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It’s common knowledge that Jason Voorhees evolves over time. In each flick, he’s significantly different, though retaining certain characteristics of previous ventures. However, the movie that most established Jason as we know him today is Steve Miner’s Friday the 13th Part III. In part 1, Jason was just a boy whose death led his mother, Pam (Betsy Palmer), going on a killing spree in his honor. Why did the counselors let that poor boy drown? They were busy “making love,” of course! See, that’s why, among all of these slasher movies, the Friday the 13th franchise at least has a clear motive behind the killer’s disdain for sex.

Beyond these basic motives, the earlier films established Jason as a deformed miscreant. The idea was originated by Tom Savini, and it’s no doubt an additional source of anger for Mr. Voorhees. This was someone who had no hope of leading a normal life, although it’s likely Jason would have been psychotic even without his mother’s decaptation and physical appearance. In part 2, Jason hid his deformities behind a large sack rather than the iconic hockey mask.

In other words, it took 3 full movies for them to truly establish Jason Voorhees in his most recognizable form: The tall, nearly invincible killer. In fact, prior to Friday the 13th Part III, Jason didn’t seem nearly as invincible. Frankly, he seemed considerably more human. In fact, he was thwarted largely due to his psychology, which the third film largely abandons (though Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter does get into his psychology again).

The Beginnings of Near-Invincible Zombie Jason

The invincible slasher villain wasn’t always a cliché. In fact, other than Halloween’s Michael Myers, hardly any invincible slasher villains seem to have existed when this movie arrived. So, in an odd way, “Part III” can be seen as somewhat innovative. In fact, it also has one of the best “final girl” confrontations of any slasher movie out there, with Chris Higgins (Dana Kimmell) battling Jason is in a fairly believable combination of luck and skill. However, as they fight, one thing gradually becomes apparent: Jason Voorhees (Richard Brooker) is very hard to kill, or even slow down. Stab a knife in his knee, he can basically still run…and yes, Jason runs in this movie. He gets noticeably pissed off and runs after Chris. He also grunts when he gets harmed, indicating some vestigial sense of pain.

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While those are human traits, we know by this point that Jason is…well, more human than human. It further establishes the question of what the hell Jason Voorhees even is. Is he undead even in Part 2? Is he the recipent of magical powers? Is he part of some greater curse over Camp Crystal Lake — what Crazy Ralph (Walter J. Gorney) called a “death curse”? It’s hard to say. In fact, it’s regularly debated whether enough the bastard truly even drowned! What we do know, however, is that Jason Voorhees is built Ford tough and ready to kill (though, of course, he often likes to wait around and watch his eventual victism first, just to learn about ’em and draw out the movie’s run time).

Final Questions

As all fans know, Jason first gets his mask from prankster Shelly Finkelstein (Larry Zerner). However, there is one lingering question: Why would Jason develop such an affinity with the mask? It’s actually a bit weird if you think about it. Why would he wear it through so many different, epic, counselor-killing adventures over the years? The most obvious answer is that, by this point, a hockey maskless Jason would be rejected by franchise fans.

Still, I’d personally like to think that, inside the bizarre universe of Camp Blood, Jason has come to depend on it almost as a close pal. While it’s doubtful that he cares about his murder of Shelly, it is possible that something about the mask simply grips him, never lets him go. He was evil before donning that mask, but he’s become ever more evil, and ever more invinciple since putting it on. At the very least, it must give him a sense of confidence to put it on, and help him get out there to kickc camper butt!

What are your thoughts on Friday the 13th Part III and its many unique questions? Let us know in the comments!

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Joe Bob’s Christmas Carnage: A Bloody Good Holiday Special Fri. December 13th – 9pm ET!

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🎅🏼🔪 Brace yourselves for a blood-soaked holiday extravaganza! 🎄💀

Joe Bob’s Christmas Carnage is coming to town, and it’s not for the faint of heart! Catch this killer special on Shudder and AMC+ TV feeds Friday, December 13th at 9pm ET/8c, or stream it on-demand starting December 15th.

What’s in Santa’s bag of horrors? 🎁

Two spine-chilling holiday horror flicks

So much gore, even Rudolph’s nose will turn pale

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A charity auction that’ll make your wallet scream (in a good way!)

Joe Bob and Darcy are decking the halls with boughs of terror, auctioning off:

  • Rare AF props from The Last Drive-In
  • Exclusive merch that’ll make your horror-loving heart skip a beat
  • Joe Bob’s personal keepsakes from his 35-year reign of terror in the industry

But wait, there’s more…

Join the HauntedMTL crew for a spine-tingling side quest on Threads (https://www.threads.net/@_hauntedmtl_)! We’re going live as our very own Jim Phoenix breaks the bank for charity, adding an extra layer of terror to your Joe Bob experience. It’s like getting two scoops of horror in your bloody sundae! 🍦💀

Those britches are mine, bitches! -Jim circa the year of Darcy’s panties.

And because we love our fellow fiends, we’re stuffing your stockings with some killer swag! That’s right, HauntedMTL followers have a chance to win some seriously spooky goodies. It’s our way of saying “thanks for being part of our nightmare before Christmas!” 🎁👻

So, while Joe Bob and Darcy are slashing through their winter wonderland, hop over to Threads and join the HauntedMTL fam. It’s a horror-day party you won’t want to miss! Remember: the more you engage, the better your chances of scoring some haunted swag. Let’s make this a Christmas to dismember! 🔪🎄

Wanna know which flicks we’re slashing through? Tune in December 13th on Shudder to find out! 🍿🔪

Your holiday shopping spree will support these awesome causes:
Pacific Marine Mammal Center

Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation

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Family Promise

Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Don’t be a Grinch – join the carnage and spread some bloody good cheer! 🎅🏼🔪🎄

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🎃 Unleash the Terror: Epic Black Friday 2024 Deals for Horror Fans on Amazon! 🧟‍♂️

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Hey there, fright fiends! 👻 Are you ready to sink your fangs into some spine-tingling Black Friday deals? We’ve scoured the darkest corners of Amazon to bring you a blood-curdling collection of horror goodies that’ll make your wallet scream with joy! From classic monsters to modern nightmares, we’ve got something to haunt every horror fan’s dreams. Let’s dive into the madness!

Before we go further – we are an amazon affiliate and if you click these links we may get money for Amazon. With that said, we won’t put up things we don’t suggest so here is the curated list as it sits for Black Friday Week 2024.

🎥 Monstrous Movie Mayhem

Bram Stoker’s Dracula 4K

Sink your teeth into Francis Ford Coppola’s visually stunning adaptation of the classic vampire tale. Watch Gary Oldman’s mesmerizing performance as the Count in glorious 4K resolution!

Christine 4K

Rev up your engines for John Carpenter’s killer car classic! This 4K edition will have you gripping your steering wheel in terror as the demonic Plymouth Fury wreaks havoc.

Akira Blu-ray

Experience the mind-bending anime masterpiece that redefined the genre. Prepare for a psychedelic journey through Neo-Tokyo that’ll leave you questioning reality!

Underworld Ultimate Collection Blu-ray

Dive into the eternal war between vampires and lycans with this action-packed collection. Kate Beckinsale’s leather-clad Selene will have you howling for more!

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Resident Evil Steelbook

For the true RE fanatics, this gorgeous steelbook edition is a must-have for your collection. It’s so shiny, you can see the T-virus reflected in it!

Doctor Who Complete David Tennant Blu-ray

Okay, it’s not strictly horror, but who can resist the Weeping Angels? Join the Tenth Doctor on his time-traveling adventures and prepare for some serious sci-fi scares!

Evil Dead Blu-ray

Groovy, baby! Sam Raimi’s cult classic will have you laughing and screaming in equal measure. Remember, this is your boom stick!

Scream (2022) Steelbook

The slasher franchise that knows the rules is back with a vengeance! This meta-horror masterpiece will have you guessing who’s behind the Ghostface mask.

Leviathan 4K UHD Blu-ray

Dive deep into aquatic terror with this underrated gem from the golden age of practical effects. It’s like “The Thing” meets “The Abyss”!

📚 Bone-Chilling Books and Comics

Terrifier 2 BOOK by Tim Waggoner

Can’t get enough of Art the Clown? This novelization of the splatter sensation will paint vivid, gory pictures in your mind. Sleep tight!

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus Vol. 3

D’oh-n’t miss out on this collection of spooky Simpsons stories! It’s the perfect way to celebrate Halloween in Springfield all year round.

The Dead Zone by Stephen King

Dive into one of King’s classic tales of psychic abilities and political intrigue. Johnny Smith’s visions will keep you on the edge of your seat!

🎮 Ghoulish Games and Collectibles

Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead PS5

Double the horror, double the fun! Face off against Michael Myers and the Deadites in this terrifying two-pack of asymmetrical multiplayer games.

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Alone in the Dark Xbox Series X

Return to Derceto Manor in this reimagining of the survival horror classic. Just remember, in the dark, you’re never truly alone…

Chucky Funko Pop

Add everyone’s favorite Good Guy doll to your collection! Just don’t turn your back on him, or you might regret it…

Harry Potter LEGO Hogwarts

Who can resist the allure of a magical and/or haunted castle? Build your own magical world and watch out for those Dementors!

🎬 The Final Cut

There you have it, horror hounds! These Black Friday deals are so good, it’s scary. Whether you’re into classic monsters, modern slashers, or cosmic horrors, Amazon’s got something to make your dark heart skip a beat.

But hurry! Like a vampire at sunrise, these deals won’t last forever. If you want to do a general search on your own, feel free to use our link here.

Remember, in the world of horror, the only thing scarier than missing out on these deals is paying full price! Happy haunting, and may your Black Friday be filled with delightful frights! 🎃👻🔪

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Editorial

Rock the Vote for Real

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Star spangled costume identity portrait of myself - Rock the Vote
Star spangled costume identity portrait of myself

If you live in the United States, it’s time to rock the vote for real. I shared this video before in conjunction with my identity-based costume work, and I feel it’s important to revisit now, with the election coming up in just a few days. Besides which, Jack Black and Tenacious D are brilliant and given the current political climate, who doesn’t want to do the time warp? But seriously, get out and rock the vote, your life kinda does depend on it (at least insomuch as being able to make for yourself the life that you want, without the government telling you how to do so – especially if you live on the fringes of socially acceptable awkwardness like me and so many of my friends).

tenacious d rock-y the vote

Besides which, this video is so good, it’s worth sharing again anyway. And again, if for some reason the video doesn’t load, you can find it here.

Tow Away Zone photograph of sign and flag as found by Jennifer Weigel
Tow Away Zone photograph of sign and flag as found by Jennifer Weigel
Tow Away Zone photograph in flag form
Tow Away Zone photograph in flag form

Art Attack

And here are some artworks I made awhile back as political commentary. The photograph was shot of the scene exactly as found, of a sign above a parking lot in a quickly gentrifying neighborhood making sure all knew that any unauthorized vehicles were unwelcome, and hung right in front of a flag that was tattered and torn from being caught on the chain link fence driving the point home. The flags were meant to be interactive, with gallerygoers waving them while singing The Star Spangled Banner in its elitist entirety. The whole really spoke to me regarding some of the political climate at the time (this was right before Trump was elected President the first time). How much has changed since then? In some ways, a lot. In other ways, I guess we shall see.

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