Similarities and Differences Between Friday the 13th and Halloween Movies

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Scary Movies and Series

Comparing the Halloween and Friday the 13th Movies

The Halloween and Friday the 13th killers and franchises are far too similar to be a coincidence. Thus, it is only logical that one copied the other. However, in the grand scheme of things…it is also reasonable to assume a range of characteristics found in both movies and killers would be considered a generalized public domain-type of fear. In other words: it is kind of hard to get an intellectual property patent for something like “a killer that stalks you” or “a killer that wears a mask”

How Are Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees Different?

Reason for Killing

Michael Myers is haunted by visions, nightmares and voices which tell him to kill in the time of Samhain (Halloween). He specifically typically hunts down his family members.  Jason Voorhees was a critical victim of childhood bullying and succumbed to a cruel drowning by unsupervised kids while camping. Although he too has heard his mothers voice, he is primarily killing for revenge.

Movie Setting

Halloween is set in the town of Haddonfield, where Michael can kill in a suburban setting…including roads, houses and stores.  Friday the 13th is set in Camp Crystal Lake, where Jason gains killing access to the woods, cabins and lake itself.

When the Killer Officially First Died

Michael Myers claims his first kill from a very early age, then returning as an adult to hunt the rest of his family. Jason Voorhees supposedly dies before he makes his first kill, being drown at a very young age.  He does not claim his first kill, in fact, until some 20 years later.

Mobility of the Killer

Michael Myers is able to travel great distances to get to his desired destination.  He can even hijack and drive automobiles. Jason Voorhees generally remains trapped in the Crystal Lake area, and is not seen traveling great distances (especially not by car).

How Are Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees Similar?

Both Feature a Masked Killer

Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers are notorious for their creepy appearances…most of which revolves around the center focus of their mask.

Both Feature a Weapon of Choice

Out of dozens of ways each slasher has creatively slain their victims, each has exhibited a supreme preference.  Jason Voorhees typically prefers his giant machete, while Michael Myers seems to enjoy knifing people to death.

Family Drama

Friday the 13th’s Jason has some seriously ‘effed up’ drama going on with his mother. She is very frequently seen egging him on, and even kills on his behalf in the first movie.  Similarly, Halloween’s Michael Myers is always chasing down and trying to hunt his family…most notably Laurie Strode.

Both Killers Are Mute

Interestingly, both franchises take advantage of a “silent but deadly” strategy. Neither Jason Voorhees nor Michael Myers will ever be caught speaking…yet they are both terrifying and everyone runs!

Supernatural Powers

No matter how victims fight back, they are never able to overcome the slasher.  Michael and Jason both manhandle their victims although they were nothing more than a sack of potatoes!

Brought Back from the Dead

michael myers listening to a phone

Despite being largely indestructible, both slashers have been beaten in a number of their movies, only to be brought back from the dead. Michael has been shot in both eyes and lit on fire, Jason blown up and dismembered, but both have survived to kill again!

Fun Fact: In Halloween Part 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Michael Myers can be seen 21:10 seconds into the film seemingly wearing Jason’s hockey mask.

Final Words: Halloween vs Friday the 13th

Both, Friday the 13th and Halloween, are fantastic horror franchises. Each movie features a number of gory, glorious kills which will grace the history book of slashers forever.  And while both slashers may be exploiting a similar genre niche and real-life fear of a masked, deranged psychopath killer, both contribute a steady stream of creativity in kill style.  Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees always offer an entertaining show that is undeniably exhilarating and always keeps viewers on the edge of their seats!

Check out our other article…Did Friday the 13th copy Halloween, to learn a little more about this horror franchise rivalry!

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Surprising Facts About the Halloween Franchise

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Scary Movies and Series

Behind the Scenes, Secrets and Easter Eggs in the Halloween Movies 

Almost everyone and their mother has seen or at least heard of a Halloween movie. Michael Myers is famous for his shadowy movements and knife-slashing ways.  And while this mask-wearing creep might seem pretty straight forward…the Halloween franchise has hidden a few secrets, Easter Eggs and behind the scenes tidbits throughout the films.  These are some of the greatest and most shocking  Halloween movie trivia and secrets there are!

Most Surprising Things About the Halloween Movies and Michael Myers

The Fear Meter

Halloween (1978) was filmed out of sequence, and so badly in fact, that director John Carpenter created and implemented a “fear meter” to help Jamie and cast understand exactly how scared they should be in each scene.

Marion’s Recurring Role

Most people overlook Dr Loomis’ nurse from Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) being the same actress, playing the same role (Nancy Stephens playing Nurse Marion) as from Halloween (1978) and Halloween II (1981).  She smokes in the earlier movies as well as in the later movie…where Jimmy’s friend asks her if anyone has ever told her that smoking kills. She replies cleverly with “Yea, but they’re all dead.”  Ironically, she dies pretty much at the end of that cigarette.

Jamie Lee Curtis Found Herself in the Halloween Movies

Jamie was nervous all the way up to the end of the first day of filming Halloween.  She reportedly spent the entire first day of production panicking over what she believed to be her poor performance. She even thought she was going to be fired. However, by the end of the day, John Carpenter himself called Jamie to congratulate her on securing her role as Laurie Strode, being very happy with her performance.

Mocking Jason Voorhees

In the beginning of Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998), short-lived character, Jimmy, scares Dr Loomis’ nurse, Marion, while wearing a hockey mask that looks eerily similar to the mask worn by Jason Voorhees. There is also a part in Halloween Part 4: the Return of Michael Myers about a third of the way into the movie where Michael Myers himself is seen wearing a hockey mask instead of his own mask while stalking Dr Loomis. Admittedly, some fans contest this scene, attributing the hockey mask-like shape to poor lighting and bad camera skills.

Season of the Witch III Director Cameo

The third installment of Halloween, Season of the Witch, is the only installment that is not about Michael Myers. Most people do not realize that the director and writer, Tommy Lee Wallace, is also the Silver Shamrock Commercial Announcer (voice only) throughout the film.

Laurie Strode Lends a Voice

Jamie Lee Curtis, the star who plays Laurie Strode in the first two movies (and 3 subsequent sequels years later), lends her voice as the Curfew Announcer and Telephone Operator in Halloween III: Season of the Witch.  This is an uncredited role…and more of a cameo appearance.

Michael Meyers

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later shows a newspaper clipping that features a misspelling of the infamous horror slasher…spelling his name “Michael Meyers” instead of “Michael Myers” (within the first 15 minutes of the film).

The Original Director Almost Directed H20

Halloween H20 (1998) was almost directed by the original Halloween director-genius, John Carpenter. There was a disagreement about compensation which left Carpenter feeling underrated, and a bit of bad blood due to Carpenter feeling he was underpaid for the original film.

One of the Most Successful Independent Films of All Time

is there a ghost in halloween painting of a man looking in a haunted room

John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) was one of the most successful independent films, ever.  The budget for this film was a mere $300,000. The earnings were more than $47 million in the US alone. Today, the earnings would have been much higher due to inflation (probably somewhere around $150-200 million today). No wonder Carpenter felt he was underpaid!

Driving Michael to His Death

An obvious blooper exists on the road to Michael’s death in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, when Laurie is driving him while he rests in the body bag towards the end of the film. The road from the driver’s windshield looks rocky, windy, dirty and rough; however, from the rear window, it looks smooth and paved, complete with painted lines.

Mr. Sandman

The song “Mr. Sandman” plays in two halloween movies, being found in Halloween II (1981) and also Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998). John Carpenter, writer of Halloween I and II has revealed in an interview that the song was chosen to represent Laurie being alone, and because it is eerie sounding.  It has been speculated that Carpenter wished to use the song in the original movie but had not yet secured the rights due to finances.

Dick Warlock’s Audition

Halloween II (1981), the nurse-slaughtering sequel, featured a different Michael Myers than the original film.  Dick Warlock won the role by stalking director Rick Rosenthal in his office wearing a Michael Myers mask. He reportedly wouldn’t respond to anything Rick said until he felt he had scared him enough to ask for the role. Creepy.

Final Words About Halloween & Michael Myers

The amount of passion that has been poured into the Halloween franchise is overwhelming, and thus the fictional killings have taken on a form of their own. So many people are involved in the creation of the Halloween movies, that there is no end to the creative killings. Thus, there are also an endless number of mistakes, bloopers and funny facts about the movies that result. Without a doubt there are still many Easter Eggs and secrets to be discovered throughout the Halloween films.  And the best part? They keep making new ones!

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