I think this one's obvious, right? How do you talk about horror and slasher movies, not mention even one Friday the 13th film and get out alive? The thing is there are so many of these movies. If you include the weird ones, the future ones, the cross-over and the reboot, the Friday the 13th franchise boasts a twelve film roster. No, they're not all good, but that doesn't mean people don't see them. This slasher series is one of the most successful and widely recognized horror franchises of all time. Jason Voorhees is a top three slasher killer, and he isn't even the antagonist in the first film! The iconic goalie mask doesn't even appear until the third film! Think about that. Friday the 13th has staying power, even if it turns out bad sequels and multiple reboot attempts.
So today's recommendation is sort of a mess. I strongly recommend seeing the first film. It nails so many slasher tropes including the summer camp, the immoral counsellors, a killer with a history at the camp and an abrupt twist ending. You rarely see the killer, which I love in horror movies that want your imagination to run wild. If that doesn't grab you, maybe Kevin Bacon will. He plays Jack, so look out for him.
Other than the first film, I don't think you really have to watch every chapter to follow along, but it helps. Sometimes it's fun to catch a sequel on TV and watch for the kills rather than the story. Yes, there is a general continuity to the earlier films, some with semi-cliffhanger endings and surprise returns. If I'm going to recommend one particular title in the series, it would have to be Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, which is the fourth film. It isn't the best but it's got it all, including Corey Feldman as Tommy Jarvis (a recurring character but without Feldman in the following instalments). Tommy's nuts, and I think he acts as a study of Jason's development as a child after enduring the traumatic experiences that led Mrs. Voorhees to kill in the first.
Honestly, if you're in it for the kills and the tropes, any of these movies should do the trick. If you can deal with the silly explanations, resurrections and plot holes, you'll have fun. I guarantee there will be at least one moment from each film that you like. Actually, I can't really guarantee that beyond Part VII, everything goes off the rails, but they're still Friday the 13th films. You can't honestly expect to see an Oscar-worthy movie with stellar performances. They're slashers! Level your expectations.
Some honourable mentions include Friday the 13th Part II's Mrs. Voorhees shrine, Friday the 13th: A New Beginning's major twist, and the not-so-terrible 2009 reboot that mashed together much of the earlier canon and has a thrilling cold open that is unrivalled.
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