Friday the 13th

And this is the Walking Deadcast, episode 724.

And this episode, we're covering the first two episodes of the new Friday The 13th-related series, Crystal Lake, available now on Peacock.

Here we are.

It's actually here.

at the end of the doc who changed everything.

My guest today is Ari Lehman, the original Jason Voorhees from the very first Friday the 13th, a film that didn't launch a franchise, but helped define modern indie horror as we know it today.

In this conversation, Ari takes us back to the beginning.

what it was like growing up in the entertainment industry, stepping into such an iconic role at a young age, and working along legends like Betsy Palmer, who played his unforgettable on-screen mother, Pamela Voorhees.

We talk about his journey beyond acting, from being a green kid hanging around CBGBs, to building a successful music career that still pulls inspiration from horror, rebellion, and culture.

He opens up about how the industry has changed, the trust and freedom kids had growing up in the 70s and 80s, and how those experiences shaped who he is today.

We also dive into the enduring legacy of Friday the 13th, the power of fan connection, and why conventions remain such an important space for storytelling gratitude and shared love of the genre.

Ari reflects on how his franchise continues to thrive decades later.

Yeah.

Oh, my God, the unforgettable characters in, uh, in, uh, Friday the 13th.

Um, but, but oh my, oh my God.

Oh my God.

I could not care less if they kept any kind of continuity.

[laughs]

But just for shits and giggles, after it was over, I, like, watched the first 15 minutes of the first Friday the 13th.

I'm like, "Ho- whoa.

Parce que les Argonauts, Toronto, les Argos, c'était la gang de Jason.

Pas Jason dans Vendredi 13, mais dans la mythologie.

Ouais.

Les Roughriders aussi, c'était pas un affaire du président.

No sé si ustedes lo sabían, pero lo van a descubrir.

Desde Viernes 13, La masacre de la motosierra de Texas, como se llama esa película donde aparece Leatherface, Psicosis, una película que también en inglés se llama Psycho, de Alfred Hitchcock, nada más y nada menos, tiene origen en su historia.

Es una historia realmente asombrosa.

Pero ¿cómo se gestó? ¿Cómo surgió esta persona? Pues bien, quiero empezar preguntándole a Fermex, ¿cómo fue la infancia de Ed Gein? ¿Qué pasó para que este ser, este ser humano como usted y como yo y como Fermex y como Johana, en lugar de comer con platos normales, como cualquiera, platos de cerámica, esmaltados, de muselina, lo que ustedes quieran, de, de lo que sea, comía en huesos humanos, comía en platos humanos y tomaba en vasos que realmente era una calavera.