Crystal Lake Prequel Series Wraps Filming, Promises Gritty 70s Thrills
Crystal Lake, the Friday the 13th prequel from Brad Caleb Kane, has finished filming. Set in the tense 1970s, the series teases psychological suspense, bold characters, and plenty of blood.
The infamous Voorhees family is set to haunt TV screens soon, with Crystal Lake—the much-anticipated prequel to the Friday the 13th saga—now finished filming. The series, helmed by Brad Caleb Kane, who co-ran IT: Welcome to Derry, is gearing up to deliver a fresh take on the horror classic. This time, the spotlight is on Linda Cardellini, who steps into the shoes of a young Pamela Voorhees, the original killer from the franchise. For horror buffs, that’s a bit of trivia worth remembering if you ever find yourself in a sticky situation with a slasher fan.
While the finer points of the plot are still under wraps, Kane has dropped a few hints about what punters can expect. He’s described the show as a psychological thriller, set against the backdrop of the 1970s—a time known for its paranoia and mistrust.
‘In many ways, it's a psychological thriller. It's a paranoid '70s thriller,’
Kane shared in a recent interview.
‘It has all of the DNA of a slasher without quite being a slasher. There are rivers of blood in the show. There are very, I think, ingenious kill sequences and deaths and murders, but it's all done in service of character and theme and place and time.’
Digging Into the 1970s Setting
Kane is keen to ground the series in the era that inspired the original film. He’s taken cues from the social and political climate of the time, weaving in themes of distrust, women’s liberation, and a general sense of awakening that swept through America in the 70s.
‘I tried to think about Crystal Lake and a Friday the 13th prequel as, “What era did the first film come out of?”’
Kane explained.
‘It came out of the paranoid '70s thriller era. It came out of the mistrust-of-institutions era. It came out of the women's lib era, the National Organisation for Women era, this consciousness-raising awakening era in America. I wanted to go and play with all of those themes.’
This approach promises a series that’s not just about the scares, but also about the world in which these horrors unfold. The show aims to capture the mood and anxieties of the time, giving the story a bit more depth than your average slasher flick.
Cast and Characters
Alongside Cardellini, the cast features William Catlett as Levon Brooks, Devin Kessler as Briana Brooks, Cameron Scoggins as Dorf, and Gwendolyn Sundstrom as Grace. With Pamela Voorhees at the centre, viewers can expect a performance that’s set to turn heads. Kane has been full of praise for Cardellini’s work, hinting at a portrayal that will leave a mark.
‘She's gonna shock and surprise a lot of people. I think she's gonna get a lot of attention for this role. She's inconceivably brilliant in it. I can't really say any more.’
There’s no word yet on when the series will hit screens, so fans will have to sit tight before heading back to Crystal Lake. But with production wrapped and the promise of a gritty, character-driven story, there’s plenty of reason to be keen for what’s coming next.