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Fan Fest’s ’31 Days of Slashers’: 7 Facts You Probably Didn’t know about Jason Voorhees

Happy October, my fellow geeklings! Now that October has finally stumbled upon us, we can officially begin our haunting season. For the month of October, we will be doing ’31 Days of Slashers’, which will feature facts, spotlights and even some interviews from some of our favorite iconic horror villains.

Are you ready for Halloween?! We sure are!

To start off, we will begin with 7 Facts You Probably Didn’t know about Jason Voorhees!

 

1. His Name was Originally ‘Josh’

Fan Fest's '31 Days of Slashers': 7 Facts You Probably Didn't know about Jason Voorhees
Image: New Line Cinema

In the script for the original Friday the 13th Jason Voorhees was originally given another name: Josh. Being that Pamela was the original killer in the first movie, it wasn’t really that big of a deal at the time. Writers then collectively agreed that Josh really didn’t strike that well. I mean, Josh Voorhees just doesn’t sit quite right with me. Luckily, the name was changed before the film was put out.

 

2. It didn’t start with a Hockey Mask…

Fan Fest's '31 Days of Slashers': 7 Facts You Probably Didn't know about Jason Voorhees
Image: New Line Cinema

If there is one thing that is the trademark of Jason, it is his hockey mask. The mask didn’t come into play until Friday the 13th: Part 3, in which Jason was played by the late Richard Brooker. Jason originally wore a potato sack over his head, until he stole the hockey mask off of one of his victims. Following that, the hockey mask became tied to a language. The mask was actually molded from a real Detroit Red Wings hockey mask!

3. Jason was played by 10 Different Actors

While Jason may only be one man, 10 different actors have portrayed the notorious killer, this includes the younger versions of Jason and the ‘copy-cat’ from Part 5. Actor Kane Hodder is the only one to have played Jason multiple times, appearing in 4 films. Along with each actor, comes more height. Jason has progressively gotten taller in all of his films. Steven Dash (Part 2) stood about 5’11 and Derek Mears (2009 remake) stands at a towering 6’5.

4. He has the Highest Kill Count

Jason Voorhees has killed approximately 146 people in just 12 films; which has resulted in him being the slasher with the highest kill count. Jason is known for being absolutely relentless and ruthless, and those numbers absolutely show it.

5. The First Slasher Talk Show Guest.. was Jason Voorhees!

As the video above indicate, Jason was indeed on a talk show! He appeared on the Arsenio Hall show, promoting his latests film (at the time) Jason takes Manhattan, which was the 8th installment in the Friday the 13th Franchise.

6. Jason’s Father was originally supposed to be in Part 6

Fan Fest's '31 Days of Slashers': 7 Facts You Probably Didn't know about Jason Voorhees

In the Friday the 13th comic book series, Jason indeed had a father. Elias Voorhees. Elias was quite abusive to both Jason and his mother Pamela, so one day Pamela decided to take matters into her own hands and murder her husband so that she could protect Jason.

In Friday the 13th: Part VI Jason Lives, the original ending had Elias standing at Jason’s grave while Jason angrily emerged from the waters of Crystal Lake. This ending, however, was changed. There are rumors circulating the franchise that if another Friday the 13th is to be made, both Elias and Pamela will have parts in the film.

7. It’s ‘Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma’ not ‘Ch Ch Ch Ah Ah Ah’

Technically speaking, Jason has his own ‘intro music’, which is six simple syllables. For years fans thought that it was ‘ch ch ch ah ah ah’, but when Crystal Lake Memories was released, we learned that it was actually ‘ki ki ki ma ma ma’, which is supposed to be just as if Jason were saying ‘kill kill kill mom mom mom’ – which symbolizes his promise to protect the lake, and kill all of those who desecrated it.

Listen below:

 

 

Fun Fact:

While filming Friday the 13th part 7: The New Blood, Jason actor Kane Hodder’s dressing room was a quarter mile down the road from their location in the woods.  After filming wrapped one day at 2a.m., Hodder trekked through the woods, still in full costume. Hodder was approached by a man in the woods asking if he was part of the movie.  Hodder, didn’t answer and the man asked again. Hodder lunged at the man and grunted, sending him running away through the woods.  The next day Hodder was informed by the director that the local cop was scheduled to visit the set the previous night but never showed up.