Linda Cardellini, whose résumé includes Freaks and Geeks, ER and a celebrated turn tormenting Don Draper on Mad Men, said she was unprepared for the level of practical gore when she signed on to play Pamela Voorhees in Crystal Lake, a prequel to the Friday the 13th series.
A turn toward gore
"The first time I had the tooth in my hand," Cardellini said, "I thought, 'Oh my God, this is what I'm doing.'" In one sequence she described, a human tooth is embedded in Pam's knuckle and is later yanked out with a deliberately disturbing, slurping sound. She also laughed about enjoying the special‑effects excess: "They pulled a guy's face off. It's my favourite bit!"
Revisiting franchise origins
Cardellini emphasised that in the original 1980 film it is Pamela who is the primary antagonist — Jason, and his trademark hockey mask, did not appear until later instalments. "He didn’t even have the mask until the third movie," she noted, as Crystal Lake reworks some franchise details, including the timing of Jason's drowning.
From drama and dark comedy to horror
The role marks a notable shift for Cardellini, who recently won an Emmy for DTF St Louis and is widely known for both dramatic and comedic television. She said the move into horror offered an opportunity to explore a different kind of performance, anchored by practical effects and a willingness to lean into the franchise's brutal legacy.
Crystal Lake positions itself as a prequel to the long‑running slasher series, returning to the origins of the Voorhees story while adjusting elements of the established backstory. Cardellini's remarks underline the production's emphasis on physical effects and a direct engagement with the grisly material that has defined the franchise.