In Hollywood at the moment, soft reboots and prequels are a massive fad. In the TV realm, Star Wars, for example, is looking to the past, as seen with The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor. As for the big screen, Marvel did the same with Black Widow, making sure to milk Natasha Romanoff's story for what it's worth. It allows for backstories and origin tales to be mapped out, with studios rewriting narratives for the future, especially if the plan is to franchise.
Interestingly, the horror genre is no different, with the new Halloween series picking up right after the original film and nullifying the sequels. In addition, Scream, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Child's Play followed this path. Now, Friday the 13th is set for a reboot of its own, but given the potential and nuance present in the backstory before Jason Voorhees rose up, it should focus on his mom, Pamela.
Now, Pamela's quite an intriguing character, as she was revealed to be the killer at Camp Crystal Lake in 1980. She hated how counselors were off having sex, allowing Jason to drown, so she went on a murder spree in the name of revenge. Eventually, she got killed, which inspired Jason to take up her crusade and reciprocate her love.
But all the Jason movies would end up the same, with him killing, performing superhuman acts and doing the same thing Michael Myers or Leatherface did. But there's a chance to start from scratch, dealing with Pamela's past before she had Jason. Just like what director Ti West did for X and Pearl, detailing why Mia Goth's repressed character became a murderous slasher, Friday the 13th can start with the root of evil.
And make no mistake, it'd be a tragic story, working how Pamela fought back against oppression and the patriarchy. Her lore is muddled, but the series can untangle it, focusing on her history at home and ensuing romance with the sinister Elias. Bits and pieces can also get pulled from the novelizations, comics and games, detailing how Elias abused her, physically and mentally. This way, fans can fully connect to the trauma manifesting as Pamela hearing voices and thinking her baby's pushing her to protect them, not just by killing Elias but anyone else threatening their safety.
It would be a much more fascinating story, laying the groundwork for when she dies. But more than that, like how Michael had Dr. Loomis, Pamela's past could get opened for rivals, hunters and folks associated with Jason's legacy from way before he was born to come into the fray. It goes beyond Jason killing randomly down the line and proves Pamela's sins have indeed fallen on her son. Ultimately, fans would get their fill of nostalgic gore while gaining sympathy for a mother who sacrificed and just wanted what was best for her kid.