What does Friday the 13th mean to you?
For many people I’m sure it represents some superstitious beliefs about the number 13, bad luck and ominous happenings on this day that can possibly occur three times a year.
For many people who are fans of a certain movie genre, it is a cause to celebrate one of the most successful horror movie franchises in history, “Friday the 13th,” and all of its sequels and recent reboot.
I just attended a “Friday the 13th” showing of the original 1980 movie in the town where much of the movie was filmed.
Blairstown, N.J., is the home of the Main Street and diner where many of the beginning scenes were filmed.
The nearby infamous Camp Crystal Lake where the story takes place is actually an active Boy Scout camp Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco that occasionally during times when no camping is taking place will hold tours for the movie’s fans.
They even have a display of memorabilia from the original filming on site.
Every year, Roy’s Hall, which was also known as the Historic Blairstown Theatre, screens the original film that gave birth to this franchise.
I finally was able to go this year and it was a great fun-filled experience.
Jason was in the lobby wearing his iconic hockey mask and wielding a bloody machete — perfect for a photo op.
He didn’t utter a word but was agreeable enough to pose but stay in character.
If you check out the Blairstown News Facebook page, it chronicles Jason’s tour through town and the diner “entertaining” and giving the local folks some scares and laughs on his way to the movie screening.
My daughter and her friend joined me, as they both love to watch horror movies.
They had seen the movie on video, but I had to laugh when they both jumped during a couple of jump scares, especially when Jason comes out of the lake and grabs Alice in the canoe. (Oops! Should I have prefaced that with a “Spoiler Alert”?)
This is so the power and delight of watching a movie in the dark on a big screen that being at home on TV can never compare to.
It was a packed house and the start of the movie was met with cheers and applause.
Each name in the opening credits was shouted out with hoots and hollers.
Every killing was met with shouts and clapping –- a real hardcore slasher movie crowd.
When the character Annie first appeared on screen, the crowd went wild, as she was walking down Main Street in Blairstown and then right by the theater that we were all sitting in.
More cheers and claps as she goes into the Blairstown Diner, where she asks for directions to the camp and gets a ride from a local truck driver and is dropped off at the Moravian Cemetery in nearby Hope, N.J.
More cheers.
It was a great time had by all. I’m looking forward to next year and hanging with Jason.
Until then: Chi chi chi ah ah ah…
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