This 1980s Horror Trailer Almost Ruined the Entire Movie

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Nowadays, it appears that the advertising teams from both large and small studios are insistent on including the entire narrative arc of their latest movie in the trailers. They seem to think that showing just a glimpse isn’t enough to assure them that audiences will attend and purchase tickets. This is quite ironic because, throughout film marketing history, it has been consistently demonstrated that less is more. Imagine if the trailer for Jaws had revealed the shark leaping onto the Orca and eating Quint in full view. However, over-revealing isn’t a recent phenomenon; some projects have had overly exposing marketing strategies dating back to the early ’80s.

Instead, let’s rephrase the given sentence for easier understanding: For example, the trailer for Sean S. Cunningham’s “Friday the 13th” showed many key scenes from the movie, including several notable kill sequences. This strategy was successful, as the film became a massive box office hit. However, it’s important to note that in the case of this franchise, those kill scenes were particularly significant.

It Would Be Like The Terminator‘s Trailer Not Showing the Terminator

What options did they face in this scenario? The plot of Friday the 13th primarily consists of setting up the initial two murders, the arrival of Annie, a foreboding exploration revealing the camp’s history of troubles, the introduction of the other Camp Crystal Lake counselors, a shocking death of Annie, casual interactions among the remaining Camp Crystal Lake counselors, multiple deaths among the remaining counselors, and finally a confrontation between Alice and Mrs. Voorhees.

As a lover of your intricately crafted film, it’s evident that the captivating element lies in the innovative ways your characters meet their fate. However, this creativity might be under scrutiny to ensure ample showcasing. Interestingly, if one were to watch the trailer ahead of the movie, as some viewers did about four decades back, they would have a rough notion of who was at risk and who wasn’t. For example, there’s the scene where Kevin Bacon’s character, Jack, is seen lying on the lower bunk. Blood trickles onto his head, he wipes his brow, and Mrs. Voorhees’ hand emerges from beneath the bunk.

It’s quite likely that this particular scene stands out as the best across the entire franchise, but its impact may be somewhat diminished due to the revelation. Regardless of who his killer is or how he meets his end (a throat-piercing arrow for those unaware), it’s clear that his character does meet a demise, and we’re informed about the location where this event occurs.

The Trailer Is Loaded With Misdirects

The trailer presents a sequence of kill counts, but it’s not entirely clear-cut. For instance, the total listed is 13 kills, which isn’t correct. If we count Mrs. Voorhees as well, there are actually 10 kills: Barry, Claudette, Annie, Ned, Jack, Marcie, Brenda, Steve Christy, Bill, and Mrs. Voorhees. In simpler terms, the trailer suggests a higher number of deaths than what really occurred. The correct count, including Mrs. Voorhees, is 10.

The trailer suggests that some characters who appear to be alive may not survive, as out of the 13 characters displayed seemingly at their final moments, only eight are shown actually dying: Steve Christy, Barry and particularly Claudette (with a focus on Barry), Annie, Marcie, Ned, Brenda, Jack, and another Claudette.

However, in the movie, we encounter scenes where Jason appears to drown (imagined by Mrs. Voorhees), “Crazy Ralph” forebodes doom, and Alice is repeatedly featured. It’s important to note that neither “Crazy Ralph” nor Alice die in the original film; their appearances were reserved for “Friday the 13th Part 2”.

It Doesn’t Show Mrs. Voorhees (Or the Dream Sequence)

In the trailer, we see eight individuals just moments before their demise, but neither Bill nor Mrs. Voorhees are included. Given the significance of this character, it’s worth noting that she’s missing. The trailer reveals many potential victims, but it remains unclear who is responsible for these killings. Despite her introduction in the third act, her identity as a key plot twist is intended to be kept under wraps for first-time viewers.

To put it another way, the trailer for “Friday the 13th” implies that it’s a thrilling mystery involving murders. Revealing the plot twist would have been a terrible act. In short, it’s an excellent trailer for a classic ’80s horror movie that effectively showcases its tension, appeal, and the reasons why viewers should be drawn to the storyline.

Check out the authentic trailer for the horror classic, “Friday the 13th,” available above. Stream this thrilling movie for free on Kanopy. If you have any thoughts about how the film’s promotion could be improved, share them in the comments below!

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2025-09-10 23:12