MEETING JASON IN THE WOODS

The "Friday the 13th" Franchise (1980-1988)

(Parts I through VII)

    

   Jason Vorhees is my favorite slasher. I have seen and own every "Friday the 13th" film. Some are better than others, but even the weaker ones still entertain me.

   The first time that I saw these films were in the 80's, when I was a kid. Hearing about Jason from the other children at school made me so envious of those who had actually seen these films. By the time I had heard of Jason, a collection of his movies had already been out. I had to catch up somehow. But how? One magical month in the year 1985, television offered me a gift.

   1985 was the year that "Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning" was released. Cable TV had an amazing way to promote the premier of this film. Starting Monday, some channel that I no longer remember, would show every Jason film (uncut in all it's R rated glory) in order, once a night, every day until Friday. Friday ended with the premiere of Part 5. I was excited, but still young enough to be a little scared. Having never actually seen Jason before, I had no idea how scary he would be.

   I watched each film every night that week, armed with a pillow. If things got too scary, I was prepared to hide my face in my pillow. I'm proud of myself for never using that  pillow. How could I? These films were too exciting to take my eyes off the screen. By weeks end, I had caught up with the franchise and felt like I had accomplished something important.

   Going into this series for the first time, I was already familiar with the image of Jason's hockey mask. No one had told me anything about Jason not being the killer in Part One or that he did not get the hockey mask until Part 3. All of this was new to me.

   By the time "Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives" had come out, I was a full-fledged fan. Seeing Alice Cooper's "He's Back: The Man Behind the Mask" music video on MTV got me SO EXCITED about Part 6. I desperately wanted to see it in the theater. I recall that the summer that this film had come out, my family and I were on vacation. We were visiting an aunt in another state. I found out what theater was showing Part 6 and then begged to be taken to see it. That didn't work. My aunt told me that this theater that was showing the film was really far away. It did not dawn on me until years later, that this might have been a white lie. Perhaps Aunt did not want to see a Jason film. I did not see Part 6 until it came out on cable. When I did, I loved it.

   It was not until 1988, before Jason returned to haunt movie screens. I asked my mom to take me to see "Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood". It was playing at a Drive-In, near our house. It took a lot of begging, but guess what?

She said yes.

   For the first time in my life, I saw Jason Vorhees on the Big Screen! It was glorious.

Thank you, Mom. I know that you hated every second of it, but you took me anyway.

I love you.

I promise not to put your head on a table, surrounded by candles and your sweater.

(Paper Doll by Isaac Keith Martinez)