Who Is Pamela Voorhees? Friday the 13th's Original Villain, Explained
Pamela Voorhees is one of horror’s greatest mothers, but how exactly does she fit into the Friday the 13th lore?
Throughout the ‘80s, the Friday the 13th movies were collectively one of the most successful horror franchises. The films made a horror icon out of the unkillable, hockey mask-wearing Jason Voorhees, and although it has been 17 years since he was last on-screen, his popularity remains.
While everyone knows Jason, only the hardcore fans recall his mother, Pamela. That is all set to change however, with the arrival of new horror series Crystal Lake, as the maniacal matriarch is set to step into the spotlight. So, who is she and why should audiences be excited to see the character fleshed out more?
Pamela Voorhees’ Key Role In The Original Friday the 13th
As anyone who has watched the opening of Scream will know, Pamela Voorhees is the original killer in the Friday the 13th franchise. While the camp counsellors of Crystal Lake spend the whole time wondering whether the person hacking them all to pieces is the ghost of Jason Voorhees, it is revealed during the final act that his mother, Pamela, is responsible. Since the tragic drowning of her son, Pamela has had an axe to grind with Camp Crystal Lake. Its reopening triggers a mental break and she goes on a violent killing spree.
Although Pamela successfully slashes her way through an impressive amount of promiscuous teenagers (including a pre-fame Kevin Bacon), she is ultimately thwarted by Final Girl Alice Hardy. After listening to Pamela monologue her reasons for butchering all of her friends, Alice manages to decapitate her adversary.
Unfortunately, Friday the 13th is proof of the adage that you chop a head off and something worse grows back in its place; in this case, the worse being the resurrection of Jason Voorhees.
Although Dead, Pamela’s Presence Is Felt Throughout The Friday the 13th Franchise
Whereas Jason Voorhees has been able to consistently return from the dead, poor Pamela has been worm food since the end of the first film. However, her death has not prevented the character from making her presence known, with Jason being a dutiful son and honouring his mother’s demise by taking up the family business of hunting teenagers.
Pamela returns in Friday the 13th Part 2 via flashbacks and Jason’s shrine to her. The character’s decomposing body also pops up for a jump scare during Friday the 13th Part III, and her grave can briefly be glimpsed in Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday. She has more extended screen time in crossover movie Freddy Vs Jason, as she incites her son to target the children of Elm Street, but this version of Pamela is revealed to be a ruse, with Freddy Krueger using her image to manipulate Jason to do his bidding.
The final appearance of Pamela Voorhees in the Friday film franchise is in the Friday the 13th reboot. The opening moments of the film recap the events of the first film and thus, Pamela once more loses her head, but she continues to play an integral role. Kidnapped Whitney Miller is able to survive Jason’s malice due to her bearing a passing resemblance to his dead mother. Whitney uses this to her advantage, as any good potential Final Girl would.
How Does Pamela Voorhees Fit Into Crystal Lake?
After years of failed attempts to kickstart the Friday the 13th film series again, the story will now be explored in TV show Crystal Lake.
Rather than continue on from the events of the movies, Crystal Lake goes back to the beginning and follows Pamela rather than Jason. Starring Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees, Crystal Lake is set in the early ‘70s and follows her as she tries to cope in the aftermath of Jason’s drowning.
The A24 series is built around not only her struggle, but also a dark secret from her past. As that catches up with her, Pamela is placed in an impossible situation; and as she comes unstuck, the body count begins.
