Top 10 Jason Quotes from Friday the 13th
Okay, I know, he doesn’t speak
The Friday the 13th movie franchise is one of those things that defy all expectations and understanding. If you pitched this movie to an executive, even in the 70s/early 80s, they would’ve laughed you out of the meeting. In fact, private investors funded Sean Cunningham’s dream of capitalizing on 1978’s masterpiece, Halloween. On paper, though, Jason didn’t work.
Imagine a slow, lumbering killer chasing teenagers (well, twenty-somethings playing teenagers) through a sleepaway camp. “Long Night at Camp Blood” was the original title, not quite as catchy, but it pretty much tells the whole story. Somehow, someway, Jason’s first starring outing was a masterpiece in its own right. Yes, it was a little derivative of some earlier horror movies, but it imitated them very well. None of them had the sequel success, but I doubt that was the earlier filmmakers' goal. In fact, the ending was added after a makeup artist saw Carrie, or so the rumor goes. I guess the original writer hated the idea, but it was added anyway, and that's where the sequel money begins.
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Anyway, I promised quotes; I try hard not to clickbait, so while Jason himself (no spoilers) had no speaking lines, others did; here are some of my favorites.
Yes, I know, Freddy—the King of One-Liners—sneaked in there; he’s a tricky sort that way. However, they did do a movie together. It’s not the best movie in either franchise, but it's a respectable team-up, crossover, whatever you want to call it.
Slasher movies are the backbone of late-70s/early-80s horror. Their monosyllabic names ring out in the horror hall of fame (I have no idea if this exists): Michael, Jason, Freddy, okay, Chucky too. They were also staples on VHS, so every kid my age had easy access to them. My sister and I watched them long before we were old enough, and it was a lot of fun in our house. Parental note: My 10-year-old daughter has yet to see a slasher or horror movie. This took a lot of effort on my part because she really wants to; I need some positive encouragement, folks.
I have read lots of posts and articles about how these movies are misunderstood, and they’re really allegories that teach lessons. That’s all nonsense; they’re good old-fashioned fun. You’re allowed to have fun with movies now and then. Do you really think the events in these movies actually happened? They’re not historical pieces; they’re just practical-effects-driven nightmares that make it fun to figure out how you and your friends would escape. Fun!
