‘Crystal Lake’ Pays Tribute To Snake Killed In Making Of ‘Friday the 13th’: “A Direct Nod”
The Crystal Lake series includes a scene that recalls the real snake killed during filming of the original Friday the 13th, more than 45 years ago. Creator Brad Caleb Kane says the new scene is a direct nod to that moment, while making clear that no animal is harmed in the series.
In the 1980 film, a trained bull snake was killed with a machete during a scene involving counsellor Alice; its handler was reportedly unaware of the plan and was inconsolable afterwards. Kane says Pamela Voorhees frees a snake she finds in the camp pantry in the first episode, reflecting her different character from the film’s young counsellors. Crystal Lake stars Linda Cardellini as Pam and premieres on Peacock on Friday.
- Crystal Lake references the snake killed in the 1980 film.
- The new series frees a snake without harming it.
- Linda Cardellini plays Pamela Voorhees in the prequel.
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Friday the 13th is a horror film series set around Camp Crystal Lake, where counsellors have faced attacks linked to Jason Voorhees and his family. Pamela Voorhees, Jason’s mother, is a central character in the original 1980 film.
During that film’s production, a trained bull snake was killed with a machete for a scene, reportedly without its handler knowing beforehand. The incident has since been discussed as part of the film’s history and raised questions about how animals were treated in movie-making.
Crystal Lake is a prequel series about the camp and its characters before the events of the original film. Its portrayal of Pam and the snake echoes that history, while the production says no animal is harmed in the series.