4 mind-blowing facts about Jason Voorhees and the Friday the 13th franchise

Happy Friday the 13th, horror lovers! While you’re likely enjoying your added spooky day of the year in style, what better way is there to celebrate this ominous day other than paying homage to one of our favorite foes? Nevertheless, while you likely own an abundance of Jason Voorhees horror collectibles, just how well do you know the machete-wielding madman since his first emergence from the waters of Camp Crystal Lake? Aside from the fact that he has the highest kill count in genre history!

He isn’t the original villain of the franchise

As popular and memorable as Jason Voorhees is, he isn’t the slasher franchise’s original murderer, and while most dedicated fans know some elements of this kooky killer’s backstory, many forget about Pamela Voorhees, his vengeful psychotic mother. In the first Friday the 13th film, Pamela took to murdering camp counselors, blaming them for the drowning of Jason at Camp Crystal Lake.

Bonus fact: Her signature weapon is a bowie knife.

He became a zombie in the sixth film

While some fans prefer the taste of the original, others purchase Jason Voorhees horror collectibles from all eras. So, since this franchise spans over 30 years, he’s bound to be killed off at some point right? Wrong. After fans thought Jason was killed off in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984), he was then resurrected as a zombie to come back to the screen in Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives (1986).

Although some of his traits make him one of the most powerful villains of the genre, it wasn’t until the 6th film that Jason’s character true immortality came to light as the unstoppable, supernatural being that he was.

His iconic mask didn’t become his appendage until the third film

Most of us can’t envision the crazed killer without his time-honored hockey mask. However, this iconic prop didn’t become a part of his go-to costume until Friday the 13th: Part 3 (1982). This is because in the first film, Jason was more of a side character in the shadow of his mother, Pamela, and in the second film, he wore a bag over his behind before “discovering” the hockey mask.

Bonus fact: Although it first appeared as a plain Detroit Red Wings mask, Jason’s trademark visage has undergone many changes throughout the series. So, since there’s no consistency in the design, unlike other villains in the genre, the mask is seen represented in different shades and there are even some that are damaged with others that are cleaner.

Sexual acts seem to be his trigger

When Jason first initially drowned in Camp Crystal Lake, it was because camp counselors were too busy having sex to keep their eyes on him. Although this isn’t the central theme or motivation behind his killing spree, when you binge-watch the series, you’ll notice many times where a sexual act will awaken him to kill.

Which Jason Voorhees horror collectibles do you tightly every Friday the 13th? Drop a comment or photo below to share with our readers.