When it comes to horror, no fanbase has been through as much as with theFriday the 13thfranchise. There hasn’t been a new installment for 15 years and, just last week, the A24 prequel series that was set to debut later this year,Crystal Lake, lost its showrunner,Bryan Fuller. However, in between the misery of the last decade, the one bright spot for the long-running slasher series andJason Voorheeshas been the merchandise. Particularly the action figures that have been made byNECA. Now the popular toy company has unveiled theirnew Crystal Lake Accessory set.
The set is packed to the brim, so any horror fan can stay at the cursedcampgroundsin killer fashion.This includes a seven-inch long version of the iconic Camp Crystal Lake sign, a dock base that stands 11-inches tall, and a rock and sign base with a chain that can be attached to Jason. The latter of which is a recreation of the slasher villain’s ”death” inPart VI: Jason Lives. This set is to scale with NECA’s previously released line of seven-inch Jason figures, but they’re sold separately. The company has made an “Ultimate” action figure of every appearance of the character. From “Bag Head Jason” inPart IIto his undead zombie appearance inPart VI, each Jason is covered in their collection. Even the copycat killer fromPart V: A New Beginningis in plastic form thanks to NECA.
The History of Camp Crystal Lake
WhenFriday the 13thdebuted in 1980, likeHalloweenbefore it, the slasher completely changed the sun-genre and shaped the identity of horror for the next decade. Its summer camp setting was perfect for a high body count and Paramount responded with an endless sea of sequels.From 1981 to 1989, there were seven sequels that always found a new way to bring Jason back. This included a trip to New York City inPart VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, which was the final nail in the coffin for the killer’s initial run. The rights for the series would then be picked up by New Line Cinema, prompting two more sequels in the 90s.
However, Jason’s biggest claim to fame after the 80s was his crossover withA Nightmare on Elm Streetin 2003,Freddy vs. Jason. The last film the character appeared in was the2009 remake. It’s considered an underrated gem in the franchise now, but it was panned by critics and fans alike upon its release. While there wasn’t a film in the 2010s,Friday the 13th: The Gamewas what every horror fan was playing when it was released in 2017. However, the game was forced to stop producing updates due to anasty rights disputebetween the first film’s original writerVictor Millerand producerSean S. Cunningham. That also halted any attempt to get a newFriday the 13thfilm made.
The first eightFriday the 13thfilms are currently streaming on Max. With the legal battle over, there has also beennew-found interest in the franchise. Cunningham revealed early last year that he wasdeveloping a potential sequeland the head of Blumhouse, Jason Blum, hasshown interest in rebooting the franchise. In addition,despite Crystal Lake’s recent setback, the series hasn’t been canceled and is being reworked. As for NECA’s Crystal Lake Accessory Set, the piece is up for pre-order now ontheir websitefor $34.99.The set will be up for pre-order until Monday, May 27 at 11:59 PM EST. It’s set to ship in October 2024, which is just in time for the spooky Halloween season.
Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th is a horror-slasher film by director Sean S. Cunningham and follows a group of camp counselors who are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer known to be the site of a child’s drowning and a grisly double murder. The film began a decades-long franchise that would eventually lead to the creation of Jason Voorhees, one of the most popular horror icons of all time.
