The chilling silhouette of Jason Voorhees, the machete-wielding king of the Friday the 13th franchise, embodies more than just a horror icon — he represents a primal test of survival that demands physical prowess, mental resilience, and a clear-eyed understanding of human nature. Surviving an encounter with Jason requires not just luck but a disciplined approach to physical and psychological fitness, as Jason relentlessly punishes weakness and indecision. If our world truly operates within the scope of “survival of the fittest,” horror movies are perhaps the biggest media-based evidence we have of it. Beyond the bloodied campgrounds of Crystal Lake, the Friday the 13th series and survival horror as a genre reveal deeper ideological undercurrents, often aligning unexpectedly with so-called right-wing values of self-reliance, individual accountability, and the stark realities of confronting evil head-on, rather than presumed left-wing ideals of collective safety or moral relativism. Yet, even for those whose beliefs lean toward the opposite political spectrum, embracing these specific conservative principles in a life-or-death scenario both onscreen and off is not a betrayal of values but a pragmatic necessity for survival. Whether we like it or not, the rhetoric that horror is always left-wing doesn’t apply in slashers. Granted there are arguments to be made about how a slasher villain is a misunderstood outsider and requires our sympathy, and maybe if we were to just be nice or tolerant to Jason and let him talk through his trauma to us, then he might back down. Okay but no, let’s be real: given the two choices, do we want to live or die?
It may be worth mentioning that in a nod toward the concepts of individual freedom and free will, one could take a more philosophical libertarian view of horror and say there’s a third choice of avoiding the danger of the situation altogether by simply going home. But even then it would be hard not to acknowledge that’s a survival technique in itself, albeit an expedient shortcut that would result in no movie at all.
That said, if we take a look at Jason’s victims and survivors, we can explore how physical and mental preparedness is key to outlasting a slasher. These characters, ranging from doomed counselors to resourceful final girls, are tested to embody these principles in their desperate bids for survival. If we draw from the successes and failures of these characters, examining what can mean the difference between becoming another victim or emerging as a battle-hardened survivor is easy.
Be Fit, Defeat Jason
The internet may tell us that working out is patriarchal and ableist, framing physical fitness as an oppressive or exclusionary pursuit. However, to defeat a relentless force like Jason Voorhees, both physical and mental fitness are non-negotiable. Jason’s methodical, unstoppable nature means that outrunning, outmaneuvering, or outlasting him requires a body capable of endurance and strength, paired with a mind sharp enough to stay calm under pressure. In the Friday the 13th series, characters like Ginny Field in Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), who uses her psychology training and agility to outmaneuver Jason during a desperate chase through a cabin, or Chris Higgins in Friday the 13th Part III (1982), who battles Jason in a barn with a log and knife after surviving a harrowing pursuit, demonstrate that survival hinges on being prepared in both body and mind. These examples underscore that fitness is not about conforming to societal standards but about equipping oneself to face existential threats, a principle that transcends political divides and aligns with the self-reliant ethos of survival horror.
Physical fitness does more than prepare the body for the grueling demands of fleeing or fighting a killer like Jason Voorhees; it profoundly strengthens the mind, fostering the psychological resilience needed to face such a terrifying adversary. Regular exercise, such as running, strength training, or even basic endurance activities, enhances mental clarity and emotional stability by reducing stress hormones like cortisol while boosting endorphins, which promote a sense of calm and focus. In the high-stakes context of Friday the 13th, this translates to a sharper ability to make quick decisions under pressure and outwit Jason despite overwhelming fear. In Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988), Tina Shepard harnesses her telekinetic powers during a climactic confrontation at Crystal Lake’s dock, using her mental focus to hurl a television and porch furniture at Jason to immobilize him, a display of composure likely supported by physical resilience. Fitness also cultivates discipline and self-efficacy, reinforcing the conservative belief that one can overcome challenges rather than wallow in them, a trait critical when facing a seemingly invincible killer. For instance, Tommy Jarvis in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter [Part IV] (1984) devises a plan to shave his head to resemble a young Jason, luring him into a vulnerable position in the Jarvis’ living room, where he and his sister Trish surprise attack Jason with a machete. Moreover, exercise improves sleep quality and cognitive function, equipping potential survivors with the alertness needed to detect Jason’s ambushes, as demonstrated by characters who stay vigilant while others succumb to panic or fatigue. By fostering confidence, reducing anxiety, and enhancing problem-solving, physical fitness creates a psychological armor that complements the survival horror ethos of self-reliance. And by showcasing these traits, horror enables an audience comprised of even those with differing political views to witness how harnessing these mental benefits leads to, in this case, outlasting Crystal Lake’s deadliest predator.
To face Jason Voorhees and emerge victorious, one must cultivate a body and mind primed for action, drawing on training methods that enhance physical conditioning, cognitive function, and lifestyle factors. These are some of the strategies that provide a blueprint for preparing to outrun, outfight, or outsmart Crystal Lake’s relentless killer:
Physical Conditioning
Surviving Jason requires a body that can move swiftly, react instinctively, and endure prolonged stress. Cardio is critical for outrunning Jason’s relentless pursuit, as seen in Friday the 13th Part III (1982) when Chris Higgins, after discovering her friends’ bodies at Higgins Haven, sprints through a dense forest to escape Jason, who doggedly chases her after crashing through a window. Her ability to maintain speed over uneven terrain highlights the need for endurance, achievable through high-intensity interval training (HIIT). HIIT, or even the new trend of Japanese interval walking, enhances cardiovascular endurance, mirroring the bursts of speed needed to escape. Strength training builds the power to fight back or climb obstacles, like when Tommy in Part IV scales a staircase to reach the roof of the house to distract Jason, and later uses his strength to wrestle Jason to the floor, striking him repeatedly with a machete during their final showdown. Bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, and pull-ups prepare the body for grappling or wielding improvised weapons. Start-and-stop drills improve footwork and reaction time, critical for dodging Jason’s machete swings, as Ginny does in Part 2 when she flees through a counselor’s cabin, leaping over a bed and evading Jason’s machete as he lunges through a window during the climactic chase. Flexibility and agility are equally vital: stretching prevents injury during frantic escapes, while Pilates or posture exercises strengthen core stability, aiding balance when navigating uneven terrain like the woods of Crystal Lake, as seen when Chris scales a barn loft in Part III to evade Jason after locking him out of the house. These methods enhance blood flow to the brain, improve muscle activation, and develop the quick footwork needed to stay one step ahead of Jason.
Reflex and Response Time
Jason’s attacks are sudden and brutal, demanding razor-sharp reflexes. Reaction drills, like catching a ball dropped unexpectedly by a partner, train the nervous system to respond instantly, a skill that could have saved counselors like Nikki Parsley in Part VI: Jason Lives (1986), who freezes when Jason smashes through the RV’s bathroom door during a nighttime drive, grabbing her face before she can escape. It may seem silly, but activities like juggling improve hand-eye coordination, useful for wielding weapons or throwing objects to distract Jason, as Trish Jarvis does in Part IV when she hurls a hammer at Jason as he breaks through a door in the Jarvis house, briefly halting his advance to protect her brother Tommy. Racquet sports or non-contact boxing sharpen reaction times and spatial awareness, preparing survivors to counter Jason’s unpredictable lunges, much like Alice Hardy in Friday the 13th [Part 1](1980) when she fends off Mrs. Voorhees in the camp pantry, swiftly grabbing a frying pan to strike her attacker. Tai chi, with its slow, deliberate movements, enhances balance and reflexes, fostering the calm focus seen in Rennie Wickham in Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989), who dodges Jason’s axe swings in the ship’s narrow engine room. Even gaming, particularly fast-paced action games, can hone reaction times and decision-making under pressure, mimicking the quick thinking Tommy employs in Friday the 13th: A New Beginning [Part V] (1985) when he grabs a pocketknife to stab Roy Burns (the copycat killer) in the leg during an ambush in the woods near Pinehurst. These exercises ensure survivors can react swiftly to Jason’s ambushes, turning split-second decisions into life-saving actions.
Cognitive Function
A sharp mind is as crucial as a strong body when facing Jason. Puzzles and memory games, such as solving crosswords or utilizing brain-stimulating apps, boost processing speed and cognitive flexibility, skills that help Ginny in Part 2 devise a psychological trap. After discovering Pamela Voorhees’ shrine in a shack, Ginny dons Pamela’s sweater and mimics her voice to confuse Jason, tricking him into lowering his machete long enough for her to strike him with a hidden weapon. Mindfulness practices, like daily quiet reflection or deep-breathing exercises, enhance focus and reduce panic, enabling survivors to stay composed like Tina in Part VII when she channels her telekinetic powers to collapse a roof on Jason during their lakeside battle, pinning him under debris after he kills her mother. Of course, most of us aren’t telepathic or telekinetic, but these mental exercises improve our ability to think strategically under stress, a hallmark of survival horror’s emphasis on individual resourcefulness.
Lifestyle Factors
Physical and mental training are amplified by lifestyle choices that optimize cognitive function and reaction time. Sufficient sleep ensures alertness, as seen when Megan Garris in Part VI stays vigilant during a police station breakout, spotting Jason approaching through a window while others are distracted, allowing her to drive Tommy to safety. A healthy diet rich in protein, omega-3s, antioxidants, and keeping hydrated fuels the body and brain, supporting the endurance and clarity needed to outlast Jason. Creatine supplementation can enhance muscle recovery and cognitive performance, giving survivors the edge to keep fighting, as Tommy does in Part IV during his prolonged struggle with Jason, enduring multiple attacks before delivering the killing blow. Stress management through techniques like journaling or progressive muscle relaxation reduces cortisol, maintaining the calm needed to avoid the panicked mistakes of the franchise’s less fortunate victims, like Jack Burrell in Part 1, who lies in bed at Camp Crystal Lake, unaware of the arrow piercing through the mattress until it’s too late. These lifestyle factors create a foundation for the physical and mental resilience that survival horror champions.
The psychological demands of surviving a horror scenario like an encounter with Jason Voorhees extend beyond physical preparedness, tapping into the core of survival psychology, which aligns closely with the conservative ethos of survival horror. Survival psychology emphasizes mental toughness, adaptability, and the ability to confront fear directly—traits that Friday the 13th characters either embody to their success or lack to their peril. The fight-or-flight response must be mastered; again, Ginny in Part 2 exemplifies this by suppressing panic to impersonate Pamela Voorhees in a shack, wearing her sweater and speaking in a soothing tone to trick Jason into kneeling, allowing her to swing a machete at his shoulder. This reflects the psychological principle of emotional regulation, where maintaining control over fear allows for strategic thinking, a skill honed through mindfulness and stress management techniques. Similarly, situational awareness is critical; in Part IV Tommy stays hyper-vigilant by noticing a shattered window in the Jarvis’ living room, signaling Jason’s entry after he kills a neighbor and prompting Tommy to prepare a trap by mimicking Jason’s younger self. This awareness trait is positively enhanced by cognitive exercises like puzzles or gaming. Survival psychology also involves resilience under trauma, as seen in Tina in Part VII, who pointedly channels past trauma into determination, transitioning her guilt over her father’s death into telekinetic fury, chaining Jason to the bottom of the lake with a boat anchor during their final confrontation at Crystal Lake’s dock. In contrast, characters who succumb to Jason, like Paul Holt in Part 2, who panics after finding a speared body and runs blindly into the woods, only to be caught and killed with a hammer, lack this psychological fortitude, falling victim to denial or paralysis. Survival horror’s conservative bent is evident here: it prioritizes individual agency and preparedness over reliance on external rescue, a stark contrast to narratives that might emphasize collective action or systemic solutions. By cultivating mental toughness through cognitive training, stress management, and a disciplined lifestyle, survivors can emulate the psychological resilience of Friday the 13th’s final girls and boys, turning fear into a weapon to outwit Jason Voorhees and embody the self-reliant spirit of the genre.
By integrating these training methods, lifestyle choices, and psychological strategies, one can channel the survival instincts of Friday the 13th’s most resourceful characters. Whether sprinting like Chris Higgins through the woods, strategizing like Ginny Field in a candlelit shack, or fighting back like Tommy Jarvis with a machete, the combination of physical conditioning, reflex training, cognitive sharpening, and psychological resilience equips survivors to face Jason Voorhees with the self-reliant grit that defines survival horror’s inherently conservative ethos — proving that preparation, regardless of politics, is the key to surviving Crystal Lake. Not to quote an entirely different franchise, but living or dying is most certainly a choice. Make yours. ★
