I’ve always been a fan of horror films.
As I’ve explained over the years, I think there’s just something about films focusing on our darkest frights that tap into something primal in the audiences who enjoy them. They scare us. They delight us. They examine our fears and phobias. While there may yet inevitably prove to be some link between cinematic violence and real-world mayhem (it’s arguably as elusive as the link missing between men and apes), I’ve always thought that this is little more than pure escapism for a healthy mind.
Over the last several decades, there’s been a great number of Friday The 13th films that have dabbled gorily in such fertile pastures. Launching that global phenomenon all the way back in 1980, producers, effects people, and screen talent have cashed in on expanding the saga of the bloodthirsty Jason Voorhees; and they will likely always be a time in our collective consciousness that audiences not only know his name but also know full well to run from him.
What better way to celebrate the intellectual property’s history than one comprehensive look at where it all began and maybe even what it means?
I’ve got just the thing you’re looking for …
One of the most surprisingly long-running horror franchises ever gets an equally long-running documentary for those who love this sort of thing … and I do.
(NOTE: The following review will contain minor spoilers necessary solely for the discussion of plot and/or characters. If you’re the type of reader who prefers a review entirely spoiler-free, then I’d encourage you to skip down to the last three paragraphs for my final assessment. If, however, you’re accepting of a few modest hints at ‘things to come,’ then read on …)
From the product packaging:
“Inspired by the critically acclaimed book, Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History Of Friday The 13th takes viewers behind the mask on an epic journey into the making of the landmark horror franchise – from its humble beginnings in 1980 at a New Jersey summer camp to the blockbuster release of its 2009 ‘reboot.’ Combining hundreds of rare and never-before-seen photographs, film clips, outtakes, archival documents, conceptual art and behind-the-scenes footage. Featuring interviews with more than 150 cast and crew members spanning all twelve films and the television series …”
There’s just a bit more written, but methinks you’ll probably already know whether or not spending the time it takes to wade deep into these waters interests you or not. So far as this casual fan of the Friday the 13th films is concerned, it’s definitely worth it. Yes, that means it’s worth 400 minutes; and, yes, you read that right. 400 minutes. Pop some corn and buckle up. At times, I’ll concede that the coverage might appear a feel tiresome, but the way good storytellers do all the minutiae ends up coming full circle thematically. Every discussed little detail here is worth it … but you may not quite know why when you’re in the thick of it.
The Friday franchise is always one of those that made perfect business sense.
It’s low-budget, guerilla filmmaking debatably at its least inspired – basically, it’s all just an conscience-free slasher hunting one horny teen after another – and that hasn’t kept it from amassing some impressive box office clout throughout its twelve various flicks. While dismissed by some for being far too formulaic, I’d argue that the formula has proven profitable to big and small degrees every time it’s been tried. You don’t last as long as Jason has while losing money, even if a few of the efforts might’ve cut a bit too close to the bone to truly make bank. I’ve always thought of it as ‘the little horror film that could,’ forever finding some clever way to reinvent itself while remaining true to the recipe combining those universal ingredients: blood, blood, and more blood.
Granted, this isn’t meant to imply that all of the Friday flicks are worthwhile films because – on so many levels – several of them are quite dumb. Jason in New York? Really, Hollywood? Jason in space? C’mon now! Still, when you least expected it (much like the life and death and life again of never-ending Mr. Voorhees) something reinvigorates the interest of audiences, and then they’re spending another 90-minutes wondering what happened to the last 90 minutes of their lives.
After all, such is life … and such is the power of this seminal Horror franchise.
Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History Of Friday The 13th (2013) is produced by 1428 Films, Panic Productions, and Hutson Ranch Media. DVD distribution (for this particular release) has been handled by the reliable RLJ Entertainment and Image Entertainment. As for the technical specifications? While I’m no trained video expert: this 400-minute documentary boasts an impressive collection of archival footage, some of which is understandably grainy due to the age and handling of it, but none of it is a distraction to the quality of the piece. Lastly, the packaging boasts that there is an accompanying commentary track, but I didn’t explore it: the flick itself was feast enough.
Highest Recommendation Possible.
Horror films have always been a bona fide cultural phenomenon, and what I found most interesting about this massive collection of Crystal Lake Memories is that there are quite possibly as many reasons to explain their popularity as there are fans of this franchise. While some viewers might think there’s more reflections here than absolutely necessary, I thought it was terrific to have these reminiscences preserved for the integrity of (first) film history and (second) the legion of fans who will hungrily scarf this all up. Plus … with that many films in a franchise, there’s an awful lot of ground to cover!
In the interests of fairness, I’m pleased to disclose that the fine folks at RLJ Entertainment and Image Entertainment provided me with a Blu ray of Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History Of Friday The 13th by request for the expressed purposes of completing this review; and their contribution to me in no way, shape, or form influenced my opinion of it.
-- EZ
As I’ve explained over the years, I think there’s just something about films focusing on our darkest frights that tap into something primal in the audiences who enjoy them. They scare us. They delight us. They examine our fears and phobias. While there may yet inevitably prove to be some link between cinematic violence and real-world mayhem (it’s arguably as elusive as the link missing between men and apes), I’ve always thought that this is little more than pure escapism for a healthy mind.
Over the last several decades, there’s been a great number of Friday The 13th films that have dabbled gorily in such fertile pastures. Launching that global phenomenon all the way back in 1980, producers, effects people, and screen talent have cashed in on expanding the saga of the bloodthirsty Jason Voorhees; and they will likely always be a time in our collective consciousness that audiences not only know his name but also know full well to run from him.
What better way to celebrate the intellectual property’s history than one comprehensive look at where it all began and maybe even what it means?
I’ve got just the thing you’re looking for …
One of the most surprisingly long-running horror franchises ever gets an equally long-running documentary for those who love this sort of thing … and I do.
(NOTE: The following review will contain minor spoilers necessary solely for the discussion of plot and/or characters. If you’re the type of reader who prefers a review entirely spoiler-free, then I’d encourage you to skip down to the last three paragraphs for my final assessment. If, however, you’re accepting of a few modest hints at ‘things to come,’ then read on …)
From the product packaging:
“Inspired by the critically acclaimed book, Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History Of Friday The 13th takes viewers behind the mask on an epic journey into the making of the landmark horror franchise – from its humble beginnings in 1980 at a New Jersey summer camp to the blockbuster release of its 2009 ‘reboot.’ Combining hundreds of rare and never-before-seen photographs, film clips, outtakes, archival documents, conceptual art and behind-the-scenes footage. Featuring interviews with more than 150 cast and crew members spanning all twelve films and the television series …”
There’s just a bit more written, but methinks you’ll probably already know whether or not spending the time it takes to wade deep into these waters interests you or not. So far as this casual fan of the Friday the 13th films is concerned, it’s definitely worth it. Yes, that means it’s worth 400 minutes; and, yes, you read that right. 400 minutes. Pop some corn and buckle up. At times, I’ll concede that the coverage might appear a feel tiresome, but the way good storytellers do all the minutiae ends up coming full circle thematically. Every discussed little detail here is worth it … but you may not quite know why when you’re in the thick of it.
The Friday franchise is always one of those that made perfect business sense.
It’s low-budget, guerilla filmmaking debatably at its least inspired – basically, it’s all just an conscience-free slasher hunting one horny teen after another – and that hasn’t kept it from amassing some impressive box office clout throughout its twelve various flicks. While dismissed by some for being far too formulaic, I’d argue that the formula has proven profitable to big and small degrees every time it’s been tried. You don’t last as long as Jason has while losing money, even if a few of the efforts might’ve cut a bit too close to the bone to truly make bank. I’ve always thought of it as ‘the little horror film that could,’ forever finding some clever way to reinvent itself while remaining true to the recipe combining those universal ingredients: blood, blood, and more blood.
Granted, this isn’t meant to imply that all of the Friday flicks are worthwhile films because – on so many levels – several of them are quite dumb. Jason in New York? Really, Hollywood? Jason in space? C’mon now! Still, when you least expected it (much like the life and death and life again of never-ending Mr. Voorhees) something reinvigorates the interest of audiences, and then they’re spending another 90-minutes wondering what happened to the last 90 minutes of their lives.
After all, such is life … and such is the power of this seminal Horror franchise.
Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History Of Friday The 13th (2013) is produced by 1428 Films, Panic Productions, and Hutson Ranch Media. DVD distribution (for this particular release) has been handled by the reliable RLJ Entertainment and Image Entertainment. As for the technical specifications? While I’m no trained video expert: this 400-minute documentary boasts an impressive collection of archival footage, some of which is understandably grainy due to the age and handling of it, but none of it is a distraction to the quality of the piece. Lastly, the packaging boasts that there is an accompanying commentary track, but I didn’t explore it: the flick itself was feast enough.
Highest Recommendation Possible.
Horror films have always been a bona fide cultural phenomenon, and what I found most interesting about this massive collection of Crystal Lake Memories is that there are quite possibly as many reasons to explain their popularity as there are fans of this franchise. While some viewers might think there’s more reflections here than absolutely necessary, I thought it was terrific to have these reminiscences preserved for the integrity of (first) film history and (second) the legion of fans who will hungrily scarf this all up. Plus … with that many films in a franchise, there’s an awful lot of ground to cover!
In the interests of fairness, I’m pleased to disclose that the fine folks at RLJ Entertainment and Image Entertainment provided me with a Blu ray of Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History Of Friday The 13th by request for the expressed purposes of completing this review; and their contribution to me in no way, shape, or form influenced my opinion of it.
-- EZ
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