I never really got into the Friday the 13th films. Jason Voorhees, to me, always seemed like a second-class Horror Icon. I found a disturbing amount of pleasure and watched with great relish as Freddy Krueger bested him throughout Freddy vs Jason (I'm still in the camp that thinks Freddy won that War, by the way). I recall finally sitting down to watch the first few hockey-masked killer films back in the early 90s and was shocked to find the goalie missing from the first one. Then you get to the second film and you see that Jason is sporting a sack over his head with one eye hole. Part III reveals the Jason most people know, and I think that's where I stopped watching way back when.
I give Freddy vs Jason a lot of credit for pulling off that monster showdown. And I also credit it for making Jason a legit horror figure in my brain. Odd to think it was made 20 years ago.
Speaking of time, Friday the 13th was made 43 years ago. That's bananas. It was filmed in various locations in New Jersey - Hardwick, Blairstown, and Hope township. And it turns out those towns embrace that odd claim to fame. The boy scout camp where most of the film was shot has Camp Crystal Lake tours during parts of the year. And the diner in Blairstown gets decked out in horror decor on each occurrence of Friday the 13th in the calendar. There's even an appearance by Mr. Voorhees himself - the hockey mask varietal.
Then, in the evening, the local theater in Blairstown has a showing of the first film. Attending that event was pretty amazing. The theater itself, along with nearby buildings in the small town, were featured in the opening scenes of the movie. As each familiar landmark appeared on screen, the packed theater cheered and howled. It was a party atmosphere in there for sure. And it was wonderful being a part of it.
The landscape up in northern New Jersey is stunning, and never what people think when they hear "New Jersey." Rocky valleys and beautiful streams and marshlands are literally everywhere. All the roads seem to wind up, around, and over small mountains, between thick wooded areas and farmland. Many of the smaller farms are abandoned or in a state of disrepair, so it's a dream come true for a scarecrow builder with a camera.
There are loads of small towns with great restaurants, bars, wineries, cider mills, and shops. Ended up in a small antique store by accident and the owner revealed happily that the shop was featured in the opening scenes of the film. And it was!
Below are some photos from this past weekend. If you ever find yourself in New Jersey on Friday the 13th, I'd recommend the Blairstown diner and a movie. I am positive I'll never forget these last few days in New Jersey. And certainly won't forget January 13, 2023.
