Revisiting ‘Friday the 13th’ movies: The ones you *should* watch today
Friday the 13th is easily one of the most prolific horror franchises of all time. Rebooted numerous times with sequels galore, Friday the 13th movies redefined the slasher film franchise. Of course, some are definitely better than others. While you should obviously watch the original Friday the 13th today on Friday, November 13th, should you watch any of the other movies in the franchise today?
Surprisingly, there are more good Friday the 13th movies than bad ones. However, there are only a few that are truly top-tier horror films. If you’re looking to indulge into the horror sensation, you need to add these Friday the 13th movies to your queue today.
We should also clarify: by no means are any of these movies “good” in a traditional sense – that’s not why you watch Friday the 13th movies anyway! You watch it see Jason kill some people with a knife, and occasionally laugh at the bad acting & effects.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
Yes, we know, this was in fact not the final chapter to Jason’s story. Many consider it the end of the original series. If you’re one of those people, what an ending to the Friday the 13th movies it is!
In Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter’s DNA is the foundation of a slasher film. Like the movies before it, it sprinkles in just enough comedic action to make the film fun & entertaining. It’s the first film to feature Tommy Jarvis, the main nemesis of Jason. It also contains some of the bloodiest kills in the entire franchise. Sure, it still has its flaws, but it’s entertaining for the full ninety-one minutes you’re watching it.
Friday the 13th Part II
Truly, the first four films in this franchise are just hit after hit. While the first film focuses on Jason as a grown adult terrorizing Camp Crystal Lake, we meet a younger Jason in Friday the 13th Part II. What makes this sequel so unique is unlike most horror movie franchises, the sequel is where we meet our iconic killer for the first time.
We get to see where Jason got his iconic mask & role from, as he takes over the mantra of Crystal Lake killer from his mother. From this movie onward, Jason is the official antagonist of the Friday the 13th franchise. It’s a testament to excellent worldbuilding and giving context in a way that doesn’t feel forced.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
No one liked the idea of Tommy taking over the mantra of the Crystal Lake killer from Jason. This is why no one likes A New Beginning. Thankfully, the executives heard this and made sure from now on, the antagonist of the Friday the 13th movies remains Jason, even if you have to literally resurrect him from the dead to do so!
Naturally, since Tommy Jarvis killed Jason at the end of the last film, the sixth installment in the Friday the 13th franchise sees Tommy unintentionally resurrecting Jason. With Jason alive & killing once again, Tommy has to attempt to stop the masked killer – once and for all. Considering there’s three more movies after this, we know he doesn’t really stop Jason, but it doesn’t make the movie any less entertaining.
Freddy vs Jason
Let’s be real: this movie is not good whatsoever. But if you’re telling us you don’t want to see Jason of the Friday the 13th movies go up against Freddy Kruger of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, you’re just insane. No one was watching this movie for the plot. You’re watching it to see horror icons face off against each other, and that’s why this movie works!
