder on the premises. The current Camp Crystal Lake clientele consists almost exclusively of promiscuous teenagers, who seal their own death warrants by making love in the outdoors, frolicking in the nude, wandering off alone, etc. Friday the 13th was seen by so many people that a synopsis is almost superfluous. Suffice to say, this is the film that shattered actress Betsy Palmer's peaches-and-cream image for good and all. Incidentally, Palmer was cast in the film primarily because she was willing to drive her own car to location! Friday the 13th was, of course, followed by innumerable sequels, released on an annual basis.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/01/2017
UPC:	0032429268174
Original Release:	1980
Rating:	NR
Source:	PARAMOUNT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:35:00
Sales rank:	60,631

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Betsy Palmer	Pamela Voorhees
Adrienne King	Alice Hardy
Harry Crosby	Bill
Laurie Bartram	Brenda
Kevin Bacon	Jack
Mark Nelson	Ned
Jeannine Taylor	Marcie
Robbi Morgan	Annie
Ari Lehman	Jason
Peter Brouwer	Steve
Rex Everhart	Truck Driver
Ronn Carroll	Sgt. Tiemey
Ron Millkie	Dorf
Walt Gorney	Crazy Ralph,Crazy Ralph
Debra S. Hayes	Claudette
Dorothy Kobs	Trudy
Sally Anne Golden	Sandy
Mary Rocco	Operator
Ken L. Parker	Doctor
Noel Cunningham	Actor
Willie Adams	Barry
Harry Manfredini	Composer

Technical Credits

Victor Miller

Ron Kurz

Sean S. Cunningham	Director,Producer
Alvin Geiler	Executive Producer
Tom Savini	Special Effects,Stunts
Victor Miller	Screenwriter
Ron Kurz	Screenwriter
Lee Dichter	Sound Effects
Jerry Trent	Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

When it comes to slasher flicks, the Friday the 13th series and its infamous antagonist Jason no doubt rank among the most influential ever, with eight (soon to be nine) sequels and one of the most recognizable villains of all time -- even if you do rarely see his face. The simple story -- which pays homage to the original slasher film, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho -- follows a group of plucky young counselors as they head for infamous Crystal Lake despite warnings of a murderer by the town crazy. The campers soon fall victim to the legend by way of their own hubris. Among the leads is a then-unknown Kevin Bacon in his first big role. A generic script by Victor Miller and Ron Kurz is helped by director Sean Cunningham's talent for tension, but the true savior is Harry Manfredini's score, the theme of which is used similarly to that of Jaws, creating tension by announcing the killer. Gruesome effects master Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead) deserves much credit for the creatively graphic gore, which carries the film's junk food excitement to new levels with moments including an axe to one poor soul's face and an arrow through the throat of another. Neophytes be warned: Don't expect to see Jason, as he doesn't show his face until the second installment, nor a hockey mask, as it doesn't show up until the third. Scream fans may already be aware of that, but even they cannot consider themselves true aficionados of scary movies until having seen the original Friday the 13th.