The 1980 film, directed by Sean S. Cunningham, follows a group of counselors who arrive at Camp Crystal Lake to prepare for the upcoming summer season. The camp had been closed for years following the drowning death of a young boy, and the locals believe the area is cursed. Despite warnings from a crazed old man, the counselors decide to proceed with their plans.
One by one, the counselors are stalked and killed by an unseen assailant wearing a hockey mask, who is revealed to be Jason Voorhees, the son of the woman who runs the local diner. Jason, who was thought to have drowned in the lake as a child, has been living in the woods and seeking revenge on those who he feels are responsible for his mother's death.
The film is known for its iconic score, composed by Harry Manfredini, and its suspenseful, graphic death scenes. It has spawned numerous sequels and a remake, and has become a cult classic in the horror genre.