Of all film genres, horror just might be the most confusing. Our instincts tell us we should run in the opposite direction of the things we fear. Yet with horror, fans tend to run to it with open arms. Whether it’s the sensation of being scared or laughing at over-the-top gore, it’s a genre full of contradiction and sensationalism. Both of these elements make 13 Fanboy somewhat of a love letter to and from the horror community in an extremely fun and satisfying way.
13 Fanboy is a slasher drama about, you guessed it, a mentally unstable masked fan taking his love for horror films one step too far.
As actors and actresses from the Friday The 13th film series turn up dead, a group of surviving cast members must band together to figure out the mysterious masked killer before it’s too late. While the meta-approach to horror is nothing new (Wes Craven tackled it quite well in A New Nightmare and the insanely popular Scream franchise) this is the first time we’ve seen it told through the eyes of staples in the horror fandom.
This is what makes 13 Fanboy an interesting take on the meta-horror sub-genre. The film features multitudes of actors and actresses from the Friday The 13th films playing stylized characterizations of themselves. Lar Park Lincoln (Part VII), Tracie Savage (Part III), Judie Aronson (Part IV), just to name a few. There are two of the actors who are iconic for their portrayals of Jason Voorhees, C.J. Graham, and Kane Hodder. As well as Corey Feldman and legendary scream queen Dee Wallace. The cast alone feels more like a horror convention roster than actual credits and it plays perfectly to the story.
Driving the meta element home is the fact 13 Fanboy was directed, produced, and co-written by Friday The 13th alum, Deborah Voorhees.
Playing the fan-favorite Tina in 1985’s Friday The 13th: A New Beginning, Voorhees has lived a pretty interesting life before and after Crystal Lake. A Playboy Bunny, a journalist for well over a decade, a teacher for both literature and journalism. Now she has come full circle to the horror genre playing tribute to the fandom she is most famous for.
In my 2020 interview as part of my Crystal Lake Confessional series, Voorhees talked about how most people in the horror community are good people. But when a person just slightly crosses the line, she is out. Despite being genuinely open-minded it’s not uncommon to come across a bad apple in the fandom every now and then. This makes the idea of 13 Fanboy more unsettling than I realized when reading the synopsis. Especially in today’s climate where access to the celebrity’s fandom worship is easier than imaginable.
Not to mention actors and actresses being more approachable thanks to conventions. Something Voorhees addresses early on.
But there’s something visceral about stalkers in the horror community due in part to the macabre subject matter. Danielle Harris, the actress from 4 different Halloween films, has often told a story about an armed stalker coming to her house one night. Original Friday The 13th final girl, Adrienne King gave up acting altogether due to a situation with an obsessed fan. 13 Fanboy doesn’t revel in too much social commentary, but it still manages to say something about celebrity worship. Even with some over-the-top performances (notably Feldman), it never feels like it makes light of the issue.
Despite the heavy-handed story of grief, paranoia, and murder, 13 Fanboy manages to breeze through its bloody runtime with a surprising amount of heart.
Dee Wallace is always a delight and the aforementioned Feldman never fails to be at least entertaining. But the real surprise comes from the supporting cast. Actresses such as Aronson and Lincoln have some serious acting chops and should be utilized in primetime television. Voorhees herself is also a more than competent actress who should be in front of the camera more often. Graham proves he is still more than capable of portraying Jason Voorhees should the occasion ever arise again. I would be lying if I told you I didn’t get a little emotional during a scene with Kane Hodder. The entire cast defies the cult films they’re known for.
However, 13 Fanboy is still a film made with a particular set of fans in mind. If you don’t recognize the faces or Friday The 13th references, there probably isn’t much here for you. There is no jump scares for casuals and the gorehounds will likely be disappointed. Plus, the whodunit elements may feel contrived for the elevated-horror fans. But the lack of mainstream appeal is sort of what makes 13 Fanboy special. It’s not an oversight, it’s by design!
At its core, it’s a film celebrating the dedication fans have to the Friday The 13th franchise and convention circuit.
Unlike the Robert Downy Jrs’ and the Harrison Fords’ of the MCU and Star Wars fandom, the performers in this film are real people. The kind who rarely get the opportunity to showcase their talents in mainstream cinema. The kind who have to work hard to get any project greenlit in Hollywood. However, they’re so in-tune with their fans, they can work together and make something fun and inclusive.
13 Fanboy may be a micro-budget slasher with a familiar Scream-esque synopsis, but it’s unique in how much it feels like a fan film with a purpose. Voorhees has crafted a film that feels more like a convention playground than a theatrical experience. But where studios churn out mass-produced shlock for a quick buck, every single frame of 13 Fanboy is made with love. If the tagline insists some fans will love you to death, I think it’s safe to say, the horror community wouldn’t have it any other way.
13 Fanboy is now currently streaming and in select theaters for a limited time.