It’s Friday the 13th here at The Book of Juan. For the 13th time, I’m writing a post in the Flashback Friday series on this day. In times’ past, the Flashback Friday moments on this day have been innocent. Today, I’m covering something a bit more appropriate for the occasion: the Friday the 13th slasher film.
How I first came across this moment? For me, it all started when I was 6 years old. It was in September 1991 when I saw Friday the 13th for the first time. My aunt was watching it and I asked if I can watch too. After asking me about 15 times if I was sure, I was sitting next to her eating popcorn and getting introduced to the story of Jason Voohees.
What it meant to me then? As a kid a month short of his 7th birthday, the original Friday the 13th film was just flat out scary. I only watched with my aunt because I wanted the popcorn. In hindsight, maybe I should’ve just asked for that and went to my room. But I didn’t and I stayed…and my reward was being scared to sleep. The killing, the sex, and the violence was a bit much for me.
What it means to me now? Some 30 years later, the original Friday the 13th film is considered light to me. Compared to the other films in the series, it wasn’t as brutal. It was just a deranged mother trying to avenge her son’s death. Even now, however, I’m still creeped out by machete because of that film.
