It’s not all fun and games at Camp Crystal Lake.
The new “Friday the 13th” prequel series is a violent gore-fest that intermittently takes a stab at having a meaningful plot.
But, you could also say that about the movies. So, while “Crystal Lake” is a middling show – not terrible; but not great – it’s a worthy entry in this franchise.
Premiering Oct. 15 on Peacock, “Crystal Lake” stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees, mother of iconic villain Jason Voorhees and the franchise’s original killer.
To date, there’s been twelve slasher films in this universe, released from 1980 to 2009.
On the big screen, Jason was said to have drowned at New Jersey’s Camp Crystal Lake. He returned as an adult, wielding a machete and wearing a hockey mask, out for blood. His mother Pamela (played by Betsy Palmer in the film) also had her own murder spree.
When the show begins in the ‘70s, Jason (Callum Vinson) is a cute kid with a misshapen head. Locals sneeringly call him “deformed.” Unlike the silent psycho adult Jason, the kid is chatty and sweet.
Pamela is distraught when Jason seemingly drowns in the lake at the summer camp, where she works as a cook.
One year later, she is convinced that her son is somehow still out there, since his body was never found.
Everyone thinks the grieving mother is pitiful, but Pam forms a bond with Grace (Gwendolyn Sundstrom), who was Jason’s only friend.
Meanwhile, there’s blood and guts galore as people in town keep getting hacked up.
Police chief Levon Brooks (Will Catlett) and his journalist sister Briana (Devin Kessler) are both investigating what’s happening. A gang of hippies come to party. Two men show up who seem to know Pam’s mysterious past. There’s a whiff of corporate conspiracy afoot.
If those plot points sound scattered – it’s because they are.
“Crystal Lake” meanders along unevenly, often feeling like it’s throwing spaghetti at the wall, to see what sticks.
Cardellini elevates the material with a strong performance, but the show spends a lot of time spinning its wheels before revealing Pam’s backstory in the standout penultimate episode.
So, we spend much of “Crystal Lake” watching Pam do outrageous actions, without having much context for what to make of it.
It makes you wonder if it would have been better as a movie.
On the other hand, if you want to turn off your brain and just watch dramatic murders happen onscreen – with blood geysers everywhere – then this is the show for you.
It’s fitting for the larger “Friday the 13th” franchise, since that’s slasher schlock, neither as sharp as the “Scream” movies, nor dipping into social commentary like “Obsession” or “Get Out.”
The movies weren’t interested in being high art. They were here for the kills and thrills, and so is the show. So, in that regard, there’s a lot in “Crystal Lake” for fans to like.
If you’re not especially attached to the franchise, however, and you just want a quality horror show, it might be better to skip this one.
“Crystal Lake” premieres Oct. 15 on Peacock.
