Despite starring in 10 feature films (Technically, 9. Arguably, 8), a remake, a cross-over film, and countless fan films, the escapades and antics of Jason Voorhees have seldom been featured in the series. Actually, they’ve never been featured. Usually because I ban them.

So, it seems kinda fitting that the first appearance of a Friday the 13th film in the Halloween Horrors series comes from a contributor who is also making their first appearance in our series. 

Please welcome Trisha Maestas to this year’s event! The third woman to be featured in this year’s line-up, Trisha makes her debut with a look at the third film in the Friday the 13th series, aptly titled Friday the 13th Part 3. Best known as the film in which Jason first finds his iconic hockey mask, this is a film (as are all of the entries in the series) that I’m sure many of you will be watching this Halloween season. Especially if AMC or some other network or streaming platform air a marathon, which they presumably will.

Friday the 13th Part III (1982)

Higgins Haven is a farm near Camp Crystal Lake and the home to one of the most iconic horror villains of all time. When a girl named Chris Higgins invites her friends to her dad’s farm to blow off some steam, things start to take a turn for the worse and becomes a nightmare.

Enter the hockey masked slasher, Jason Voorhees. Jason Voorhees has returned and he is unstoppable. He’s not the little kid who drowned in the lake a few years prior. Now he is a full grown man and he is out for blood and revenge. This is the first film where Jason Voorhees came into his own as an iconic slasher and undeniably makes him one of the most menacing and terrifying villains of all time. Yes the teens are still horny, yes they like to smoke the grass, and no, they won’t turn their music down. There is still that old creepy guy that warns people of danger if they go into the woods.

On this ride the teens are more likeable. There are a trio of bikers who want revenge for a couple of the teens ruining their bikes, and what happens afterwards is what we come to expect from our guy Jason. It is a straight slasher flick with gory kills and a creepy villain. There’s also a false sense of security and panic once the victims figure out what is happening as it becomes too late for them.

It’s a piece of pop horror culture. It is a Jason fan’s wet dream. The scene where Chris is in the boat and Jason is in the window anticipating his next move makes my heart flutter. Being out in the woods, not knowing who is watching you. Hearing that sound and getting goosebumps because you don’t know where it came from. That, I think, is the recipe for good old fashioned horror. You are in Jason’s territory. Locking the door behind you is not enough to keep him out. Calling the police won’t save you. Being in a group won’t stop him from coming after you. Once he locks eyes, he is determined. Jason is the Terminator of the horror world.

Remember when you would make those funny faces as a kid and your parents would say “your face is gonna get stuck that way”? Well, being a teen smoking dope and having sex while listening to rock n roll will guarantee Jason will find you and kill you. See, parents back in the day were trying to help! I wonder if after watching Friday the 13th young Johnny didn’t go to second base with Susie because he remembered that if he did he was sure to be the the one impaled.

I remember being a teenager and walking to the video store with my cousin. We would always get horror movies and I would always get a Friday the 13th film. This franchise has helped me with depression and anxiety as a teen. I will always feel a connection to Jason Voorhees. He was a strength for me when I was weak. I felt like I was not alone (no pun intended).

To be honest, I would be lying if i said Jason Voorhees didn’t turn me on a bit. Not in the stabby, impale you with the iron fence, “momma’s boy” kinda way. More of a powerful, strong, toss the girl on the bed kinda way. Once he finds his final girl, he will do whatever it takes to get her.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope you have a spooktacular Halloween. 🙂