Among the many lessons one learns throughout the Friday the 13th horror film series – over the course of the many, many films that are part of the iconic franchise – is that Jason Voorhees will always return from the grave, somehow and some way being brought back to life to wreak havoc.
And just in time for Halloween, Jed Spurgeon and his family are in their own way bringing the famed character back to life in their Shamrock Drive neighborhood in Des Allemands.
The Spurgeons hold an annual themed Halloween party that has grown over the years – and this year will see its most elaborate setup yet as Spurgeon has been transforming his backyard into a Friday the 13th-themed experience – a bit of a recreation of Camp Crystal Lake, the fictional summer camp tied to Jason’s origin in the movie franchise.
Spurgeon built wooden cabins and a cafeteria-style structure to recreate the feel of a campground. The structures are made largely from wooden pallets, with walls approximately six feet tall and roofs reaching eight feet. The cafeteria will feature tables and serve as an area for food.
“You can actually go in them,” Spurgeon said of the cabins. “The cafeteria, same thing. We wanted it to feel like a campground. We’ll do a little photo area with a backdrop with a cutout Jason for people to take a little family picture.”
There will be a girls’ cabin and a boys’ cabin – a bit more action is planned for the latter.
Spurgeon has set up an animatronic Jason that slashes at visitors as they enter the boys’ cabin.
Another Jason figure, inspired by the ending of one of the films, has been completed with a hockey mask, machete and chain around his neck and is planned for display in the swimming pool.
“Kind of like the end of the movie when he was floating was what we were going for,” Spurgeon said.
He dismantled dozens of pallets for the creation of the structures – “I’ll never do that again,” Spurgeon quipped.
The family shares a love of horror movies, though their exact tastes within the genre differ.
Spurgeon enjoys old school slasher films. His wife Laura gravitates to supernatural horror, while son Peyton likes the blend of mystery and slasher found in the Scream series.
“I love the very low-budget slasher – I couldn’t even put a number on how many I’ve seen. For Friday the 13th I’ve seen them all the way through to the remake in maybe 2012. I haven’t seen the new series yet,” Spurgeon said.
Jason is the main antagonist of the Friday the 13th series, which made its debut in theatres in 1980.
Traditionally, about a week before the annual party, the Spurgeons buy pumpkins and invite neighborhood children over to help turn them into Jack-o-lanterns.
“It gives it more of a festive theme for Halloween night, but it also gives the kids a feel that they had a little part of decorating it too,” said Spurgeon.
There is a costume contest, one for adults and one for children, and Spurgeon said the aim is to make it fun for everyone. There will be a spacewalk as well. The idea is for it to be a family-friendly neighborhood experience for Halloween.
Spurgeon said a preliminary plan is already set for next year’s party theme – A Nightmare on Elm Street.
But Freddy Krueger will have to wait until next year – this week, Jason is the star of the show.
