Our Horror Through the Decades series continues into the 1980s with one of the most iconic slasher films ever made — Friday the 13th. Released in 1980, this cult classic brought the terror of Camp Crystal Lake to the big screen and introduced audiences to a new era of horror defined by shock, suspense, and a killer that would become legendary.

 

The story follows a group of counselors reopening the long-abandoned Camp Crystal Lake, a place with a dark and bloody history. One by one, they fall victim to a mysterious killer lurking in the woods. What begins as a summer getaway quickly descends into a nightmare, filled with inventive kills, relentless tension, and a final twist that shocked audiences.

 

Friday the 13th not only spawned a franchise that continues to this day but also helped cement the slasher formula that would dominate horror throughout the decade. It remains a rite of passage for horror fans and a quintessential 1980s scare-fest.

 

Join us as we revisit this bloody milestone on the big screen and explore how the 1980s redefined horror for a new generation.