Friday Conversation: Prophets of Doom
Slasher movies became all the rage in the early 80’s as every studio raced to create the next big slasher movie to fill the pocket books. One of the key characters in all early slasher movies is the Prophet of Doom. Not many, if any, can rival Crazy Ralph. His character was the catalyst of the creepy feeling that was given to the film. Without his words of warning, the POV shots may not have been as menacing.
After Crazy Ralph’s demise in Part 2, the filmmakers felt they still needed some sort of doomsayer to warn the kids that were heading to Higgins Haven. What better way than to have said kids run into (almost literally) Abel lying on the road. My classic eyeball shot in Part 3 is not of Rick’s glass-eye-on-a-string popping out, it’s of a real looking eyeball forced into the audience by Abel, spouting, “I have warned thee”.
The Deck Hand is the first person to spot Jason in Jason Takes Manhattan and this is before he even gets on the ship. He then spends over half of the movie warning anyone he can that “Jason walks this ship”. He even hears J.J. getting her head bashed in by her own guitar as he stands on the main deck. The deck hand was definitely a nod back to the original film’s Crazy Ralph and was a character that had been sorely missing since Part 3’s Abel.
All of these characters were entertaining even as stand alones. But, they did contribute a needed sense of uneasiness that was crucial to creating the feelng of unrest and tension. Should this type of character be brought back into the franchise for later installments or should the Prophets of Doom be left in the past as a nostalgic rememberance of the golden age of the franchise?
I\’d also include the old lady from the remake. \
When people go missing around here, they’re gone for good.
Ah yes, I have been told this before. Personally, I do not count the lady as a profit of doom as she was just at home minding her business when Clay stopped by looking for his sister. The others went out of their way to warn people. However, I can see where fans would view that old lady as a prophet of doom, she just doesn’t fit the mold for me. Excellent thought!
Yes they should bring back the prophet of doom, but only as a very small role. The recipe worked for part 1 and 2. why not continue with it.
I liked the old lady from the remake. Her quote was gangster. Its like the locals know about jason, and know not to enter his woods. Plus her dog made me jump outta my seat when i saw it in theaters..
Yes they most definitely should bring back the profit of doom. I loved crazy Ralph and Abel especially. I can’t put my finger on it, but something about this role gives Friday the 13th that extra creepiness vibe witch is always welcome. The old woman from the beginning of the remake said a few lines that went on to become very memorable. “They ain’t missin” and no she wasn’t a profit of doom, because she didn’t warn them to stay away from the lake. She just volunteered information about when people go missin they stay missin. She didn’t say your doomed or your voyage is doomed. Could be off but that’s my opinion.
TT
As crazy as Abel was he was at least smart enough to not stick around. If you know Jason is on the boat, then don’t get on the boat. If you know the a killer is at the campground, why hang around Ralph?
There was also a quasi-prophet of doom in Part 5 : The sheriff saying the killer was Jason, although he definitely was not a lunatic like the others.
I liked Ralph in part 1 because he added to the suspense…when you first saw the movie he was potentially the killer…or least he could be the POV stalker. In the later movies there wasn’t really any suspense about who was doing the killing so I don’t think it would have added as much for a crazy local to jump out from behind a tree in TNB and warn the soon to be victims.
I think adding this type of character would be a step in the right direction for returning this series to it’s roots. As long as it is not forced within the context of the movie.
You know, that was one thing missing from the remake that I didnt even think about until now. There was no prophet of doom, unless You count the old lady that Clay talks to inquiring about His sister. “She aint missing, Shes dead”. Im starting to wonder if Shes any relation to Jason. Maybe Shes Jasons Grandmother, or aunt. Who knows. But anyway, Crazy Ralph is My favorite character from parts 1 and 2. They call Him crazy, but Hes like the smartest one in the movie. Minus His little mistake of hanging around the camp at night watching Paul and Ginny make out. I never got that, why would He even do that. Maybe He was a little too drunk or something. Plus I think its awesome Walt Gorney did the narration for the prolouge to part 7. The very first line is the best “Theres a legend around here, a killer buried but not dead”. And of course He says “a death curse, Jason Voorhees curse” A little tribute to the first 2. Abel was cool too, I mean the dudes just napping in the middle of the road. Guess thats why they dont call Him Cray Abel. I think the crazy is implied by finding Him sleeping in the road. And as for the Deck Hand, well thats one of the few high points to Jason Takes Manhattan. I remember in the trailer before I even saw the movie, that one line “Youre all gonna die”. Immediately I thought of Crazy Ralph. That was another good quote “this voyage is doomed”. Im hoping if this upcoming sequal ever gets off the ground, which eventually it will. They throw in a prophet of doom, or maybe bring the old lady back. She seemed to have some knowledge on Jason, in fact She was the only resident of Crystal Lake to know Jasons alive and well. Since Walt Gorney is no longer with us, I say no to another Crazy Ralph. The man did a perfect job. YOURE DOOMED, YOURE ALL DOOMED!!!!
Love the prophet of doom. He should be the narrator of sorts, of their forth coming demise. A crazy Ralph type is needed. I just wonder if it would be best if one actually hangs around… and isn’t killed off.
That was one of the things that was missing in the reboot, that old lady wasn’t enough for me. I’m gonna have to go with Crazy Ralph (parts 1&2), Walt Gorney did a great job warning the counselors in the original films . Abel (part 3), he was a good substitution for Crazy Ralph from (parts 1&2), but not as good, but I really liked how he scared the teens with “human eyeball”, it was some sort of “omen”. As for the Deck Hand from part 8, he was alright but not as good as the other two. Overall Crazy Ralph was the best “prophet of doom”.
I have to go with Crazy Ralph (1&2). It really added to the plot. As for the local old lady from remake; whoever thinks she may be related to Jason-that would be awesome, it’d also add whats needed for today. I also think that Jason kidnapped that girl-not b/c she resembles his mom in the locket like everyone thinks, bu JASONFURY, I think it’s b/c her mom was the counsler who lopped Pam’s head off in opening scene, and that’s why JV holds her captive-an equal psychological terror her mom had given to him when he seen his mom get killed. I may be off, but I’m usually right with this stuff. FRIDAY is my life.
Kids will resemble their parent’s almost identically, Whitney was nervous about being there( like she may have known but never told anyone) and Clay tells the sheriff she died of cancer-it would just make sense man. Whitney’s mom could have dropped, or had the necklace rip off while running through the woods. It’d be a good reason why Jason kidnaps ONLY Whitney since she may look identical to what her mom did at that age. Would make a good suprise right Jasonfury?
@Jasonsfury:
“Personally, I do not count the lady as a profit of doom as she was just at home minding her business when Clay stopped by looking for his sister”
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Not to turn against your views, but technically Abel was just sleeping in the street when they “stumbled” upon him much like Clay stumbled upon the old lady. I don’t think he went out of his way anymore than she did. (unless you see him sleeping in the road on purpose to stop anyone coming in, that could have been a possibility).
Ralph is the only one in my opinion that actually went after the counselors to warn them.
Steve
mwd
Very true, that Chris and the gang stumbled upon Abel. But I do believe it was on purpose that he was in the middle of the road, waiting to warn anyone looking to go to Higgens Haven. Also, later in the movie, Abel was supposed catch up with Chris and Rick and warn them of the impending doom. However, that scene was never added to the film.
And you mentioned that Crazy Ralph was the only one to go out of his way to warn people, but The Deck Hand also warned the people on the ship multiple times leading up to the scene where he was on the bridge with the rest of the survivors telling them about Jason. So I think that crazy guy went out of his way as well.
One of the creepiest parts in the 1st one was when Ralph popped out of the pantry in the main cabin….”I’m a messenger of God”….Priceless