Friday the 13th

A group of young counselors returns to Crystal Lake in New Jersey hoping to reopen a summer camp that had been shut down years ago. Their plans go wrong immediately when an unknown killer begins stalking them through the woods. The film Friday the 13th launched the slasher genre into mainstream consciousness with its mix of dread and suspense. Director Sean S. Cunningham assembled a cast led by Betsy Palmer as the camp owner Pamela Voorhees, who hires the staff to prepare for the season. Adrienne King plays Alice, the final girl who must survive the night. The production operated on a modest budget of $550,000 but managed to gross nearly $40 million at the box office. This massive return turned a low-budget horror movie into a franchise staple. The film carries an R rating for violence and language, appealing to adult audiences looking for thrills rather than teen romance.[edit]