#friday 13th
So, are one of those peeps who is a newbie when it comes to slasher movies? Or maybe you just want to read about some of the iconic slasher films? Maybe see which ones you’ve missed?
Well thanks to Hitsville Uk, here is a great ‘Beginner’s Guide’!
The slasher is a highly popular and important sub-genre in horror, which many believe began properly in the ’70s, with the classic Black Christmas in 1974 often as one of the first best examples. It demonstrates a number of characteristics which would soon start to define the genre we know today, including a mysterious killer, a group of young adults/teens as the victims, secluded locations and of course, plenty of blood and guts. It can be argued that there are earlier examples of slashers (perhaps Hitchcock’s Psycho in 1960 truly invented the genre), and such arguments could be forever debated among hardcore fans of the genre, but keeping these main characteristics in mind, put together here is the beginner’s guide to some of the most essential and important slashers ever made, plus a few notes on some other fun flicks and ones to avoid.
Start with:
Scream (dir. Wes Craven, 1996)
In the ’90s, the slasher genre seemed to be dying off, with a host of other horror genres taking the lead. But in ‘96, with Scream, Wes Craven created a film that would redefine the genre as we knew it, by taking elements from classic slashers and turning them on their head. The scares are there, yes. There’s a mysterious murderer, there’s a host of sex-crazed, alcohol-fuelled adolescents, but the film is smarter than most slashers that came before it. It knows exactly what it is, and it has a lot of fun with that fact, allowing it to be very meta, using a self-referential style of humour that is so ahead of it’s time, especially for the horror genre. Helped by the wonderful trio of Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courtney Cox, the film was a roaring success in every sense, and is absolutely the most perfect introduction to the genre for newbies.
Then move onto:
Halloween (dir. John Carpenter, 1978)
Once you’ve had a taste of what the genre has to offer, it’s time to do your homework on the true classics. In 1978, John Carpenter created a genuine horror masterpiece with Halloween; a low-budget slasher that proves how far you can go with a little money and a lot of talent. With this film, Carpenter gave the world probably the first true slasher icon in the form of Michael Myers. A character we know little-to-nothing about, who lurks about on Halloween, wearing a William Shatner mask painted white and killing teens. Knowing so little about the character makes him that much scarier and the jum scares are executed to perfection. Jamie Lee Curtis also made a name for herself as Laurie Strode, giving us the first iconic slasher heroine, or Last Girl. Timeless stuff.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (dir. Wes Craven, 1984)
Wes again here, in the decade where the slasher phenomenon was at the height of it’s popularity, and in ‘84, the world’s most prolific horror character was born. With Freddy Krueger, something truly original was created; a horribly scarred man who can kill you in your sleep. The idea is nothing short of genius, and without Craven, the premise could’ve been totally squandered into something much cheesier. But what we get here in the original is a clever and scary slasher with a supernatural twist. Whereas Freddy eventually became more known for his tongue-in-cheek one-liners and general goofiness later on the series, he demonstrates a much more memorable and powerful trait in this flick; pure fear. If there’s any movie character that can keep you up at night, it’s him. Nightmare is 100% essential.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (dir. Tobe Hooper, 1974)
Again, proving how much can truly be achieved in horror with such a small budget, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a flick that is destined to be talked about until the end of time. What sets it apart from a lot of the films on this list is the sense of realism it displays. What we have here is a Texas family out on a farm in the middle of nowhere, completely deranged and seemingly without any sense of conscience. The best known villain from the film is of course Leatherface; a massive tank of a creature with a mask made of human skin, who is never caught without his giant chainsaw in hand. He never really speaks, only screams, and only slices and dices. He is a terrifying creation, and it’s even more frightening knowing that his some of his character is based on real-life serial killer Ed Gein. For me, it is the family behind Leatherface, pulling his strings that scares me the most. They give a whole new meaning to the term “dysfunctional family”, and knowing that there are people in the world who are like this hits home pretty hard. The film is suitably gritty and sweaty, and it feels so adult that you hardly even notice the amazing lack of actual gore and profanity. You’ll need to shower for days after this one.
Friday The 13th (dir. Sean S. Cunningham, 1980)
With the success of Halloween in 1978, it was clear that the genre had the potential to be a major cash cow, and so the numerous “copycat” franchises spawned in their dozens. One of the first and most noteworthy slashers of the ’80s was Sean S. Cunningham’s Friday The 13th. A flick that clearly took influences from Carpenter; as we have a mysterious killer, use of POV camerawork, unsuspecting teens and plenty of slashing. The gore is definitely upped compared to the likes of Halloween, and perhaps that’s what eventually went on to define the Friday films; the sheer level of blood and guts; and the ingenuity behind each murder. It is hockey-masked Jason who is the face of the franchise, but it’s really his mother, Mrs. Voorhees who steals the show in the first film.
Brief Guide to Sequels and Remakes
Scream
Whereas most horror sequels truly do suck at the highest level, the Scream franchise as a whole is pretty strong. It is in no small debt to Wes Craven helming all three follow ups to the original, as well as writer Kevin Williamson and the trio of stars all returning too. Scream 2 is excellent fun, and pretty much essential viewing but 3and4 are for fans of the franchise only.
Halloween
The first follow up to the original, Halloween II, is worth a watch for sure, but had too much to live up to to ever have a chance at being something special. III is where things get a little mixed up, and they bring in witches instead of Michael Myers, much to the dissatisfaction of the fans. There’s plenty more Myers-filled sequels that follow, but I’ll admit, I haven’t gotten around to seeing most of them.
Rob Zombie’s Halloween (2007) is a decent stab at reinterpreting John Carpenter’s masterpiece, and has an added first act which shows us a young, troubled Michael Myers. It’s a good, gorey, flick that, like all Rob Zombie films definitely shows some flair and passion for the genre, but it’s definitely scarier the less we know about Myers, and so the original will always trump it.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Plenty of fun sequels followed up to the original, but none could really match the horror of the first. 2 is widely considered as the weakest, but I have a soft spot for it because it’s the first Nightmare film I saw. 3 akaDream Warriors is a surprisingly excellent entry to the series in it’s own right. It is completely different from the original, particularly in tone, and that’s why it works so well. Watch with tongue planted firmly in cheek and you’ll have a ball. Freddy became more of a joke from here on out in the series, but at least he’s genuinely funny and creative in this venture.
Numbers4,5and6 are for hardcore fans only, and even then, will probably disappoint.
Wes Craven returned in 1998 to make New Nightmare, a film quite close to what he created with Scream. It’s a very clever effort where the original cast play themselves and throws something new after too many tired sequels. Definitely worth the watch.
Samuel Bayer made a stab at doing a remake in 2010, with one major chance; Robert, who played Freddy in every single other film (and even the short-lived TV series) was replaced by Watchmen’s Jackie Earl Haley. He does his best with the source material that desperately tries to set a dark tone like the original, but fails miserably. Totally uninspired. Do not watch.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is considered to be something of a cult classic in the genre, and it definitely is a bit of fun. The highlight being Bill Moseley’s “Chop Top”, a fan favourite indeed. Tobe Hooper takes the helm again, but sets a completely different tone, and it’s more of a dark comedy than anything. Worth a watch, but don’t expect it to be anything like the original.
Numbers3and4, subtitled Leatherface andThe New Generation respectively, are both terrible, but it’s fun to see a young Matthew McConaughey pop up in one of his weirdest roles ever in TNG.
Marcus Nispel’s remake in 2003 was surprisngly good stuff, despite not straying much from the original’s plot. A strong cast makes it definitely watchable. All films that followed this one are complete tripe. Skip ‘em.
Friday the 13th
There’s an absolute heap of 13th sequels, mostly tackled by different directors, and they are very much a mismatch batch of flicks. The good ones are few and far between, most of them being borderline ridiculous, with a special mention to Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, taking the crown. II,IIIandVI are all quite good, with the latter adding more supernatural elements than ever giving it a new spin. Jason X is of course widely renowned as a bit of a cult classic, putting our masked killer in space and letting him rip. It’s utterly stupid, but it’s still fun.
Nispel tackled another remake of a classic in 2009 - a Friday The 13th reboot - and although it does nothing particularly new, it’s worth a watch for the sheer amounts of blood and a fun opening 30 minutes or so.
Some Other Noteworthy Slashers:
- Freddy Vs. Jason: Title says it all. Watch it.
- Hatchet: An instant cult classic. Feels retro and new and the same time.
- You’re Next: Clever, and Scream-esque.
- Child’s Play: Chucky!
- Sleepaway Camp: The perfect so-bad-it’s-good slasher.
- Final Destination: Original is brilliant fun.
Obviously there’s tonnes of stuff I left out on this. Believe me, I’ve seen my fair share, and there’s plenty still on my watch list, but I reckon this is a pretty good guide to get newbies acquainted with the slashing!
Did you enjoy? Be sure to follow me on Twitter @wdejackson and on Facebook.com/wdjackson for more horror/slasher fun!
And tell me, which is your favourite slasher?
Post link
GOOD LUCK SPELLS FOR ALL!
For all of you witches in need of a bit of supernatural aid, I’ve gathered a good few of good luck spells.
You can find them all here on my main blog, because I’m awesome like that.
Hey guys, next Friday will be a 13th. AGAIN.
Oh and edit: obligatory Jethro Tull song for today (especially since May 1st is close).
Post link
QUICK MONEY BAG
a herb sachet to attract money and prosperity to your purse
GATHER:
- mint leaves - luck, prosperity, money in abundance, wealth
- eggshells - protection of your money, prosperity, luck, wealth
- basil - wealth, success
- bay - luck, success
- fern - luck,
- pink salt - protection of your money
- green candle
- old sock or sachet
- put all your ingredients into a container focusing on intent
- light your green candle and place or hold it into the container
- focus on the intent and repeat “i have money, i attract money”
- blow out the candle after you feel it’s been long enough
- put all the ingredients in the sachet you’re using (i used an old clean sock because it’s all i had and i like to reuse.)
- keep it in your purse or where you hold your money
i performed this on friday 13th on the full harvest moon because of its abundance and prosperity properties.
The black cat
Happy Friday 13th
this started as a joke but now its not a joke…
some of those slasher figurines as anime girls are cute, I llike to think of them as different from the actual movie guys, like a weird spinoff that nobody saw
Nikon D90
Nikkor 50 mm - f/1.4 G AF-S
Today is Friday the 13th and many people are being nervous around black cats; afraid of walking under ladders, breaking mirrors, spilling salt, opening umbrella indoors, and anxiously watching the skies for sudden lightning strikes!
Where did our superstitions surrounding this day, known as paraskevidekatriaphobia, came from? Along with why is there such apprehension surrounding the number 13?
The number 13 has been considered unlucky for many years, even before Christ. The number 12 is historically considered the number of completeness, while its older cousin, 13, has been seen as an outlier.
There are 12 months of the year, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 hours of the clock, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles of Jesus, 12 Descendants of Muhammad Imams, among many incidences of the pattern historically.
1. According to Catholic belief, one of the most significant events in their religion - the crucifixion of Jesus Christ - took place on Friday the 13th.
The origins of Triskaidekaphobia – the fear of the number 13 – could be traced back to the 19th century belief that Judas Iscariot sat in the 13th place at Jesus’s table at the Last Supper.
Along with Jesus, there were 12 disciples at this meal, and Judas has come to represent betrayal and bad luck in Western societies. Even if there is no direct biblical evidence linking Judas to the 13th place at the table, the number of guests at the Last Supper and its significance in the Christian religion could have been enough to cement the idea of 13 as an unlucky number in Western cultures, particularly if the superstitious Victorians promoted this idea.
2 . Geoffrey Chaucer has also made reference to the apparent unluckiness of the day, recording in his Canterbury Tales that it was bad luck to start a journey or a project on a Friday.
In the modern world, the cost of air travel on the spooky date, which comes round once or twice per year, is indeed lower – which often attributed to a collective fear of flying on “the unluckiest day of the year”.
3. One of the popular myths that explains the origin of the Friday 13 superstition comes from events on Friday 13 October 1307, when hundreds of Templar Knights were arrested and burned across France.
This myth caught the public’s attention after Dan Brown and other historical fiction writers used it in their books, and since then it has been peddled endlessly by conspiracy theorists linking the Knights Templar to everything from Freemasonry to the Holy Grail.
4.Ironically,the superstition of the Friday 13th links back to an American club that attempted to debunk the superstition surrounding the number 13 and its associated bad luck date.
The Thirteen Club first met on 13 September 1881 (a Wednesday) and determined to actively flout any established ‘superstitions’ they knew about.
With this in mind, the group of 13 would meet on the 13 of each month, sit 13 to a table, break mirrors, spill salt with abandon, and walk under ladders – all while carefully recording how many members died.
Over the years, the group grew to roughly 400 members – including a number of US presidents – but the group’s notoriety just added to the date significance in the public psyche.
5. In 1907, eccentric stockbroker Thomas William Lawson published a book called Friday the Thirteenth. It detailed an evil business’s attempts to crash the stock market on the unluckiest day of the year. The book was a sell-out and in 1916 made into a feature-length film.
“Funny” thing, Friday October 13, 1989 is remembered on Wall Street as Black Friday subsequent a mini-crash in a failed $6.75bn buyout addressee global markets plunging.
6. Buckingham Palace was hit by five German bombs on Friday September 13 1940 with both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth coming close to being killed. One member of the royal staff died and the palace chapel was destroyed.
7. IBM virus took a hit in 1989 also as the Jerusalem virus wiped irretrievable data off computers across the UK on Friday 13th.
8. According to researchers, businesses can lose up to $900m in sales and productivity when the 13th of the month falls on a Friday.
9. Avoidance of the number 13 is visible in daily life. Most high-rise buildings in the city, and most hotels, rarely have a 13th floor.
Many restaurants consider it bad luck to sit 13 people at a table. Some airlines even avoid 13th seat row, skipping from 12 to 14.
Apparently, Winston Churchill refused to sit in row 13 on a plane or at the theater.
10. Fear of the number 13 is known as Triskaidekaphobia. Fear of Friday 13 is Paraskavedekatriaphobia.
New Yorker Daz Baxter was so afraid of Friday the 13th that on the Friday 13th 1976 he decided to stay home, in his bed, the safest place he can think of. Mr Baxter was killed when the floor of his apartment block collapsed that day.
During the early 1990s retired bus conductor Bob Renphrey also decided to spend every Friday 13 in bed after a run of bad luck on the fateful day. Among other misfortunes, he wrote off four cars, got fired, fell into a river, crashed a motorcycle and walked through a plate glass door.
11. Michelle and Gary Docherty had a memorable wedding on Friday 13 August 2004.
First, a swarm of wasps attacked guests at East Kilbride Registry Office, Lanarkshire, as they waited for Michelle’s arrival.
Her aunt Mary Strachan smashed an expensive digital camera trying to swat one of the pests, and when Michelle finally did turn up, an insect flew up her dress, triggering a panic attack.
After the ceremony, two minibuses booked to transport guests to the reception failed to turn up and the couple lost their wedding video.
12. In 2010, lightning struck a 13-year-old Suffolk boy on Friday 13th at 13:13. Thankfully, he made a full recovery.
13. Of course, most of all, the myth acquired the first seal of Hollywood in 1980 when Paramount Pictures released Friday the 13. Fridays would not be the same again, after Jason proceeded to slash his way across a summer camp and US box offices.
Interesting facts:
- As it turns out, paraskevidekatriaphobia is mostly an American and English fear.
- Italians previously used to be far more concerned about Friday the 17th, although with the Americanisation of the country this has largely shifted to 13th for younger generations.
- In Spanish-speaking countries it is Tuesdays, not Fridays, that hold superstitious omens. Their belief is also held by the Greeks, who consider Tuesdays as dominated by the influence of Ares (the God of War).
Thankfully, this is the only Friday the 13th in the 2016 calendar.
Friday 13th 2022 | #HappyFourTwenty
