Gene Siskel’s Bold Critique of the Iconic Horror Franchise was one of the earliest signs that the infamous horror character, Jason Voorhees, would haunt cinema for generations. His disdain for the Friday the 13th franchise was evident from the very beginning, as he quickly became known for his relentless criticism of the series.

In 1980, the renowned film critic was so appalled by the original Friday the 13th that he took drastic measures to undermine its potential success. Siskel, a prominent voice in film criticism, leveraged his platform to discourage audiences from attending, showcasing his influence in the cinematic landscape.

Motivated by the phenomenal success of John Carpenter’s 1978 horror masterpiece, Halloween, producer and director Sean S. Cunningham wasted no time developing a similarly themed low-budget slasher film, this time set against the eerie backdrop of a lakeside summer camp. This setting would become iconic in horror cinema, leading to a slew of imitations.

Upon witnessing Cunningham’s work, Siskel did not hold back; he fiercely condemned the film in his infamous zero-star review, even going as far as to reveal its shocking twist ending. In his review for the Chicago Tribune, he stated, “It has been suggested to me that a great way to keep people from seeing a truly awful movie is to tell them the ending,” and proceeded to do just that, further igniting the controversy surrounding the film.

Following this, he launched a personal attack on Cunningham, declaring, “Now there – I hope I’ve ruined Friday the 13th, which is the latest film by one of the most despicable creatures ever to infest the movie business, Sean S. Cunningham.” This bold statement underscored the depth of Siskel’s contempt for the film and its creators.

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Siskel’s review concluded with a harsh indictment of the film, claiming, “There is nothing to Friday the 13th other than its sickening attack scenes.” He argued that if one were to strip away the violence, the film would be left utterly hollow. In an audacious move, he even published the name and address of Paramount’s parent company, urging his readers to voice their complaints about the film’s content.

Additionally, he criticized the Motion Picture Association of America, accusing them of allowing Friday the 13th to escape with a mere R rating due to financial ties: “if any film should be X-rated on the basis of violence, this is it.” His remarks showcased his belief that the film’s graphic content warranted a more severe rating.

On their popular television show, then titled Sneak Previews, Siskel and his co-host Roger Ebert continued their scathing critique of the film. “That’s why they call these things exploitation films, these rotten ones,” Siskel remarked, referring to what he perceived as the movie’s excessive nudity and violence, stating that it merely exploited one shocking element to create a disturbing experience.

How the Friday the 13th Franchise Thrived Despite Critical Backlash

Notably, Siskel was not alone in his vehement disapproval of Friday the 13th. Other critics were equally vocal; Variety described it as “low budget in the worst sense – with no apparent talent or intelligence,” while the Hollywood Reporter condemned it as “blatant exploitation of the lowest order.” This collective disdain from film critics seemed to have minimal impact.

In fact, their attempts to dissuade moviegoers only bolstered the film’s popularity, which was a surprising turn of events. The original Friday the 13th was made on a modest budget of just $550,000 but went on to rake in an astonishing $59.8 million at the box office. The success did not end there, as the series subsequently spawned 11 sequels, crossovers, and reboots, accumulating an impressive total of over $468 million in ticket sales over three decades.

Watch Siskel and Ebert Review 1980’s ‘Friday the 13th’