It’s clear that the team behind "Friday the 13th" primarily aimed for a decent profit, but I doubt anyone involved initially envisioned it becoming the cult classic it is today. Victor Miller, who wrote the story, openly acknowledged he was capitalizing on the success of “Halloween” (1978). Even Betsy Palmer, after reading the script, reportedly thought the story was subpar—though she did use a different word—and accepted the role simply because she needed a new car. She couldn’t have known that her portrayal would immortalize her as one of horror's most recognizable figures. While Victor Miller and Don Mancini certainly drew inspiration from “Halloween” (1978), "Friday the 13th" manages to stand on its own. Ultimately, these two films aren’t particularly alike beyond being slasher movies centered around a killer targeting teenagers. John Carpenter's “Halloween” is frequently regarded as a more serious horror film, while "Friday the 13th," though still appreciated, is often seen as a less respectable but campy flick. And even though I enjoy it immensely, I’ll concede that “Friday the 13th” does have a certain campiness—no pun intended. The story in “Friday the 13th” begins in 1958 at Camp Crystal Lake. We witness two young counselors about to engage in intimacy when someone unexpectedly appears and murders them both. The killer’s identity remains unseen, as the killings are shown through a point-of-view shot, and the motive isn't immediately clear. The narrative then shifts to 1980, focusing on Alice, an intelligent young woman hired as a counselor alongside other teens to reopen Camp Crystal Lake. Someone seems opposed to the camp’s revival, leading to a series of violent deaths. Could it be the same person who killed those counselors in 1958? Ultimately, Alice must confront the killer and fight for her life. *Spoilers ahead* The plot might not be groundbreaking, but that's not necessarily what "Friday the 13th" needed. I believe this film was among the first to establish a formula: a summer camp setting, an element of mystery, plenty of gore, creative deaths, and a significant reveal toward the end. Like how it tried to capitalize on another slasher’s success, “Friday the 13th” itself spawned numerous (and arguably lesser) imitations. While commercial success doesn't always equate to quality, I do think "Friday the 13th" possesses something that appeals to a wide audience. The characters in this film tend to be somewhat generic and one-dimensional, which is common in slasher films. There’s minimal character development, and we don’t get to know them well. Many of the victims are young people seemingly more interested in having fun than ensuring the children's happiness. While they may not deserve to die for being immature, it's hard to feel overly sympathetic toward them either. However, the first death after the time jump involves a genuinely kind and caring character, making her brutal murder particularly upsetting due to her naïveté. I think this death effectively sets the tone for what’s to come: innocent young people will be violently murdered without provocation. The acting in “Friday the 13th” ranges from unremarkable to over-the-top, contributing to the film's enjoyable campiness along with its silly dialogue. Betsy Palmer, who played Mrs. Pamela Voorhees, received a Razzie Award nomination, and while I appreciate her character and was saddened by Palmer’s passing, I can understand the nomination. It’s true that Palmer’s portrayal is exaggerated and occasionally unintentionally humorous, but it's hard to imagine the role being played differently now. Then there’s Crazy Ralph, who dramatically emerges from a closet to warn the kids they are doomed due to a curse on Camp Crystal Lake. This character, aside from being called “Crazy” Ralph, is perhaps one of the campiest in the slasher genre, earning him an iconic status and even a small role in the first sequel. “Friday the 13th” delivers a good variety of gory murders, with Tom Savini handling the makeup effects, which speaks to its quality. The infamous “axe in the face” death scene is arguably one of the most memorable moments for many fans. This sequence not only provides a shocking and satisfying on-screen death but also builds tension and suspense beforehand, creating a sense of panic and desperation. The final confrontation between Alice and Mrs. Voorhees helps build tension that culminates in a gruesome murder. It’s easy to assume she's responsible for the killings—or at least involved—when she suddenly appears and begins recounting what happened to “that poor boy.” We hadn’t seen her before, so why is she showing up now? There are no other suspects left, and she appears just as things get violent. What could she be doing at Camp Crystal Lake in the middle of the night besides murdering young people? Alice, despite being reasonably intelligent, seems oblivious to what's happening, prompting a desire to shout "Get out of there!" Mrs. Voorhees essentially explains the story to the audience while subtly revealing herself as the killer before entering a trance-like state where she speaks as if possessed by Jason, her son, who drowned at the lake—a sort of twisted version of Norman Bates and his mother. The acting in this final confrontation isn’t particularly brilliant, and the film arguably overexplains things to ensure viewers understand what's happening, just like they emphasize Ralph's craziness by calling him “Crazy Ralph.” Despite the over-the-top performances and heavy-handed exposition, the confrontation remains tense and is rightfully considered one of horror’s most memorable killer reveal moments.

Source on TMDB