Just in time for spooky season, Peacock drops Crystal Lake, a prequel centered on one of horror’s most iconic twists: The moment Friday the 13th revealed that Jason Voorhees’ mother, Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer, Penny Dreadful), is the one picking off horny teens in the original film.
Now, 46 years later, fans finally get the untold story behind the Crystal Lake slasher’s mom. So the real question is: Is this prequel worth the wait, or should it have stayed buried at the bottom of the lake with Jason?
The good news?
Crystal Lake doesn’t just fish the Voorhees story out of the water for cheap nostalgia. It takes some surprisingly big swings, finds new angles on the Voorhees family mythology and proves that the scariest thing in Camp Crystal Lake isn’t just the guy in the hockey mask. Crystal Lake takes place in 1972, eight years before the original Friday the 13th movie. And, from the first bloody scene, Crystal Lake wastes no time proving that hell hath no fury like a woman reborn, proving two souls were lost that day and two monsters were born.
Linda Cardellini (Hawkeye) absolutely slays as Pamela Voorhees, commanding every frame and carving her legacy as a woman you do not trifle with. Cardellini brings an energy that makes you care about Pamela, empathize with her, and even root for her minus the whole hacking up teenagers part. At its core, Pamela is a mother whose child was taken away from her not just by inattentive camp counselors, but by people and choices from Pamela’s past origin fans never knew about until now. As the show unfolds, viewers start to see just how many hands are on the knife long before Pamela ever picked one up.
The supporting cast is just as killer, with William Catlett (Black Lightning) as Chief Levon Brooks, Gwendolyn Sundstrom (I Don’t Think I Believe in Love) as Grace Snell, a new addition to the Voorhees mythos, Devin Kessler (Godfather of Harlem) as Brianna Brooks, Cameron Scoggins (Shades of Blue) as Officer Dorf, an original character in the Friday the 13th universe and Callum Vinson (Chucky) as a young Jason Voorhees.
You’d never guess in a million years that you’d find yourself feeling sorry for Jason, but Vinson pulls off the impossible. Vinson does an awesome job bringing a young Jason to life, giving a glimpse of the innocence behind the face of the future hockey mask-wearing nightmare. It’s a performance that sadly reminds fans that before Jason became a slasher legend, he was just an innocent kid whose story ended in tragedy.
Sundstrom is equally impressive as Grace, Jason’s only childhood friend who brings an engaging presence to the series while sharing some incredible chemistry with Vinson. Together they bring the drama, danger and emotional heart of Crystal Lake to life. Other outstanding performances go to Catlett, who plays a smooth John Shaft meets Detective Virgil Tibbs chief of police who tries to help Pamela navigate her grief and trauma.
And no horror show or traumatic trip to Crystal Lake is complete without a killer opening sequence. Thankfully, Crystal Lake doesn’t disappoint. Series creator Brad Caleb Kane delivers an opener that pays tribute to the original film, complete with a haunting score from the man, the myth, the legend himself, Harry Manfredini, who composed the music for the original Friday the 13th. From the jump, it builds the suspense and the atmosphere that made the original film such a classic.
Speaking of classics, Crystal Lake serves up some of the awesomest and most creative kills to be seen in a horror show. There’s one involving a deep fryer that’ll make anyone think twice the next time they’re frying food. Horror fans will be pleased with the amount of blood, guts and body count that Pamela racks up.
46 years later, returning to Camp Crystal Lake to tell Pamela’s story is worth the wait. Kane understands what makes this franchise tick, delivering a prequel with heart, a solid cast and enough blood-curdling kills to keep horror fans smiling. Whether Crystal Lake gets another season or remains a one-season series, it’s a great addition to the Friday the 13th legacy. Do yourself a favor and check out all eight episodes available now on Peacock.
