Crystal Lake represents the biggest change in the history of the Friday the 13th franchise. A near total reset of the series lore, Crystal Lake takes a near 50 year old franchise and hopes to resurrect it for modern audiences.
Now, sure, there was the 2009 Friday the 13th (which, IMHO, just didn’t quite hit right), and the must missed videogame, but this upcoming TV series is something entirely different. For starters, it has positioned itself as a prequel to the events of the first film. Now, this is not without its controversies. You see, as the original was released in 1979, the events that are mostly alluded to before the main action kicks off took place in the 1950s. However, with an eye to relaunching the franchise in cinemas, Crystal Lake has updated this timeframe to the early 1970s. Now, some fans are deeply upset by this, feeling it isn’t appropriate and doesn’t fit the established canon of the series.
Well, the fact is, the existing canon has always played somewhat fast & loose with it’s own placements in linear time. And frankly, even though Jason is by this point a damn near immortal undead killer, it’s probably past due a reset. Hell, I’m a massive Friday The 13th fan, and I can accept that.
So, for my money, we could be onto something really, really good here. An entire new jumping off point leading into a refreshed, revitalised series of films. Any legacy sequels these days have such a weight of expectation upon their shoulders they could never live up to the series reputation amongst fans anyway. Seeing the events that drive Pamela Voorhees to her homicidal insanity is something I know I’ve wanted to see for years.
And this is a well put together production. Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees? Yes please. She is a damn talented actor and the part should give plenty of emotional range to cover as she slides into madness. The A24 team behind the cameras are also a very talented bunch, and Crystal Lake isn’t exactly their first rodeo.
I’m more than happy to see the entire first series before I pass a true judgement. Trailers, press releases, rumours… You can’t judge the show based on those (much as some are trying to do). Only once I’ve actually seen it will I be willing to do that.
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