The Iconic Hockey Mask and Chain of Horror Icon Jason Voorhees

The Iconic Hockey Mask and Chain of Jason Voorhees

In the world of iconic horror movie villains, few stand out as much as Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise. With his rugged looks concealed behind a hockey mask and his weapon of choice being a machete, Jason has terrified and thrilled audiences for decades. But there is one other small detail about Jason's appearance that has also become forever linked to the character: the chain he often wears around his neck.

The Origin of Jason's Chain

In the original Friday the 13th movie, released in 1980, Jason did not actually appear as the killer. That honor went to his vengeful mother, Pamela Voorhees. Jason himself only briefly appeared as a deformed boy who drowned at Camp Crystal Lake. It wasn't until Friday the 13th Part 2 that Jason appeared as an adult killer, returning to wreak havoc on a new set of camp counselors.

In this 1981 sequel, Jason wore a burlap sack over his head with one eye hole cut out. This iconic look still did not feature his soon-to-be trademark hockey mask. But around Jason's neck was a thick metal chain that would go on to become a key part of his menacing image.

So where exactly did this chain come from? According to Friday the 13th lore, Jason put the chain around his neck after killing a biker gang that was staying at Camp Crystal Lake. After dispatching the gang, Jason took a liking to one member's chains and decided to wear it himself. This small detail would soon evolve into a vital part of his creepy aesthetic.

The Chain as a Symbol

Why has Jason's chain become such an integral part of his image and legend? For one, it adds to his overall threatening appearance, making him look more imposing and sinister. The bulky metal chain evokes images of strength, power, and violence.

It also makes Jason appear more primal and animalistic, like a dangerous beast that needs to be kept chained up. Horror fans have often pointed out the almost dog-collar-like nature of his chains, making imaginative connections between Jason and dangerous hounds needing to be leashed.

The sound of the chains swinging and clanging as Jason lumbers after victims also adds an auditory element to his menace. It gives a subtle warning that he is coming, building suspense for the actual on-screen kill scenes.

The Hockey Mask and Chain Together

In Friday the 13th Part 3, released in 1982, Jason finally acquired the hockey mask that would become synonymous with the character. But the mask did not replace the chain - rather, the two accessories together would create the ultimate image of one of pop culture’s most recognizable movie killers.

The hockey mask gave Jason's face and head a frightening yet blank quality, making him seem more like an unstoppable force of nature than a human. The chain, worn over the hockey mask, added just the right sinister touch. Both items fused together to create a look that evoked a strange, creepy blend of brutality and emptiness.

In many ways, the mask conveyed the unknowable, unstoppable nature of evil, while the chain represented the primal violence through which that evil hunts its prey. Both combined to transform Jason from a deformed boy into a figure of superstition and fear.

The Chain in Later Films

As the Friday the 13th franchise expanded in the late 80s and beyond, Jason's look evolved and was sometimes modified. In Friday the 13th Part VII, he did away with the ragged clothes for a more militaristic look, even covering his chain with an ammunition belt.

In Jason Goes to Hell, he is still shown wearing chains but they appear lighter and less pronounced. But even when subtle variations are introduced, the chain remains a consistent part of the signature costume. Much like the hockey mask, leaving the chain out altogether would not feel true to the spirit of the character.

Interestingly enough, when Friday the 13th was rebooted in 2009, the film used the burlap sack look for Jason from Part 2. Even in this case, rather than omit the chain altogether, the filmmakers included a lighter chain tightly strapped around his neck, almost hidden by the sack material. Again, even this subtle nod shows how essential the chain has become.

The Chain in Fan Art and Collectibles

From costumes to decorations to collectible figures, Jason Voorhees has been depicted countless times in pop culture fan art and merchandising. In almost all cases, the hockey mask is faithfully represented. Likewise, artist and creators rarely omit including Jason's iconic neck chain in depictions and replicas.

For horror aficionados who want to replicate Jason's look themselves, complete costumes are available that properly portray the tattered clothes, hockey mask, and bulky metal chain. No self-respecting Friday the 13th fan would dare be caught at a costume party or Halloween bash without this crucial finishing touch.

Action figures, busts, and statues depicting Jason also wisely include the chain as a key accessory. To leave it out would be almost sacrilegious for fans. Jason doppelgangers of any kind must have the chain present, even it doesn't fully replicate every link. Its symbolic importance supersedes precise accuracy.

For those who want to bring some Friday the 13th decor into their homes, replicas of Jason's mask and chain are also available. While not recommended as an accessory outside Halloween, fans can use this combo to pay tribute to movie memories in their private spaces.

The Chain Lives On

Friday the 13th is a film franchise known for repeating itself, almost ritualistically, with storylines and kills getting recycled and reinvented across sequels. But if there is one iconic aspect of Jason's appearance that will likely never change or require reinvention, it is the ominous neck chain.

The hockey mask may evolve here and there across films or get swapped for alternate headgear. The tattered overalls may get replaced by different garb. But the chain is here to stay, as inseparable from Jason as his machete and taste for blood.

For as long as Jason Voorhees continues stalking Crystal Lake and haunting our cultural nightmares, viewers can count on hearing the eerie clink of chains as he arrives to claim his next victim. The sounds echo through multiple decades of film, serving as a warning that doom is still on its way. And at this point, it’s hard to imagine Friday the 13th without them.

So when you hear that familiar clanking in a dark movie theater, don't expect Jason to have forgone his signature accessory. The chain remains essential in contributing to his unique aura of menace. And for fans, a Jason without chains is simply not Jason at all.

FAQs

What movie did Jason Voorhees first wear the chain?

Jason first wore the iconic chain in Friday the 13th Part 2 in 1981. In his debut appearance, he did not yet wear the hockey mask.

Does Jason wear the chain in every Friday the 13th movie?

He wears some form of neck chain in nearly every film he appears in. Even when subtle costume changes occur, the chain remains a constant signature accessory.

Where did the chain originally come from?

According to the movies, Jason took the chain from a biker he killed when he first returned to Crystal Lake as an adult killer.

Why has the chain become so linked to Jason's image?

Its sound and look add to his primal, threatening presence. The chain has become as iconic as his hockey mask in creating Jason's unique aura of horror.