Crystal Lake (2026) | Review
There’s something genuinely exciting about returning to a franchise as beloved as Friday the 13th, particularly when it’s been crying out for a proper return to the screen after poor Jason and our favourite summer camp had been buried under legal issues.
But rather than simply giving us another slice of Jason Voorhees hacking his way through a fresh batch of unlucky campers (although I’m sure the film that’s currently in development will cover that), Crystal Lake takes a different approach, shifting the focus to Pamela Voorhees and the story behind one of horror’s most infamous mothers. And honestly? After watching the first two episodes, I’m already hooked.
Be warned, there are some SPOILERS in both this review & the Q&A video below.
I went into this expecting something a little different, and thankfully, that’s exactly what we got (much to Mike’s dismay). This isn’t your typical Friday the 13th, nor does it seem particularly interested in simply repeating what we’ve seen before. Instead, it takes a character we thought we knew and begins exploring her in ways that are genuinely intriguing, occasionally uncomfortable, and surprisingly sympathetic. In fact, I think this might be the first time I’ve ever found myself feeling sympathy for a member of the Voorhees family. It’s an odd feeling folks…
One of the biggest strengths of these opening episodes is how they balance the familiar with the unexpected. There’s plenty here for longtime fans to get excited about, with Easter eggs, familiar imagery and little details that demonstrate just how much love and care has gone into bringing this world back to life. You can also expect to see a few familiar faces- including Crazy Ralph. However, the series also seems determined to carve out its own identity rather than simply relying on the franchise’s legacy to carry it. And that’s precisely what I wanted from it.
Nostalgia is a wonderful thing, particularly when it comes to a franchise that has been part of horror culture for decades. But nostalgia alone can only get you so far, and I’m genuinely pleased that the series appears willing to take some risks and explore new territory rather than simply rehashing the greatest hits.
That said, Brad Caleb Kane did mention that further episodes would recreate certain moments from the franchise, essentially shot for shot. Now, I’m certainly not going to complain about seeing some of those iconic moments brought to life again, and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of fans who absolutely love it. But I do hope the series doesn’t lean too heavily in that direction in the later episodes. There’s so much potential here, and it would be a shame to see it squandered by relying too much on what has already been done. Especially when you consider the cast they’ve assembled. More on that in a minute.
The story itself also managed to take me by surprise. Without getting into spoiler territory, there’s a particular revelation concerning Jason’s backstory that I genuinely wasn’t expecting the series to explore. I won’t spell it out here, because it’s something best experienced for yourself, but it opens up an entirely different avenue of storytelling that the franchise has barely touched upon before.
As far as I’m aware, this aspect of Jason’s history has only really been explored in a fan film and a comic book (if you know, you know), making its inclusion here all the more intriguing. It’s one of those narrative decisions that immediately leaves you wondering just how far the writers are willing to go and what it could mean for the story moving forward.
I’m fascinated to see where they take this. And even more importantly, I’m curious to see how everything develops and eventually connects with the events of the original 1980 film. There’s a delicate balance to strike when expanding the mythology of a franchise like this, particularly when the destination is already well established, but these first two episodes have certainly given me plenty to think about.
Visually, Crystal Lake is fantastic. The aesthetic, production design and costuming all do a brilliant job of capturing the period, and there’s a real sense of authenticity running throughout. It feels like a world that belongs within the Friday the 13th universe rather than something that has simply borrowed its name and imagery. And yes, as we’ve already seen in the images released ahead of the series, Linda Cardellini does indeed don that iconic blue sweater made famous by the legendary Betsy Palmer. It’s a wonderful little touch, and one that longtime fans will undoubtedly appreciate.
Speaking of Cardellini, let’s talk about the performance that really makes these opening episodes stand out. She is absolutely phenomenal. Seriously, she’s the standout here. Pamela Voorhees is such an important character in horror history, and stepping into a role forever associated with Betsy Palmer is no small undertaking. Cardellini, however, makes the character feel like her own while retaining the qualities that make Pamela such a fascinating figure in the first place.
There’s a real depth to her performance, and the series benefits enormously from having an actor who can bring so much nuance to a character whose legacy is already so firmly established. She gives Pamela a presence that makes it easy to understand why the series has chosen to put her front and centre, and I’m genuinely excited to see how her performance develops as the story progresses.
The supporting cast are solid across the board, too, with Will Catlett particularly deserving of a mention. There’s a lot for the ensemble to establish in these opening episodes, but the performances help ground the story and give it more substance than a straightforward exercise in franchise nostalgia.
Of course, this is still Friday the 13th, so we need to talk about the kills and gore. Thankfully, the series doesn't disappoint. The violence feels very much in keeping with what you'd expect from the franchise, with some wonderfully nasty moments already on display across the first two episodes. There’s a good variety to the kills, and some genuinely creative ideas that make me eager to see what else they have planned. One particular kill involving an iconic weapon of this franchise is an absolute highlight.
Crystal Lake (2026) | Review
The practical effects deserve plenty of credit, too. There’s something incredibly refreshing about seeing this kind of bloody, hands-on work, and the effects help give the violence the impact it needs. And if these first two episodes are anything to go by, there’s plenty more where that came from.
The soundtrack, meanwhile, is absolutely fantastic. Harry Manfredini's music has always been an essential part of what makes Friday the 13th feel like Friday the 13th, and hearing familiar sounds alongside new material created specifically for the series is a real treat. The music adds another layer to the atmosphere and helps connect this new chapter with the franchise's history without making it feel like a glorified greatest-hits compilation. It elevates the experience, and for me, it's another example of how much care has gone into getting the details right.
You can feel the franchise knowledge behind the series, too. From the music and visual callbacks to the smaller details tucked away throughout the episodes, there's a clear understanding of what makes this franchise so special. Having Kane involved only adds to that feeling. This doesn't come across as a project made by people who have simply watched a few films and decided to cash in on a recognisable name. There's a genuine appreciation for the material here, and that makes a difference. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a review if I didn't mention a few things that didn't quite work for me.
"You're doomed. You're all doomed..."
My biggest question mark concerns the hints that Jason may still be lurking around. I won't go into detail about what is shown or done but those suggestions did throw me off a little. If the intention is to tell Pamela's story, then I'd much rather the series commit to that idea rather than constantly reminding us of the character who has traditionally dominated the franchise.
Jason is an icon, obviously. Nobody is disputing that. But Pamela is a fascinating character in her own right, and the opportunity to explore her story is precisely what makes Crystal Lake feel different. I'd hate for that to get lost because the series feels the need to keep dangling Jason in front of the audience.
Then there's the soft focus. Mike kept mentioning it while we were watching, and unfortunately, once it had been pointed out, I started noticing it myself (thanks a bunch Mike).
There are certain scenes where the effect becomes a little distracting, pulling attention away from what's happening rather than adding to the atmosphere. It's not enough to ruin the experience (for me anyway), but there were moments when I found myself wishing the image were a little sharper and showcased the details they took time to get right in the background. Additionally, there were the occasional moment I felt like they were trying to over explain the plot. I'm all for a bit of exposition, but it was too much at times. I do feel thats been a bit of an issue with a lot of films and shows in recent years mind.
Finally, there were one or two instances where a scene appeared to cut to black a little earlier than expected, almost pulling a Sopranos and leaving me wondering whether something had been cut short. I genuinely don't know whether this was an issue with the version we watched on the night or an intentional editing choice, so I'm reluctant to criticise too heavily for it. Still, it was noticeable enough to take me out of the moment on occasion. My biggest complaint though; having to wait until October 19th for the series to drop.
Ultimately, these first two episodes have left me incredibly optimistic about the return to Crystal Lake. The decision to focus on Pamela rather than simply following the familiar formula of Jason stalking and killing his way through another group of victims gives the series a fresh perspective, while the peak performances, production design, practical effects and soundtrack all help make it feel like a genuine part of the Friday the 13th universe.
There's enough nostalgia to keep the hardcore fans happy, but there's also a willingness to explore unfamiliar territory and introduce ideas that could take the story (and mythology) in some very interesting directions. And that's what excites me most.
I'm not expecting every decision to work, and I certainly hope the series continues to develop its own identity rather than leaning too heavily on recreating iconic moments from the films. But if these opening episodes are any indication of what's to come, there's a lot of potential here.
Overall, Crystal Lake is a fantastic, intriguing and genuinely interesting return to one of horror's most iconic locations. Linda Cardellini is outstanding, the gore delivers, Manfredini's music is superb, and the story has already given me plenty of reasons to keep watching. Two episodes in, and I'm already invested. I'm eager to see where the story goes next, how the mythology develops, and how everything eventually leads into the original Friday the 13th.
For a franchise that's been around for decades, taking a few risks and trying something different is exactly what it needed. If you go into this expecting a bog standard Friday the 13th, you’re going to be disappointed. Me personally, I enjoyed this a lot more than the short film / Angry Orchard advert Sweet Revenge we got last year.
Huge thank you to NOW & Sky for the invite to the advance screening in London. This was followed by a Q&A with Cardellini & Kane themselves, which you can check out below in its entirety. Be warned, it also contains some spoilers.
Crystal Lake releases October 15th (US) via Peacock TV & October 19th (UK) via NOW & Sky.
