20 Things You Somehow Missed In Friday The 13th (1980)

6. An Earlier Ned

Friday The 13th
Warner Bros./Paramount Pictures

Ned Rubinstein is often regarded as being the first "practical joker" role in mainstream horror films, as no equivalent role was present in earlier slasher movies. Mark Nelson has even claimed that he felt that Ned's larking around was really intended to hide his insecurities, not least as Nelson felt that Ned was attracted to Brenda.

However, in initial drafts of the script, Ned was supposed to suffer from polio, having deformed legs, but an incredibly strong upper body.

This idea was ultimately discarded, but it did work its way into the film's sequel, Friday the 13th Part 2, in the form of Tom McBride's wheelchair-bound camp counsellor, Mark Jarvis who also does not fare well when he comes face to face with the killer...

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I started writing for WhatCulture in July 2020. I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I have contributed to several short story competitions and I have occasionally been fortunate enough to have my work published. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I also started reviewing films on my Facebook page. Numerous friends and contacts suggested that I should start my own website for reviewing films, but I wanted something a bit more diverse - and so here I am! My interests focus on film and television mainly, but I also occasionally produce articles that venture into other areas as well. In particular, I am a fan of the under appreciated sequel (of which there are many), but I also like the classics and the mainstream too.