It’s no exaggeration to say that the past year has been a banner year for the horror genre with various film and television projects striking a chord with audiences. So it’s only fitting that this month sees the premiere of Crystal Lake, the new television series streaming on Peacock that explores the origin of Jason Voorhes, the marquee character of the Friday the 13th franchise. The last time the horror icon appeared on screen was in the 2009 reboot. With such a long gap, it’s safe to say that fans have been clamoring for his return. During New York Comic Con, The Beat had the opportunity to participate in roundtables with other outlets to chat with the talent involved in Crystal Lake.
Given the subject, it might not be surprising to learn that many of the folks involved are dye-in-the-wool horror fans. Actor Cameron Scoggins, who plays police officer Dorf, credits his mom to exposing him to classic horror films such as Halloween and The Exorcist when he was a kid and perhaps not the appropriate age. In contrast and ironically, actress Devin Kessler, who plays town journalist Briana Brooks, said her mother prevented her from attending sleepaway camp because of Friday the 13th.
In fact, Kessler wasn’t afraid to reveal that another cinematic horror icon caused a bit of childhood trauma. “I was shown Chucky at the wrong age at the same time that Toy Story came out,” she said. “I didn’t understand. I thought cartoons were reality television and dolls came to life so I would literally give my dolls food before I went to school so they wouldn’t kill me.”
Apparently the current generation is made of sterner stuff. Young actress Gwendolyn Sundstrom said she enjoys a good zombie movie. Still just a tween, he’s already seen the first films in the Friday the 13th franchise. It’s nothing compared to Callum Vinson, who plays the young version of Jason Voorhes. Still just a tween and he’s already seen the first six films in the Friday the 13th franchise.
Vinson isn’t the only Jason Voorhes in the cast. Actor William Catlett, who plays Police Chief Levon Brooks, recalled dressing as the hockey mask wearing slasher for Halloween in his youth. So being involved in Crystal Lake seems like kismet. However, when it comes to hardcore Friday the 13th fandom, look no further than showrunner Brad Caleb Kane. “Brad is a super fan,” said Catlett. “He’s coming into it wanting to get it right for the fans. On set he’d give thumbs up when we matched something.”
Having served as a writer and executive producer on the acclaimed in the It: Welcome to Derry prequel series, Kane’s involvement in Crystal Lake was a no-brainer. When it came to the question of which horror icon would come out on top in a hypothetical crossover fight, it was no contest in Kane’s mind. “I feel like it’s going to be controversial, but I think Pennywise would wipe the floor with Jason,” said Kane. “Pennywise is an all-powerful omniscient interdimensional Todash space creature. Jason is a human for four movies and then becomes Frankenstein.”
A large part of what attracted Kane to the project was the opportunity to dive deeper into the character of Pamela Voorhes, the twist villain reveal in the original Friday the 13th where she also met her untimely end. “I write what I want to see,” explained Kane. “I wanted to write Pamela as a well-rounded woman, the full breath of human experience. Linda and my writers helped flesh that out that I wouldn’t have on my own. I want to write real humans that aren’t archetypes.”
Playing the role of Jason’s mother is none other than Linda Cardellini who relished the opportunity to add new depth to the character. “She represses her rage and it was fun to play that rage,” she said. “All of those things were things I had never had a character do that I played. If she weren’t a victim that rage wouldn’t have a place. It justifies it for her.”
Hopefully it won’t ruin viewing experience for potential viewers to learn that Jason’s “death” occurs in the first episode. In grieving for her son, Pamela eventually develops a maternal relationship with Sundstrom’s character, Grace. Due to the troubled home life and various other pressures, Grace finds herself resorting to self-harm including burning herself. “I think Grace burns herself to feel something,” said Sundstrom. “When you’re under a lot of pressure and so much happening you have numb emotions.”
According to Kane, “One of Pamela’s original sins was pushing a child she has decided a certain way into situations they shouldn’t be in. Immediately after Grace’s mother dies, she realizes Grace might be a Jason surrogate for her and goes about trying to protect her. But Grace is a little bit different than Pamela thinks she is.”
“I always played it as if Grace is just another tool to get back to Jason,” revealed Cardellini. “In that way there could be a layer that is somewhat sinister. You think you know who she is but there are some moments where she might turn on everybody just for Jason. I wanted to walk that line.”
Kane echoed similar sentiments adding, ” I think Pamela wants Grace to be as pure as she felt Jason was. At the end of the day, Grace is changing in ways that suggests that she’s not.”
Prequels have an unfair reputation of being predictable due to the belief that they’re unable to surprise audiences, something that the cast and crew were cognizant of for Crystal Lake. “There can be a trap because we haven’t progressed that much in the story because we know she’s still going to be out there killing people,” said Scroggins. However, he argued that the season isn’t merely “setting up exposition” but every character goes on a journey and is changed by the end of the season.
Apparently Kane had a refrain he often said that the aim of Crystal Lake is to give diehard fans a “little lore behind the gore.”
Stay tuned to The Beat for more news from NYCC ’26.
