I fell a bit behind this month with writing my posts, but I felt that both of these movies deserved a watch considering how they're staples in the horror world. When it comes to slasher films, these are the first two films that most people think of followed quickly by Nightmare on Elm Street. They kicked off massive franchises that spawned an insane number of sequels. These films have a bit of a cult following and I've heard many conversations discussing which is their favorite movie or series or villain. I would have had to include Nightmare in this post if I hadn't seen it two years ago at one of my annual Halloween movie marathons. Out of all of the films in those three series, the only one I had actually seen was Wes Craven's New Nightmare. I was highly impressed with the concept that Wes Craven created with that film, but I later heard from many slasher fans that they thought it sucked. I definitely don't agree with that assessment, but I'm not here to talk about that film. Since I've already been introduced to Freddy, he's out of the running for this one. This is my own version of Freddy vs. Jason. I'm going to watch both of these films, back to back, then see how they compare to each other and what sets them apart. I doubt I'll like either of these two guys better than Freddy because there's something about his dark sense of humor that I really appreciate, but I'll see which I like better from these two films.
I know a little bit more about Friday the 13th than I do Halloween. Michael Meyers is notorious for his imposing presence and relentless determination to wipe teenagers from this earth and that Jamie Lee Curtis really kicked off her start in film with this one. As for Jason, I know he was a kid that was picked on at a camp and he tragically died in the lake there. His mother, distraught at the loss of her child, cracks her lid a bit and starts killing off kids in the camp as it tries to reopen. I've already seen the spoilers to know that Jason isn't even in the first one, but he comes back for the second one. In both films, the villain is randomly killing off teenagers and some of the survivors start to fight back. That's about all I know from the films other than random clips that I've seen, but no way to piece them together into a cohesive story. I guess it's time to fix that, so let's start the movies!
So, after watching both of these films, I can say I'm more about Halloween than Friday the 13th. Both films were done well, but I preferred the suspense that Halloween built throughout the film over the in-your-face slasher that Friday was. Friday was more about killing everyone off and seeing what they could do with the special effects for each death. Halloween seemed to be more about building a level of tension and distress until it reached the point of climax and Michael straight up went after each of the high schoolers in a methodical fashion. After I was done watching these films, I noticed that the Netflix series, The Movies that Made Us, had a third season available which included Halloween and Friday the 13th. I got to watch most of the Halloween episode, but I barely began the Friday the 13th one. One thing I did hear was that they wanted to use Halloween as their inspiration. In fact, the direct quote was, "Halloween is making a lot of money, let's rip it off." Aside from having a similar concept of having a serial killer terrorizing a group of young adults who were getting a little freaky, the two were completely different.
Halloween is more about a troubled child who gets locked away for the murder of his sister on Halloween night. He spends his life in an institution where he's studied by a psychiatrist who wants to keep him locked away for the rest of his life because he's severely disassociated with the rest of society. Somehow, he escapes one night and sets off for his hometown. Once he's arrived, he begins to stalk a single girl, focusing on his life. I haven't seen any of the rest of the Halloween franchise, but I know that Jamie Lee Curtis' character, Laurie, turns out to be Michael's sister somehow. Throughout the film, you see him or the car that he stole following her around. The film doesn't explain his obsession with her, but you know she's something important to him or else she wouldn't have mattered. He kills off some of her friends before focusing on her. He's driven by a single minded purpose in hunting Laurie down. I feel like the rest were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe they all reminded him of the sister he killed when he was a child and that's why he targeted them. Either way, he kills a few of Laurie's friends then focuses on her. She fights back in the best way that she knows how. She's scrappy and uses what she has at her disposal to ensure that she can survive. I liked seeing her growth, too, as she's forced to face him over and over again. He's brutal, relentless and determined to end her life and she only survives because of the doctor that has hunted Michael down to this location since his escape. He tracks him down just in time to shoot Michael a few times until he falls out of a window where he disappears. It leaves the film open to a sequel, which I know they made good use of. Well, I don't know how "good," but I do know they made a ton of these films.
Friday the 13th is more about a revenge story against teens who forget their responsibilities due to raging hormones. It's a bit misplaced because the teens that were responsible for watching her son had long grown up and moved on with their lives, so her revenge isn't exactly rectifying a wrong. In her mind, though, it's preventing it from happening again by stopping them from opening the camp. You're introduction to the film is following a girl who is heading to the camp to work there. You quickly find out that this film isn't going to lull you into a false sense of security and take it's time getting to people dying. It sets the tone for the entire film and doesn't let up, even at the end. This truly is a "slasher" film and doesn't let you forget it. Each of the camp counsellors is taken down one by one, each in uniquely brutal ways. It's not until you get down to the final one and you think someone has come to restore sanity only to take it to 11 and double down on crazy. She's not just a little off, she's totally knocked a screw loose and hears a voice in her head that's taken on the persona of her dead son. Then again, since Jason comes back in later films from whatever afterlife he's been in, maybe she really is hearing his voice and is keeping him alive in her own way. Each of the deaths to the counsellors goes further and further into the scope and ability that special effects can create, leaving a myriad of wounds to fawn over (if that's your sort of thing). They definitely went as far as they could go with the technology of the day to create the bold imagery of each fatality. Some of the acting could have been better, but that might have been more in the direction than the actual acting. Cue...
This was a bit over-the-top for me, but it's a part of cheesy 80s acting and 80s direction. You really think someone would just stand there and not try to do anything to save their own life? I know I don't believe that. The movie was entertaining for what it is, an iconic slasher film from the early 80s, but I preferred Halloween. I'm still more about Freddy and his cheesy comedy and bad puns, but Michael Myers is definitely next in line for my preferred slasher villain. I guess I'll have to watch the sequels to see how each fare and see if Jason, himself, is a better villain than the other two.
Stay tuned for next week when I'll begin my month of the "guy's guys movies" with the films that I feel are an iconic part of the male culture to represent "Movember" along with Men's Health Awareness Month. Catch you next time!
For more movie love, check out my other blog, "You're Watching That Again?!"
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