Hello Campers!

Tonight is the first time there’s been a full moon on Friday the 13th since October of 2000!  This rare occurrence might mean you’ll want to stay indoors tonight and steer clear of ladders, black cats, and mirrors perched precariously and waiting to shatter.  Why not fire up one of the classic Friday the 13th films that were a mainstay during the ’80s, arriving almost yearly to slice and dice their way through a new set of unlucky teens.  They may have become a bit of a joke by the end but there are a key few that get the jolt job done, achieving a great balance between horror and entertainment.

I’ve reviewed a few of these over the years and sometime I’ll do a retrospective of all — but here’s a few to look out for:

Friday the 13th (1980) – The original that started it all, I watched it again recently and must admit that it’s still pretty effective.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) – It was supposed to send Jason out with a bloody bang and, thinking it was the last, it shoots for the moon and scores.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) – My personal favorite, it’s the one I’ll likely make time for tonight – a prime example of how the genre can combine laughs with screams.
If you’ve got seven hours to spare, I also would highly recommend Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th (2013) – it’s jam-packed full of juicy bits on the making of the movies.

The others?  Well, your mileage may vary and it all depends on how forgiving you feel toward dear old Jason and his beloved Camp Crystal Lake.

There won’t be another one of these nights for another 30 years — 2049!  Make the most of this evening!