Ranking The Franchise: Top 3 Best Death Scenes Of 'Friday The 13th' 1980
3. Mrs. Voorhees Loses Her Head
When Friday The 13th was released in 1980, Horror film released in the United States had yet to feature the shocking and explicit gore that had become common in Giallo films from such people as Italian Director Dario Argento. The elaborate and detailed effects work used to bring the death scenes to "life" in Friday The 13th shocked audiences and took the MPAA by surprise. What resulted were some of the more memorable Horror scenes in the genre. One of which involved the antagonist of the film.
In the exciting conclusion of the fight between the Final Girl Alice and her pursuer Mrs. Voorhees, a last ditch effort to survive is taken. As Alice escapes Jason's mother after being beaten on the sandy beach, she picks up the machete dropped by Mrs. Voorhees and runs toward the vengeful mother, swinging the machete. With one thrust, Alice decapitates Mrs. Voorhees, ending the 24 hour nightmare of blood. The sight of Mrs. Vooorhees' head separating from the rest of her body was indeed shocking and is still a crowd pleaser to this day.
2. Brenda Likes Archery In The Rain
One of the two creepiest scenes in the film involve Brenda after she retires from the "Strip Monopoly" game involving herself, Bill and Alice. After she cozies up to a good book while laying in bed, she hears a faint voice piercing through the pouring rain outside. After Brenda hears the cry of "help me" once again, she believes a little boy needs her help. She rushes out into the dark and rainy campground armed only with a flashlight while calling out to would-be boy in peril. As she reaches the archery range, a hand reaches up to turn on the power for the lights and Brenda is exposed in front of one of the targets. The camera fades away with a blood curdling scream.
Although Brenda's death happens off-screen, the scene itself is tense and terrifying. At this point in the movie, as more of the characters are dispatched, the audience is left wondering what will happen next and what happened to more Brenda!
1. Marcie Lives Out Her Shower Dream
With a bit of foreshadowing, Marcie tells her weird "raindrops turn to blood" dream to Jack as the couple sits along the lake shore before they retire to their cabin because of the storm. After the pair has sex, Marcie tells Jack she has to use the ladies room and she exits the cabin to go to the outhouse/restroom. As she sits in a restroom stall, the main door to the outhouse opens and a dark and wet figure walks in. Marcie hears a noise, opens the stall door and walks out to the row of sinks. Marcie asks if anyone is there, and with no response, she turns on the sink and poses for herself in the mirror. She hears another noise from the shower area and makes her way over to where she thinks the noise is coming from. With a quick swiping motion, Marcie opens a shower curtain and see no one. As she tells herself, "It must be my imagination", a shadowy outline of an axe is raised behind her. As Marcie turns around she screams in Horror as the axe is thrust into her head!
This scene has the perfect blend of suspense, terror, and gore as the aftermath of the attack on Marcie is shown with gory detail.
There are many fan favorite death scenes within the film, but these three stand out to us. What are your favorites and how does out list compare to yours?
