Mark your calendars, mutants, because on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024 Joe Bob is bringing us a double dose of slasher goodness with a Friday the 13th Double Feature. But wait, there’s more! This special won’t be airing on Shudder, but on AMC as part of their annual Fearfest Celebration. (For those who don’t know, Shudder is owned and operated by AMC Networks, so this crossover is like when your two favorite horror franchises have a crossover – it just makes sense.)
Here’s the breakdown:
- 8:00 PM ET: Friday the 13th (1980)
- 10:40 PM ET: Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
Now, a Friday the 13th double feature hosted by Joe Bob Briggs would be exciting enough on its own, but the drive-in gods have smiled upon us and granted us an extra special guest: Adrienne King! For those who might not know (and shame on you if you don’t), Adrienne King played Alice Hardy, the original final girl of the Friday the 13th franchise.
Alice’s journey through Camp Crystal Lake, her face-off with Mrs. Voorhees, and that shocking final scare are etched into the annals of horror history. King’s performance helped set the template for the final girl trope that would become a staple of the slasher subgenre. And let’s not forget her brief but memorable return in Friday the 13th Part 2, where she… well, if you know, you know, and if you don’t, I ain’t gonna spoil it here muchachos.
Having Adrienne King join Joe Bob for this double feature is like having your cake and eating it too – and then finding out the cake is filled with even more cake. Her insights into the making of these classic films, her experiences on set, and her perspective on the franchise’s legacy are sure to be fascinating. Plus, who knows what kind of hijinks the lovely miss Adrienne and Joe Bob might get up to?
For those who can’t catch the special live on AMC (or for those who want to relive the magic), the “Just Joe Bob” segments of the special will be available on demand on Shudder and AMC+ starting October 13th. That’s right – on actual Friday the 13th. The synergy is almost too perfect.
The Importance of Friday the 13th in Horror History
While we’re on the subject, let’s take a moment to appreciate just how significant the Friday the 13th franchise is to horror history. The original film, released in 1980, came hot on the heels of John Carpenter’s Halloween and helped cement the slasher subgenre as a dominant force in horror cinema throughout the 1980s.
What started as a relatively low-budget thriller inspired by the success of Halloween spawned a franchise that has, to date, produced twelve films, a television series, novels, comic books, and more merchandise than you can shake a machete at. It introduced the world to Jason Voorhees, one of the most iconic slasher villains of all time, even though he didn’t don his famous hockey mask until the third film.
The franchise has had its ups and downs over the years, but its impact on horror cinema and pop culture as a whole is undeniable. From the infamous “ki ki ki, ma ma ma” sound effect to the image of Jason emerging from Crystal Lake, Friday the 13th has provided some of horror’s most memorable moments.
Having Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy host a double feature of the first two films in the franchise is like having a master class in slasher cinema. Joe Bob’s encyclopedic knowledge of horror, his ability to provide historical context, and his knack for pointing out details you might have missed (even if you’ve seen these films a hundred times) make this special a must-watch for any horror fan.