Welcome back to another TERROR THURSDAY! I hope that you had an enjoyable Valentine’s Day, and if you didn’t, fear not because we’re going to move on from that lovey-dovey crap. Instead, we are going to drift away from the holiday horror to move into more classic content. I’m going to share some exciting news that recently surfaced regarding my favorite horror franchise, FRIDAY THE 13TH! Additionally, I’m going to supply some lesser-known content for Friday fans to watch. Let’s dig in.

New Friday the 13th 

It’s a shame one of the most legendary horror icons has missed out on the horror resurgence of the last decade. The Friday the 13th franchise has been on a hiatus for 15 years. The last release was the remake, Friday the 13th, in 2009. Since then, there has been a massive courtroom battle for the creative rights to the property. Victor Miller and Sean S. Cunningham have been duking it out in court but the dust has finally settled enough to get this iconic franchise moving again.

Jason is set to return, but not as we know him on the big screen. Instead, a new TV series, Crystal Lake, is scheduled to release this year! This is a joint effort by Universal Studios, Peacock, and A24. The show will be directed by Brian Fuller who also directed the highly acclaimed series, Hannibal (2013-2015). Adrienne King played the franchise's original final girl, Alice, back in 1980, and she is reportedly joining this project in some capacity. There is even a rumor that the great Tom Savini may be involved in the practical effects! The combination of these old and new faces shows promise for Friday’s return.

Brian Fuller clarified that Crystal Lake possesses full access to the previous Friday the 13th content, so the possibilities are quite vast. As I see it, there are three clear creative options. First, the series acts as a prequel to more thoroughly develop Camp Crystal Lake, Pamela Voorhees, and the kid version of Jason. Second, the series moves forward as a true sequel or in this sense, a requel, that attempts to deliver new content that draws a new generation of fans. Third, my favorite option, Crystal Lake jumps timelines by episode to cover the past and future of our beloved franchise. Regardless, I’m thrilled to finally get some new Friday the 13th content.

Womp Stomp Films

If you’re like me, a deprived Jason fan, you’re thrilled for Crystal Lake to release later this year but would love to get new content sooner. Well, I have good news for you because the YouTube channel, Womp Stomp Films, has been creating Friday the 13th fan films for six years. Never Hike Alone (2017), Never Hike in the Snow (2020), and Never Hike Alone 2 (2023) are all impressive fan films. Even as low-budget projects, these films have just as much quality as the movies in the franchise. All three of them are quick watches, honorable adaptations, and completely free on YouTube. I highly recommend watching Womp Stomp Films fan films to feed your Friday the 13th craving. Checking out this project will hopefully get you enough Jason for you to survive to see Crystal Lake!

Weekend Watch

That wraps up this Friday the 13th edition of TERROR THURSDAY! As always, thank you for your time and support. If you like the content please do me a favor and share it with someone you know. This will help build a future of diverse horror articles for TTN. This week was clearly Jason-oriented, so it mainly appeals to slasher fans. If you’re not interested in Womp Stomp Films or slashers in general, I have a polar opposite Weekend Watch lined up. Hopefully, you like found-footage creature-features because this weekend I think you should check out…

Matt Reeves’ Cloverfield (2008)