FRIDAY THE 13TH
Year released: 1980
How it fared back then: What would you say for a film with a budget of only half a million dollars that ended up making almost $40 million in return, making for a 10 film series (eight of which came out within 10 years)? But fans and critics far from agreed. Simply put, reviews were harsh. Take for example Variety's, "Lowbudget in the worst sense--with no apparent talent or intelligence to offset its technical inadequacies--Friday the 13th has nothing to exploit but its title."
Why it's lasted: It was one of the original slasher series that would help create an irreplaceable genre of horror today. Jason Voorhees has become a horror movie icon and symbol of terror in general. And then there's ch-ch-ch ah-ah-ah, it's become one of those unforgettable sound effects of impending doom, almost on par with Psycho's screeches and Jaws' two notes on the tuba. It's such a classic that in the wave of horror remakes (Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, My Bloody Valentine, et al.), it seemed only obvious that it too must follow suit.
Classic moment: Kevin Bacon's death. Well, his character's. No only is it gushingly gory, but because of the actor he's turned into, it's become one of the reasons (sometimes the entire reason) people watch it today.
Does it still hold up? Yes and no. Fans of campy horror can't live without it. But for those who are looking for something more realistic, it's just funny, which isn't exactly a bad thing if you're looking for comedy. Personally, I felt it was my duty to watch this movie when I saw it about 25 years after it's initial release. What kind of horror buff would I be if I hadn't seen it? Though I guess that's exactly what makes it such a classic.
