With a higher kill count than Freddy Krueger and Leatherface combined, there is no question that Jason Voorhees is one of the most iconic horror figures. There have been 12 movies in the Friday the 13th franchise, with a prequel series (Crystal Lake) and a new Friday the 13th due this year – but more on that later.
This hockey mask-wearing, machete-toting semi-hulk is known worldwide, yet few realize the slew of horror films that comprised his looming stature.
While the works of others frequently inspire creators to make art of their own, the first Friday the 13th was made by simply piecing together elements from some of the greatest films horror had to offer at the time.
From there, as horror evolved, so did Jason, and his connection with other horror films stayed constant throughout the franchise.
Inspiration Behind Friday the 13th
Tracing back the roots of how Friday the 13th came to be in the first place, this film would certainly have never come about had it not been for John Carpenter’s hit Halloween in 1978.
Sean Cunningham was inspired by the success of Halloween and sought to make a slasher of his own. He knew only one thing when he rented out ad space to promote the film: the title. The ad read, “The most terrifying film ever made! FRIDAY THE 13th”.
The slasher that unfolded delivered an iconic sound (ki-ki-ki ma-ma-ma), and composer Harry Manfredini was directly inspired by the Jaws theme when creating it. The way that Jaws could let you know by sound when the monster was nearby while only ever showing you small glimpses of the beast was the same goal that Manfredini was trying to achieve.
Thus, he recorded the words “kill her” and “mommy” and reverberated them and edited them until they became the theme music that is still associated with Friday the 13th today.
Then, the final scene, where viewers are treated to the first glimpse of Jason through an “it was all just a dream” jump scare, was added to the movie because of the impact the jump scare ending of Carrie left on the filmmakers.
Back in the Sack
The success of Friday the 13th demanded a sequel, and fans were given it. Of course, filmmakers needed a monster to make the movie work, so director Steve Miner used the initial Halloween inspiration to create a horror slasher figure; thus, Jason was reborn.
(The original people tied in with the making of this movie were not big fans of this idea. Special Effects master Tom Savini said, “So is [Jason] living off crayfish by the pond for 35 years, and nobody saw this weird kid?”)
In a look practically ripped directly from The Town that Dreaded Sundown, Jason Voorhees was a hulking figure in a plaid shirt and a face obscured by a burlap sack.
He delivered iconic kills, two of which, the “double impalement while having sex” kill specifically, happened in Bay of Blood first.
The Start of the Hockey Mask
In retrospect, it’s hard to believe that it wasn’t until the third film in the franchise that Jason Voorhees finally received his iconic look once and for all. This prominent horror figure is immediately recognizable by his legendary hockey mask, although Jason was far from the first bad guy to wear a hockey mask. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and the lesser-known 1974 film Act of Vengeance both see creeps in hockey masks.
Speaking of horror films from 1974, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre influence here is also apparent. Not only do Jason and Leatherface each have similar intimidating physiques and a penchant for showing us the mother behind the monster, but Friday the 13th Part III also ends in a very similar way to Texas Chainsaw Massacreas the sole survivor is taken away, laughing hysterically.
All of the Horror Classics
Let me accelerate this process if you have yet to detect a pattern.
Anthropophagus, Halloween II, Nightmare on Elm Street, and even Frankenstein played roles in shaping Jason Voorhees and the kills he delivered.
Whether it was dunking someone’s head in toxic waste (Jason Takes Manhattan//The Toxic Avenger) or decapitating someone with one punch (Jason Goes to Hell//Killer Klowns from Outer Space), Jason Voorhees is an amalgamation of some of the most memorable moments that horror has to offer.
However, even though the Jason Goes to Hell director Sam Marcus insists otherwise, what Jason Voorhees is not is a Deadite.
The One Horror That Didn’t Make Jason
Sam Marcus has made it a point to confirm his belief that Jason is a Deadite (a demonic parasite from the Evil Dead universe), even going so far as to describe the details that allowed this to come about in interviews.
After the Necronomicon (the infamous book of the dead from the Evil Dead franchise) was utilized by Mrs. Voorhees to “save” Jason, he was returned in this hulking, seemingly indestructible form. (If you don’t remember seeing this in the movie, it’s because the director only inferred it through the placement of the real Necronomicon prop.)
I have so many problems with this that I could fill an entire article. I’ll save the details of this debate for a later date, and for now, leave it at yet another dismembered horror film that has been stitched to Jason’s huge-large physique.
Upcoming Friday the 13th Projects
The upcoming horror productions in 2023 promise to deliver some background information while paving the way for a future for the Friday the 13th franchise. Original screenplay writer Victor Miller has teamed up with A24 to produce a prequel series called Camp Crystal Lake. Original director Sean Cunningham also says a new Friday the 13th movie is underway.
If the past is any indication, we need only to look at the horror movies of the day to know what to expect from these productions.
The icon status of Jason Voorhees is clear, and the resurgence of the Friday the 13th franchise only ensures that he will remain a household name for years to come.
He is Frankenstein’s monster of horror icons, painstakingly stitched together by all the horror fans who came before and after him. Only time will tell what evolution awaits.
Are there any horror movies referenced in the Friday the 13th series that we didn’t cover that you believe deserve recognition? Leave a comment below or reach out to us on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok and let us know!
Remember to tune into the bi-weekly Horror Press Podcast for updates on these upcoming Friday the 13th releases and other horror news!
