Saturday the 14th: Cast, Plot and Horror Parody
Saturday the 14th (1981) is a horror comedy, not a Friday the 13th sequel. Explore its plot, cast and monster-movie parody.
Saturday the 14th: Cast, Plot and Horror Parody
Saturday the 14th is a 1981 American horror comedy, not a Friday the 13th sequel. The title plays on the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th, but the movie leans toward monster-movie parody and family farce rather than an adult masked slasher. Directed by Howard R. Cohen, it features Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss.
What happens in the movie
A family moves into an inherited house and discovers a supernatural problem involving an unusual book and a collection of creatures. The humor comes from characters treating bizarre threats with a mixture of panic and everyday domestic confusion. Viewers expecting Jason, Camp Crystal Lake or the Voorhees mythology will be looking in the wrong franchise.
Cast and tone
Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss lead the cast, with Jeffrey Tambor also appearing. Rather than emphasizing the prolonged pursuit and gruesome set pieces associated with Friday the 13th, Saturday the 14th uses jokes, broad performances and affectionate references to older horror traditions. Its appeal is closer to an early-1980s family-friendly spoof than to a serious slasher.
Why the similar title matters
The movie's name turns the famous unlucky date into a punch line. There is no shared continuity, no official Jason cameo required to understand it and no reason to import its cast into a Friday the 13th character directory. Search for the exact title and 1981 release year when checking recordings or library listings.
What kind of viewer might enjoy it?
People who like light monster comedies, deliberately silly hauntings and movies that parody the genre may find the film more approachable than a violent slasher. Those wanting suspense or special-effects intensity should adjust expectations. It is most useful to judge Saturday the 14th on its own comic terms.
Related guides
Which Friday the 13th Movies Are Worth Watching First
Frequently asked questions
Is Saturday the 14th related to Friday the 13th?
Its title is a joke, but it is not a franchise sequel.
What year was it released?
1981.
Who directed the film?
Howard R. Cohen.
Is Jason Voorhees in it?
No. The film has a separate story and characters.
Is it horror or comedy?
It is primarily a horror comedy and genre parody.