A24 horror series Crystal Lake explores Friday the 13th origins

The A24 horror drama Crystal Lake explores the origins of the Friday the 13th franchise, focusing on Pamela Voorhees and her son, Jason, during the 1970s. The series follows Pamela, played by Linda Cardellini, as she deals with the apparent drowning of her son at Camp Crystal Lake and the subsequent murders that plague the community.

The narrative introduces Elias Wittering, played by Hamish Linklater, as Pamela’s husband and Jason’s father. Through his connection to Bellflower Chemical, the show reveals the existence of Project Argonaut, a secret Cold War-era human experimentation program designed to create individuals capable of surviving extreme conditions, such as nuclear attacks. These experiments are central to the explanation of Jason’s survival and transformation.

While there is currently no official announcement regarding a second season, showrunner Brad Caleb Kane has indicated that he has stories prepared for a potential continuation. If renewed, new episodes could arrive as early as late 2027.