"Crystal Lake" Review : Linda Cardellini Brings New Blood to Iconic Franchise
Peacock has launched a prequel to an iconic horror franchise with “Crystal Lake.” Brad Caleb Kane serves as the showrunner, while directors Michael Lennox, Celine Held, Logan George, and Quyen Tran each helm two episodes. Set in the 1970s, “Crystal Lake” introduces us to single mother Pam Voorhees (Linda Cardellini) and her son Jason (Callum Vinson), who, despite his congenital disabilities, is a loving boy and the apple of his mother’s eye.
When tragedy strikes and Jason drowns, Pam becomes lost in her grief. Things take another turn when two strangers arrive at her door and dig into her past. This disturbing chain of events catches the eye of the new sheriff, Brooks (William Catlett), who has his own troubled history and hoped that Crystal Lake would bring him peace. Both Pam and Sheriff Brooks are about to learn that the past never stays buried.
Like many who grew up in the ’80s, I grew up on the “Friday the 13th” franchise. I enjoyed the films, played the video games, watched the TV series, and even wrote my own fan-fiction sequels. Naturally, going into “Crystal Lake,” I had my own expectations. One thing I respect about the series is that they didn’t take the easy route of having someone find Jason’s old hockey mask, become possessed, and have each episode revolve around the protagonists attempting to track the mask down. Instead, they chose to highlight Mrs. Voorhees, and Cardellini is more than up to the task.
I have to admit that I wasn’t a fan of her previous horror film, “The Curse of La Llorona,” but if there’s one thing Ms. Linda can do, it’s tap into a vulnerable character who can convey grief. Throughout the series, she expresses her emotions so powerfully that it’s mesmerizing. She carries the series with ease, showcasing a range of emotions from grief to sexual response, and of course, murder. In fact, in one episode, when someone gets on her bad side, the lengths she goes to and the graphic handling of the situation are so intense that I let out a loud expletive at its execution.
The always-enjoyable William Catlett is just as good as Sheriff Brooks. One aspect I loved about his character arc is how the script downplays the racial elements with the town’s older residents. Instead, it portrays him simply as a black sheriff. I hope this opens more doors for Catlett, and I would like to see him in more projects. Callum Vinson is also charming as Jason, bringing the right amount of boyish wonder to the monster we eventually come to know.
I don’t want to spoil too much about the remaining supporting cast, but die-hard fans will be pleased. That said, I was fully invested in “Crystal Lake” until the last half hour of episode 8. While fans will love a character moment, another reveal felt lazy and unnecessary, especially when the show was already strong.
Nevertheless, Brad Caleb Kane does justice to the horror franchise with the right mix of new ideas, callbacks, and performances from the lead cast. Here’s hoping we get a season 2.
Final Grade: B+
