What's old is new again!
Peacock has launched their newest series, CRYSTAL LAKE, starring Linda Cardellini as Pamela Vorhees, serving as a prequel series to the legendary FRIDAY THE 13TH film franchise. The series begins with the tragic drowning of her son Jason, the infamous killer from the films beginning in PART II. It humanizes its antagonists and victims in ways that reframe our understanding of the 46-year-old franchise, deepening the lore behind the Vorhees family as well as the town in which they live, kill, and die.
Critical and fan response to the show have been favorable thus far, and for good reason. The series manages to fill in some dramatic elements that have been missing from the films without taking itself too seriously; Easter eggs abound as viewers dive further into the lives of Pamela and those around her, and once the murders start (which they do very quickly), it fits firmly within the franchise's bloody roots. Bear in mind that this "drama" is a horror series through and through; it is not for the squeamish.
None of this is to say that its artisans don't take their work seriously. Linda Cardellini turns in a powerful performance as Pamela Vorhees, a doting mother and a vessel of unspeakable grief. It makes her vengeance seem earned rather than sympathetic, giving dimension to the monster rather than redemption. Showrunner Brad Caleb Kane (IT: WELCOME TO DERRY) truly understands how to deepen lore without getting lost in the woods, pun intended.
Breakout star Danielle Kotch took some time to chat with me today about her character Claudette, the camp counselor who neglects young Jason at the pivotal moment that he finds himself too far out in the waters of Camp Crystal Lake and succumbs to his watery grave.
SPOILER ALERT: If you can't suss out what might happen to the counselor most directly linked to Jason's drowning, you might want to skip this interview until after you've watched the series (at least through episode 5).
CRYSTAL LAKE is currently streaming all episodes on Peacock.
Until next time, take scare!
-McEric, aka Eric McClanahan-
