The first 11 Friday the 13th movies: Why we loved 'em and why they matter

The new Friday the 13th reboot movie slashes its way into theaters this Friday (the 13th), and it's hard to believe, but this is the 12th feature film in the franchise. What is it about these movies that we all love? We brush off our old copies and take a walk through Camp Crystal Lake one more time. Friday the 13th (1980). An unseen killer butchers a group of randy camp counselors. Why It Works: It turned a mother's love into gloriously murderous impulses. Why It Sucks: It neglects to explain how a sweet old (crazy) lady can effortlessly throw adult bodies through picture windows without any help. Why It Matters: The Elvis Presley to Halloween 's Chuck Berry, this first installment turned the burgeoning slasher subgenre into a bona fide cultural phenomenon. (link)