REVIEW: ‘Crystal Lake’ Defies Expectations With A Slasher Throwback

It’s always the right season for horror, but Crystal Lake isn’t afraid to sink its teeth a little bit longer into summer fun as it takes us back to the familiar camp horror fans have come to know and love in the Friday the 13th franchise. With the killer mother, Pamela “Pam” Voorhees, reimagined at the peak of her grief, emotions are high, as is the body count. After a shaky start, Crystal Lake finds its footing, resulting in a fun ride full of raised stakes, gore, and arguably one of the most visually appealing episodes of horror television in ages.

Set in the early ’70s, showrunner Brad Caleb Kane‘s Crystal Lake takes place years before the events of the first Friday the 13th film. Starting off on a bloody note, viewers are taken back to the titular camp in its prime. Pamela “Pam” Voorhees (Linda Cardellini) works as one of the cooks, keeping a watchful eye over her son, Jason Voorhees (Callum Vinson), who is relatively young. Played with a childlike innocence and incredible curiosity by Vinson, it makes the tragedy of his death hit all the harder in the series’ opening episode. 

The blow lands harder when Pam becomes completely enraptured by grief, spending months chasing shadows and drawing both the attention and sympathy of local police chief Levon Brooks (William Catlett). While the town tiptoes around the grieving woman’s increasingly bizarre behavior, Levon offers a shoulder to lean on and a kind word. Once Pam thinks there might be a light at the end of the tunnel, the past catches up with her and unearths all the bad things she’s been trying to keep at bay within herself. 

Linda Cardellini makes Pam Voorhees all her own in Crystal Lake.

Across eight episodes, Crystal Lake builds and explores how Pamela Voorhees became the brutal killer mommy horror fans experienced briefly in Friday the 13th. Her legacy has hung heavily across the decades, as her son Jason Voorhees killed, died, revived, and killed again. And while the story given for Pam and Jason’s origins is a heartbreaking one, wrapped up in conspiracy and secrets, the additions to the Voorhees’ origin story fit well against the backdrop of the Watergate period.

Even more fitting is the internal struggle Pam faces, alongside the rising feminist liberation movement taking root at the time. While she is lost in grief, Pam finds herself discovering unfamiliar aspects of her interests and personality that evoke a long-shuttered passion and sexuality. The battle between purity and sin runs throughout Crystal Lake, explored not just by Pam but by the adolescents and young adults caught up in the experimental and arguably overwhelming era of free love. But like any slasher staple, those who sin often find themselves dead.

Amidst the ideas Crystal Lake is playing with, Pamela Voorhees’ love and devotion to Jason and her desire to be a good mother come to the forefront.  Linda Cardellini plays with this love in her performance, allowing her Pam to reach vulnerable places one might never have expected from the character. Yet, the hard edge, the walls she keeps up to protect herself, never fully drop. When Pam is backed into a corner that requires force, Cardellini’s embrace of Pam’s rage and bloodlust is exquisite. 

The culture tug-of-war plays out in the female characters of the series.

This projection of motherhood comes full force directed at the new character, Grace (Gwendolyn Sundstrom). A friend of Jason before his passing, she carries equal parts guilt and grief. As Jason’s only friend and now the surrogate for the child she’s lost, Pam can’t help feeling protective of the young teen. And, from what we see in Crystal Lake, Grace needs all the protection she can get.  She’s susceptible to all influence and desperate for acceptance, leaving her open to potential danger at every turn. 

Unfortunately, Grace’s storyline never reaches a full resolution by the end of Crystal Lake, despite having one of the more fascinating arcs. Exposed to the changing times, you can see how easily she is pulled this way and that, caught between Pam’s more conservative approach to life and the free-love-chasing counterculture hippie movement. Being more open and expressive with one’s body and passions is something Pam herself grapples with, as well as camp counselor Claudette (Danielle Kotch), who swings to the other side of the pendulum.

While the characters and the town itself experience brutal awakenings as bodies start piling up, Chief Levon Brooks emerges as a much-needed grounding force. New to the Friday the 13th universe, William Catlett wears Levon’s grief with careful regard, but never lets the character succumb to it. He’s at a different point in his journey, offering Pam a future where things settle out. Little does Levon know that his relationship with Pam isn’t merely romantic. It has a cat-and-mouse quality that can quickly turn dangerous if things take a turn.

William Catlett’s Chief Levon Brooks is the grounding force of Crystal Lake.

Playing opposite Catlett’s Brooks is Cameron Scoggins‘s Dorf, a more comedic reimagining of the familiar character from the first film. Eager to prove himself in a town that doesn’t take him seriously, Dorf is played by Scoggins with an aw-shucks quality that makes him equal parts endearing and embarrassing to watch. All he’s wanting is the chance to prove himself, and with each failure, combined with Scoggins’ performance, you hope maybe, just maybe, Dorf might succeed. Just as a little treat. 

One new character that doesn’t entirely get to break away from the archetypal trappings of her character is Levon’s sister, Briana Brooks (Devin Kessler), a whip-smart journalist who hopes to unearth something huge to put her on the map. The character is central to unearthing the biggest secret of Crystal Lake, moving the plot and story along. When paired with her brother, her presence is meant to illuminate him rather than let us know Briana better. But in the time she’s on screen, Devin Kessler imbues Briana with undeniable charm.

These characters are essential in making Crystal Lake so much fun to watch. Rather than completely leaning into the camp nature the Friday the 13th franchise evolved into over time, everyone plays things with utmost seriousness without crossing into self-indulgence. While this directorial approach does occasionally clash with unintentionally cringey moments, like fireworks bursting after a triumphant moment of body disposal, or the execution of the delusions of a grieving mother, it adds a certain amount of gravitas that is refreshing.

The horror pays homage while still keeping viewers on their toes.

This goes hand in hand with the show’s delivery of thrills and gore. Kane delivers some homage, too, with heavy nods up front that cross into cheesier execution. However, as Crystal Lake finds its stride, the balance between paying reverence and crafting something memorable to keep audiences guessing emerges, resulting in some of the most fun twists later on. And as for the gore, Kane and makeup effects designer Dave Presto and the team go for gold, delivering some of the most brutally executed kill scenes on television in some time.

The gory visuals aren’t the only thing that excels visually in Crystal Lake. The look and feel of the era is perfectly encapsulated. Returning to and recreating familiar locations from the first film reignites the nostalgia of a happier time, long before tragedy strikes. The costuming and hair play an essential part in cementing character identity while highlighting the different styles of the early ’70s. However, it’s not the early ’70s setting that takes the breath away in Crystal Lake. 

Crystal Lake Episode 7, titled “Friday…,” is the positive odd one out. A blast to a different past, this episode boasts the series’ most stunning visual projects. Signature mint green pops against the more vibrant contrasting reds sprinkled throughout, with the greens practically overwhelming once inside institutes of research and medicine. The literal visual metaphor of the alien nature of this era of scientific discovery is undeniable at a certain point in this episode, and yet it is completely spellbinding. This is the standout episode of Crystal Lake.

Crystal Lake defies expectations in ways that are equal parts refreshing and surprising. 

With only eight episodes in this journey, and the seventh landing on such an incredible high, Crystal Lake‘s finale rushes slightly to the finish line. And, for the most part, Pam’s journey completes itself, with her final moments being the most haunting. However, certain character threads remain unfinished, leaving it up to the imagination who was left behind and who we would like to see more of should there be a future for more spinoffs. 

Despite an initially shaky start, Crystal Lake defies expectations in ways that are equal parts refreshing and surprising. With a tense story riding the waves of suspense and impulsive murderous intent, Crystal Lake is made even richer by its incredibly talented cast who go all in on bringing these familiar and new characters to life. And while not entirely perfect, it eventually finds the balance between honoring what came before and making something that can stand on its own. 

Crystal Lake premieres on Thursday, October 15, 2026, exclusively on Peacock.