Here's where Pacific Northwest Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Fans can stay cool during the upcoming heat dome

Yep, another freaking heat dome is settling over the Pacific Northwest today, and unseasonably high temperatures will continue into the next week.  While not as bad as the one a couple years ago, it's going to be pretty warm for the next few days.

It's not suppose to be this bad, but it won't be pleasant.

Fortunately, this edition of the Weekly Update is full of great places to catch a movie and keep cool.  And if you're looking to get out and start acclimating to the warmer temperatures, the update has a couple suggestions that might help.

What this new heat dome means for the rest of the spring and summer is hard to say.  But while it doesn't predict the weather, the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar is full of great ways to spend the rest of the year.  Check it out at the link.

Well, back to the day job.  Be safe, stay hydrated and break out the sun screen, and I'll be back next week with another update of great events happening under The Shadow Over Portland!

If you'd like to support the site, please visit my Ko-fi page.  Thank you!

Happening This Week 

Live Attractions 

Paranormal Cirque II, an R-rated horror circus with a haunted attraction preshow, raises its black and red big top tent at Clackamas Town Center (12000 SE 82nd Ave in Happy Valley, OR), through Monday, May 22.  Be aware, no one under 13 years of age will be admitted, and guests 13 to 17 years old must be accompanied by an adult.  Use the promo code FACE5OFF to save $5 on each ticket at any seating level.

The Wyrd War Gallery (3505 NE Broadway in Portland, OR) spring exhibition, Murder in the Front Room: The Art, Insanity, Scrawlings and Sketches of of Mark DeVito is open every Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 7 pm through June 3.  Check out the fan banners, original sketch designs and posters for bands like Metallica, Motorhead, Slayer, The Cult, Twisted Sister, and much more! 

The Western Washington Center for the Arts (521 Bay St in Port Orchard, WA) closes its 2022-2023 season with Monty Python's Spamalot.  The show runs through Sunday, May 21.

Hidden Worlds: The Films of LAIKA is open at the Museum of Pop Culture (located in the Seattle Center; 325 5th Ave N in Seattle, WA).  The exhibit features never-before-seen artifacts from the Laika production studios, immersive set displays, character interactive and a sneak peek at the studio's next feature, Wildwood.  The exhibit will be open through Summer 2024.

 

The Museum of Pop Culture (325 5th Ave N in Seattle, WA) has Jim Henson puppets and set pieces from the 2019 Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance on display now.  You can read about the display, and the work the museum put into displaying the artifacts, at the link.

Back in Theaters

Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, May 17).

The anime feature Redline is playing at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Tuesday, May 16).

The Pope's Exorcist is playing at the Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, May 17).

The animated classic The Iron Giant is playing at the Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 18).

The Olympia Film Society's Reel Oddities series will show Abel Ferrara's classic Ms .45 at 7 pm every Wednesday in May at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA).

First Run Features  

The newest movie in the Evil Dead series, Evil Dead Rise is playing at the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 18), the Yelm Cinemas (201 Prairie Park St SE in Yelm, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 18), and the Sandy Cinema (16605 Champion Way in Sandy, OR; scheduled through Saturday, May 14).

Ari Aster's black comedy/surrealistic horror film Beau is Afraid is playing at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 18), the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 18), the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 18), the Roxy Bremerton (270 4th St in Bremerton, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 18), the Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA; scheduled through Wednesday, May 17), and the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 18).

The horror comedy Renfield, starring Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage, is playing at the Broadway Metro (888 Willamette St in Eugene, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 18), and the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside St in Portland, OR; scheduled through Thursday, May 18).  

Film Festival Submission Information 

 

Time to start assembling your filmmaking friends for The 15th Annual Guignolfest: 3-Day Horror Film Contest.  For more details, visit the event's Facebook page or website.

Sign of the Beast Burlesque is now taking applications to be part of Metalesque Fest 2023, taking place on October 6 and 7 in Portland, OR.  Applications are open through June 1.

The Northwest Flying Saucer Film Festival is accepting UFO/Alien themed short films, documentaries, animation or music videos for the festival, which takes place on September 22 at McFiler's Chehalis Theater (558 N Market Blvd in Chehalis, WA). Submissions are accepted on FilmFreeway through July 15.

 

May, 2023

Friday, May 12

 

The Boulet Brothers Dragula: Titans World Tour stops at the Moore Theatre (1932 2nd Ave in Seattle, WA) tonight.  Sign up at Obsessed for exlusive fan presale now, by clicking on the above link.

The Midnight Movie at the Joy Cinema (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR) is the Universal Monster classic The Wolf Man, starring Lon Chaney Jr., Evelyn Ankers, Claude Rains, and Bela Lugosi, tonight only at midnight (of course).  You don't get many chances to see the classic Universal Monster Movies on the big screen, so check it out if you can!

CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) will show Monty Python and the Holy Grail today and tomorrow in GLORIOUS 35mm.

Weird Elephant at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) will show David Cronenberg's Videodrome tonight and tomorrow at 10 pm.

Violet Hex presents a queer celebration and screening of Wes Craven's masterpiece A Nightmare on Elm Street at 7 pm tonight at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR). 

Pacific Northwest punk band NASTI will play at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA), follow by a screening of T2: Judgement Day, starting at 8:30 pm.  

The Mondo Trasho series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) brings the 1993 live action Super Mario Bros to the big screen in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at 7:30 pm.

Saturday, May 13

The Inland NW Toy Show Classic  will be at the Spokane County Fairgrounds (located by the corner of Havana St and Broadway Ave in Spokane Valley, WA).  9 to 10 am early bird admission is $10, general admission from 10 am to 4 pm is $5.  Kids 12 and under admitted FREE.

CineMagic (2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, OR) will show Joe D'Amato's Italian Conan ripoff Ator: The Fighting Eagle tonight at 7 pm, and the underrated 80's buddy cop/zombie film Dead Heat tonight at 9 pm, both in GLORIOUS 35mm.  If you're wondering why I'm mentioning both in the same post, it's because you pick one, or WATCH BOTH, for just $5!  It's an evening of cheesy goodness!!

Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave in Portland, OR) will screen the dark fairy tale Night of the Hunter today at 11 am.

The Third Eye series sponsored by Cheba Hut brings The VelociPastor to the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) tonight at 10 pm. Yep, it's about a priest who gains the ability to turn into a dinosaur, and is convinced by a prostitute to fight crime and ninjas.  Nothing more needs to be said.

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) presents a Hagsploitation Brunch screening of the classic Whatever Happened to Baby Jane today at 11 am.

Jim Henson and Frank Oz's fantasy classic The Dark Crystal plays at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) today at 3 pm.

Alejandro Jodorowsky's classic The Holy Mountain plays at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

The House of Psychotic Women series at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) brings Brian DePalma's adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie back to the big screen tonight at 10 pm

The family sci fi classic ET the Extra-Terrestrial screens at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) today and tomorrow at 2:30 pm in GLORIOUS 35mm.

Queer Horror at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents the world premiere of Body Academics' Portland-made psychosexual sci fi rock opera Evil Babylon tonight at 7:30 pm.  Hosted by Portland's premier drag clown Carla Rossi (who also appears in the film as the villainous Urethrea, the program opens with a performance by the artists.

Sunday, May 14

The Olympia Timberland Regional Library presents the cult apocalyptic thriller Miracle Mile at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) at 7 pm tonight.

John Water's Serial Mom, starring Kathleen Turner, will play at 9 pm tonight at the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC).

I HAVE THE POWER!  The Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA) will show the live action version of Masters of the Universe today at 2 pm.

Czech filmmaker Karel Zeman's 1962 mix of live action, stop-motion, puppetry and more, The Fabulous Baron Munchausen plays at 2 pm at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA).

Monday, May 15

The Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) is hosting the theatrical premiere of Full Moon Features' Subspecies V: Bloodrise through Wednesday, May 17. 

OH MY GOD!  The Sequelopolis series at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) presents Troll 2 tonight at 7:30 pm.

Tuesday, May 16

CMNYK brings the low budget 1959 film Attack of the Giant Leeches, produced by Roger Corman's brother Gene Corman, to the Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  Pre-show starts at 6:15 pm.

The Moscow Film Society Euro Horror series brings the vampire film Let the Right One In, in Swedish with English subtitles at 7 pm at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID).

The Rankin and Bass animated classic The Last Unicorn plays at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

Wednesday, May 17

MOST EXCELLENT! The Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA) will screen Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure tonight at 6 pm.

Well, the poster looks eerie, the description of the film sound creepy and the fact that the crew and director were taking LSD while filming leads me to add The Other Side of Underneath to the calendar.  It plays at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.  Presented by the Church of Film.

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will show the "vampire" movie (sorry, I can't help but use quotation marks) Twilight tonight at 7:30 pm.  The screening will help fund the audio/visual recording of the inaugural performance by the Columbia Chorale of Oregon of an original, full-length cantata, The Wisdom of Columbia County, at Scappoose High School on June 16, and Carnegie Hall on May 27, 2024, with the footage to supply the core of a documentary by Brian Trenchard-Smith.

Thursday, May 18

The Silent Film Festival at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) presents the German Expressionist classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,  with a live, original score from jazz-rock band Pumice Pocket, at 7 pm tonight.

Baron Von Terror presents Laika's first feature stop-motion film, Coraline at 8 pm tonight at at Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave in Seattle, WA).

 

Friday, May 19 

 

Crypticon Seattle takes place this weekend at the Doubletree Seatac (18740 International Blvd in Seattle, WA).  Henry Thomas (ET, Midnight Mass), Dee Wallace (ET, The Howling, Cujo), and Denis O'Hare (True Blood, American Horror Story), the team behind the film Hellbender, Toby Poser, John Adams and Lulu Adams, Kelly Jo Minter (Summer School, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, The People Under the Stairs, Popcorn and Bex Taylor-Klaus (Scream: The TV Series, The Last Witch Hunter, Voltron: Legendary Defender), Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney (Night of the Comet), Joh Kassir (Tales from the Crypt) and Milly Shapiro (Hereditary) and Dean Cameron (Chainsaw in Summer School, Rockula, Bad Dreams), Matthew Patrick Davis (The Mother from Barbarian) and author Matt Shaw (who's novel, "Crypticon Seattle: One Hell of a Show," can be purchased at the con, and allows you to participate in a Scavenger Hunt) are scheduled to attend.  Be aware, Professional Photo Ops have been cancelled and refunds for those who purchased them are being processed through Fear Ticket.  Visit the link above for more details.

UPDATE:  Pacific Northwest horror filmmaker Joe Sherlock will premiere his latest film, Odder Noggins, at Crypticon Seattle on Saturday, May 20, at 11 pm.

The 23rd Annual McMenamins UFO Fest takes place today and tomorrow within walking distance of McMenamins Hotel Oregon (310 NE Evans St in McMinnville, OR).  Visit the link above for all the details.

Friday Night Frights presents the West Coast premier of director Tristan Clay's (Red Eye) second feature film Inverted, about a satanic cult kidnapping people to recruit for the Holy War against the second coming of Christ, at 10 pm tonight at the Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St in Tacoma, WA).  Oh, the soundtrack was scored by the host of Friday Night Frights, Anthony Dluzak.

The 1999 Wachowskis' sci fi classic, The Matrix , is playing at The Grand Cinema (606 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA; scheduled through Thursday, May 25).

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) is showing the family sci fi classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial today at 1:30 pm.  And yes, Reese's Pieces will be available for purchase at the snack bar!

The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) will screen the cult classic Donnie Darko, with director Richard Kelly in attendance for a post-screening Q and A, tonight at 7:30 pm.  Doors open at 6:30 pm. 

The House of Psychotic Women series at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) will screen Andrzej Zulawski's Possession, starring Sam Neill and Isabelle Adjani, tonight at 7:15 pm, and on Monday, May 22, at 4:30 pm.

Get ready for the new Indy film, as the Egyptian Theatre (229 S Broadway in Coos Bay, OR) screens Raiders of the Lost Ark tonight at 7 pm and tomorrow at 1 pm. 

Saturday, May 20

The Moscow Film Society Euro Horror series brings the folk horror classic The Wicker Man (no, not the Nicolas Cage one) to the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center (508 S Main St in Moscow, ID) tonight at 7 pm.

It's another Hagsploitation Brunch screening at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR), as they show Dead Ringer, starring Bette Davis in a duel role, today at 11 am.

Toei filmmaker Norifumi Suzuki's outrageous nunsploitation film School of the Holy Beast plays at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St in Portland, OR) tonight at 7 pm.

The House of Psychotic Women series at The Beacon (4405 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) continues with a screening of The Witch Who Came from the Sea tonight at 10:15 pm.

Sunday, May 21

The Tracyton Movie House (1520 NE Riddell Rd in Bremerton, WA) scores a flawless victory with a screening of the original Mortal Kombat today at 2 pm.

AniMayhem presents the OVA Festival at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) tonight starting at 6:30 pm.  If, like me, you didn't know, OVA stands for Original Video Animation, anime films and series made for release to the home video market without screening on television or in theaters.  The festival features four of the best cult-classic OVA titles released through the 80s and 90s.  An hour and a half before the features start, the Hollywood Theatre will turn into a mini anime convention, with local artists and vendors selling merchandise.

Friday the 13th (1980)

Okay, I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of the Friday the 13th franchise.  I only saw two in theaters, partly because the films didn't hit the cinemas in my area, and I was busy watching the awesome weekly horror films at the Hazel Dell Tri-Cinema.  You only had one week to catch the feature, but they showed Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Fulci's Zombie, and some amazing Roger Corman produced features.  And later in the 80s and early 90s, theaters were showing unrated films like Evil Dead II, Re-Animator and Dead Alive.  Yeah, my weekends were a bit busy hunting down these gems, instead of looking for another Jason film.

That's not to say I didn't watch them on home video, and several have ended up in my DVD collection, at least the ones I liked.  However, a few months ago, I had the money to pick up the Blu-Ray box set from Shout (Scream) Factory, released back in 2020, at a good sale price. 

So now, with a bit of trepidation, it's time to delve into the series, see how the continuity holds up (yeah, based on what I remember, this wasn't a concern with the filmmakers) and talk about how the films hold up as a whole.  After all, this is an influential slasher series, with 12 films, a host of comic series and a very popular video game (until the recent lawsuit) keeping it in the public eye for decades.  While it wasn't the only slasher film released in 1980, it was the most successful, and the biggest target of critics decrying the depictions of violence only hinted at in 1979's Halloween.

The plot for the first film is pretty simple.  Two camp consolers, in the middle of building up to hot sex, are killed at Camp Crystal Lake in the late 50s, causing the camp to close down.  Cut to the present (1979), as Annie is heading to the camp, which is reopening.  And things don't go well for her, as Tom Savini's effects deliver the first nasty kill.

I said take a little off the top!

Okay, the first two kills are bloody to a point, but the filmmakers didn't show anything overly graphic.  The stabbing of the male camp counselor took place off screen, while the female counselor doesn't die on screen.  But Annie's death is a graphic, gory throat slashing, making it seem like a middle finger to how slasher movies depicted death on screen.  While movies have shown bloody deaths well before this, with makeup artist Dick Smith (The Exorcist, Altered States, and so many others) leading the way, the difference is Smith's makeup effects were in service of the story.  

Tom Savini's effects in this film were the story.  Sean S. Cunningham wasn't interested it telling a compelling tale, he just wanted to up the ante set by John Carpenter's Halloween,.  And it shows, with the disposable characters, lack of artistic style, and just plain let's-kill-these-kids story telling.  I'm not saying the film doesn't deliver, but it lacks the artistry that makes Carpenter's film so creepy and unnerving.

Oh, and I'll be spoiling the hell out of this film at this point.  So if you're a horror fan and haven't see this movie, check out now.

Don't say I didn't warn anyone.  

The film moves to the camp in modern times, as a new group of counselors are getting ready for the kids to arrive.  And here we meet our final girl, Alice (Adrienne King), as well as a bunch of disposable victims, including Kevin Bacon (in his second film role).  We also get slasher film staple Crazy Ralph (Walt Gorney), the harbinger of doom so well spoofed in Cabin in the Woods.

As the movie progresses, we see the counselors picked off one by one by some nefarious person.  At this point, the film follows standard Giallo cliches, as we never see the killer, except for their hands, and the film delivers a red herring with Bill (Harry Crosby, son of Bing Crosby, who appeared in several of his father's televised specials before signing on to this film, and later becoming an investment banker).  His character, wearing a red raincoat, is either a great red herring (get it?), or someone involved in the movie watched too much Star Trek: The Original Series.  

Either way, it doesn't end well for him.

Thankfully, I'm wearing a gold shirt.

As Alice locks herself in a cabin, the film introduces Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer), who worked at the site back in the 50s and claims to be a friend of the camp's owners.  Surprise, the newly introduced character is the killer, taking revenge after her son, Jason, drowned while the counselors were having sex.  She killed the two councilors at the beginning of the film, and has sabotaged every attempt to reopen the site since, before becoming homicidal.

What, after all your fellow consolers were murdered, you didn't think me showing up suddenly was suspicious?

It's an okay reveal, but the script never explains why the authorities never suspected the woman who lost her son a year earlier about the deaths of two people, or about the repeated acts of vandalism.  That oversight in the script, as well as her character's introduced in the final few moments of the film, telegraph her as the killer.

Not that the film was trying to blaze new territory.  Screenwriter Victor Miller admits in the special features that Sean S. Cunningham contacted him to write a script ripping off Halloween.  So Miller headed out to catch Carpenter's classic in the theaters, come up with the rules established in that classic film, and mimicked them.

Cunningham also contacted Tom Savini, fresh off Dawn of the Dead, to create the effects, and he delivers some stunning work.  Of course, the MPAA required some trimming to get the film an R-rating, but I think some of the edits works in the film's favor. Watching the unrated version, I think Kevin Bacon's death is a bit too long, allowing you to see the seams in the effect.  But that's viewed through the eyes of someone who's seen plenty of practical effects since the 80s.  However, the extended version of Pamela's death is really good, and fitting for the climatic kill.

Okay, this stylist doesn't know the meaning of a little off the top.

But let's get to Alice, the final girl.  King's performance is solid, no surprise as she started acting at 6 months old, and appeared in soap operas, advertisements and off-off-Broadway productions before taking the role of Alice.  But, as with Laurie Strode in Halloween, Alice is not what would become the troupe of the Final Girl in subsequent slasher films.

For starts, it's implied that Alice is sleeping with her boss, and the camp owner Steve Christy.  Look, I know the extras in the Blu-Ray release says it's "hinted at," as Steve brushes Alice's hair during a private moment between the two.  But just a few seconds earlier, Alice seems to admit having drawn a portrait of him while he was sleeping.  So much for being virginal.

Later in the movie, Alice goes hunting down some weed and grabs a beer before joining into a game of Strip Monopoly.  Sure, she doesn't get naked, but she comes close to losing her top before the game ends after a blast of wind opening the door.  It also leads to counselor Brenda (Laurie Bartram) commenting that the game was over before it got interesting.  I'm not saying that aside would have lead to anything.  But like Laurie before her, Alice was not the chaste girl associated with the Final Girl Troupe.

Aside from those issues, Alice falls asleep while Bill goes out looking for answers as to the other counselor's disappearances, which is silly.  No matter how much I enjoy King's performance, the script fails her at every step, until she confronts Pamela on the shore of the lake.  Than, it's full on take no prisoners. 

Yeah, I swing a mean machete.  Come get some,

Again, this isn't a criticism of King's performances, which is great.  I just wonder when the idea of a pure, virginal Final Girl overcame the slasher became the stereotype. In fact, I don't remember any slasher films where the Final Girl is as pure as the stereotype claims.  Okay, maybe Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night 2, though it will take a rewatch to confirm that.  Perhaps watching the other entries in this series might lend me a clue.  I'll get back to you on that.  

Oh, the things I do for this site.

Don't lie, dude.  You'll be happy to watch this film again

Let's talk about Betsy Palmer's performance as Pamela Voorhees.  She's admitted she wasn't a fan of the script, and reportedly took the role to purchase a car she had her eyes on.  I'm fine with that, as actors have to earn a living like the rest of us.  But she's introduced too late in the film for anyone not to expect her to be the killer. But she sells it, and I will stand by that till my dying day.  Despite wanting the paycheck, Palmer doesn't phone it in.  She goes full bore into the role, cementing the film's place in shaping horror movies.

One final note.  The ending scene, as Alice is adrift on the lake, looks beautiful.  Sure, Cunningham and Miller were setting up a Carrie ending, and dragged out tranquil scene might push the endurance level of modern audiences.  But even though it's a rip off of a better film, it's beautiful, and makes Jason jumping out of the lake more impactful.  

Well, it was so tranquil until you showed up.

The Shout Factory Blu-Ray release delivers both the R-rated and Unrated versions of the film, in a 4K Remaster from the original negatives.  The film looks great, and if you're a fan, this is the edition to buy.

Regardless of the critical response, which was unsurprisingly hostile, Friday the 13th is an important moment in horror films.  Much like Blood Feast, it ushered in a more graphic wave of horror films.  And with distribution by a major studio (Paramount), the film inspired a bunch of further rip-offs of Halloween that upped the gore-for-profit ante.  Despite the misgivings of the heads at Paramount, they were unwilling to kill their cash cow for several features, which says a lot for this film's place in horror history.

No, I don't want to make another.   Oh, wait, how much money did it make?  Let's do Part Two!