The Original Opening Of Friday the 13th 1980
Most fans of Friday the 13th 1980 truly enjoy the suspense filled opening sequence of the film where counselors Barry and Claudette are stalked and killed by the demented Mrs. Voorhees in the barn. However, that scene of the film was not the original, intended opening that would set the tone for the movie. What would fans think about a more dramatic and action packed opening to the Crystal Lake legacy?
The original opening was drastically different, showcasing a more traditional stalk and chase scene that would be witnessed at the film's conclusion and later Friday the 13th films.
Having left the campfire to be alone, the young counselors Barry and Claudette would have taken a walk around the lake as the ominous lurking presense crept ever so quietly towards them. The climax of this alternate opening would come as the two lovers would be chased around a boathouse with Barry and Claudette ultimately meeting their demise in a much different way than simply being confronted in the loft of the barn and stabbed.
The change in story was made as on the very first night of filming for the scene, weather decided to intervene and snow would cause a number of technical issues that forced the alternate scene viewers have been watching for 30 years. Would fans have liked to see this extended opening chase scene or does the more simplistic and toned down approach lend more to the Friday the 13th saga?
And don't forget it was in the original opener where their "stalker" aka MrsV would have her little finger cut off. Something that was going to be used throughout the movie.
ReplyDeleteI of course would have loved to see that, but I'd be happy with Claudette's death.
Ah yes, that is true. Thanks for pointing that out. I forgot to mention that above. :)
ReplyDeleteI would have liked this unused opening more. The fact that they are chased and Mrs. Voorhees loses a finger. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteyeah that might have been interesting and would have given us a clue as to who the random lady was at the end. Also, they should have kept Claudette's death in the original (she got a machete across the throat, there are stills that survive)
ReplyDeleteI think that the opening that is in the movie is the better of the two. The original opening sounds too much like a by the numbers slasher scene, much like the opening scenes of the Scream movies. This one is makes the killings a surprise because the scene initially plays like an innocent confrontation after teenagers where caught having "relations."
ReplyDeleteThat first anonymous was me, I couldn't figure out how to get my name in there! Duh!
ReplyDeleteI have been whining for years about Claudette's death scene. Interesting enough, when I first met Savini, way back in 1999 or 2000, he said it was filmed and now in the books he says it wasn't. Now it is said that those stills were only publicity shots. I don't buy that at all. I have seen 4 different shots of it.
I definitely think they should have kept the original in.
I also think that MrsV should have been seen somewhere else, maybe in the cafe in the beginning, just something that showed she was around and watching.