Behind the clicks and shutters of cameras and flashlights, there are so many mysterious things. Most of the time, questions regarding the use of animals in filmmaking spark debates and discussion.
Fans often find some back story of a movie that heightened their shock and became a controversy.
One such controversy revolves around the iconic film “Friday the 13th.” The movie of the 1980s with nostalgic horror vibes still creates a ruscus for the presence of snakes in the picture. In this exploration, we will find the answer to an unsettling question: Did they kill a real snake in the movie Friday the 13th?
Recently on TikTok, people were debating whether the snake-killing scene in the movie, Friday the 13th, was real or not. The snake killing scene in the 1980 movie was indeed real. The actors did kill a harmless bull snake without informing the snake’s handler, who was disappointed to know the aftermath of the scene. At the time, there were no strict animal protection laws or supervision from organizations, hence no one was charged for animal killing.
Did They Kill a Real Snake in the Movie Friday the 13th?
The horror genre has always been known for pushing boundaries and testing the limits of our fears. The spine-chilling experience, while intriguing suspense, keeps the viewers on their toes to watch the whole drama on the screen. One such iconic movie of the golden age was “Friday the 13th.”
Released in 1980 and directed by Sean S. Cunningham, this film is known for its suspenseful storytelling and shocking kills. The movies of that era used to have a touch of reality in one way or another. For example, The Birds was based on a real-life incident, while this movie had a live snake-killing scene.
Shocked? Then, let’s go back to the scene where it happened.
The scene rather occurs during an intimate moment between the characters, Jack and Marcie. Both snuck away to a small cabin at Camp Crystal Lake, completely unknown of what destiny has for them in the future. Soon, the camp reveals the setting for a series of gruesome murders.
While the couple is lying in bed together, a snake suddenly appears in the room, slithering across the floor. As soon as Jack sees the snake, in the fit of shock, he grabs a machete and proceeds to kill the snake brutally. Ultimately, with the brutal attack, the snake dies while Jack pins it to the bed.
The killing was depicted graphically and disturbingly with the intention to send shock and chills to the audience, which happened. Now, here is the twist, the snake was real, and so was the killing scene. It was not created by any kind of graphic effect. The harmless bull snake was killed by the actors while filming live without informing the snake’s handler
According to reports, the killing scene wasn’t even a part of the original script but was later added by Tom Savini. However, in later events, Sivani denied his participation in the killing while tweeting that he wasn’t even at the set that day.
This scene indeed gave chills but in a negative way. It created a controversial state for the production team. But in the end, no one was evicted or charged for the brutal killing of an unharmed animal. Back in the day, there were no harsh laws that were made to protect animals, which is why it is still a controversial topic.
Fans are a bit sad and disappointed about hearing this side of the movie. In the month of Halloween, many were expecting to watch the movie, but it seems like it will be a different story now.
What do you think should be done in such cases? Share your opinions in the comment section.
