Friday the 13th (1980)

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.

Director:

Sean S. Cunningham

Writers:

Victor Miller (screenplay), Sean S. Cunningham (story),

Stars:

Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Betsy Palmer	...	Mrs. Pamela Voorhees
Adrienne King	...	Alice Hardy
Jeannine Taylor	...	Marcie Cunningham
Robbi Morgan	...	Annie
Kevin Bacon	...	Jack Burrel
Harry Crosby	...	Bill
Laurie Bartram	...	Brenda
Mark Nelson	...	Ned Rubinstein
Peter Brouwer	...	Steve Christy
Rex Everhart	...	Enos, the Truck Driver
Ronn Carroll	...	Sgt. Tierney
Ron Millkie	...	Officer Dorf
Walt Gorney	...	Crazy Ralph
Willie Adams	...	Barry
Debra S. Hayes	...	Claudette

Storyline

One summer at Camp Crystal Lake, a group of young counselors begin to get ready to lead campers. Unfortunately for the former, someone isn't happy about what's going on in the camp and enjoys playing kill the counselor. As bodies fall to the ground in the camp, no one is safe.

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Plot Keywords:

lake | summer | camp counselor | murder | teenager | 

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Taglines:

They were warned...They are doomed...And on Friday the 13th, nothing will save them.

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

X

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 May 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Long Night at Camp Blood

Filming Locations:

New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$550,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$37,465,200 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Georgetown Productions Inc., Sean S. Cunningham Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Betsy Palmer said that if it were not for the fact that she was in desperate need of a new car, she would never have taken the part of Pamela Voorhees. In fact, after she read the script she called the film "a piece of shit".

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Goofs

Annie tells the truck driver she will cook for 50 kids, but later tells the jeep driver she doesn't like to call children "kids".

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Quotes

Brenda: [upon repairing the generator] What hath God wrought?

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Crazy Credits

We see giant letters proclaiming 'Friday the 13th' moving towards the screen and crashing into and smashing a pane of glass.

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Connections

References Kojak (1973)

User Reviews

The start of a new generation in horror film-making!

Friday the 13th (1980) kicked started the early 80's slasher film phenomenon that was ignited by Halloween (1978) but fueled intensely by this reworking of the Mario Bava classic "Twitch of the Death Nerve". Once Friday the 13th was released, there was no turning back. The slasher film was part of the American horror film genre and it would remain that way for years to come. A film that launched countless knock-offs, wannabes, sequels and a t.v. series?! Camp Crystal Lake and the Friday the 13th film franchise are a part of Americana. The film is merely a stage for the splatter effects of F/X maestro Tom Savini. They were later toned down for it's American release and were softened even further during it's video release.

The movie itself isn't that great. Technically it's boring. To get the most out of the film you have to watch it uncut. Friday the 13th was designed around Savini's gory set pieces. Watching them with out it is like drinking a mayonnaise soda. I encourage you to seek out the uncut version of this film. Recommended.

A (uncut)

D (American version)