Kevin Bacon Reflects on His Iconic Death in Friday the 13th and New Amazon Series

Warning: Mild spoilers for the first episode of The Bondsman. If you haven’t watched it yet, you might want to skip ahead or stream it using an Amazon Prime subscription.

Similar to only a handful of actors, Kevin Bacon shines across all genres effortlessly. He’s received awards for dramatic performances, taken on action roles in blockbusters, and chased thrilling cult stories. However, what truly delights me is when he taps into his darker self for ’80s hits like “Friday the 13th,” “Tremors,” and the often-overlooked “Stir of Echoes.” He also played one of his slimiest villains ever in “MaXXXine.” Now, Bacon is set to return in what might be his bloodiest role yet in “The Bondsman,” a death scene in the first act that could earn approval from Pamela Voorhees of “F13.

The Bondsman Showrunner Explained Why He Killed Kevin Bacon’s Hub In The Very First Scene

Before the April 3rd premiere of his Prime Video series, I had the pleasure of chatting with Kevin Bacon about his character Hub Halloran. Being a long-time horror enthusiast, I couldn’t help but inquire about the similarities between Hub’s gruesome throat slashing in “The Bondsman” and Jack Burrell’s famous arrow-through-the-neck death in the original “Friday the 13th.” As you can see in the video above, he shared an entertaining anecdote about how the tight budget left no margin for error, despite some mishaps occurring during filming.

We’ve made significant progress since the Friday the 13th incident. To elaborate, the special effects on that particular Friday the 13th were remarkably practical, thanks to Tom Savini’s work. In fact, during one of those gruesome scenes, I found myself on my knees under a bed, and it was a prosthetic neck that was used. With my head positioned like this – [demonstrates] – I must admit, it wasn’t the most comfortable experience.

Given the young actor, known primarily for his role in “National Lampoon’s Animal House”, seemed uncomfortable throughout the filming process, it’s probably beneficial that director Sean Cunningham and his crew didn’t have enough funds to redo numerous takes to perfect that particular scene. Bacon added:

They had two individuals hidden under the bed, one to push the syringe and the other to manage the blood flow, but unfortunately, the hose attached to the blood management device burst. This led me to think I could hear them muttering ‘Oh dear’ or something similar beneath the bed. Someone then began attempting to revive it by blowing on it, which is why a gurgling sound followed. Also, they only had one prosthetic part, so it was crucial that we executed the task flawlessly on the first attempt.

Watching Jason fling a filled sleeping bag into a tree will always bring me joy, but Kevin Bacon’s death scene in Friday the 13th remains unsettling and haunting to watch. The chilling gaze of his eyes into emptiness and the grotesque display of artificial blood are effectively terrifying, even more so than a perfectly executed moment could be.

In December 2024, Bacon discussed with TopMob about the persistent habit of ‘Friday the 13th’ fans to approach him at various events and locations, presenting photos from that specific scene for his signature, even though he might prefer signing less distressing images of himself.

Kevin Bacon Says His Death In The Bondsman Went Exactly The Way An Actor Would Want It To

Although it might seem that Kevin Bacon didn’t put in a lot of initial preparation for his debut in horror with “The Bondsman,” he did undergo a wide range of stunts, special effects, and makeup. In this film, his character Hub Halloran is killed by rival criminals only to be brought back to life by the Devil himself, with the purpose of hunting down demons to send them back to hell. (By the way, isn’t it intriguing to imagine that perhaps Jason Voorhees from the “F13” series was performing a similar task?).

Regardless, some scenes appeared more brutal for the character in “Death Sentence” named Hub, particularly when he was brutally killed without the audience having any clue about the situation yet. Fortunately, this intense scene didn’t seem harsh at all for actor Bacon himself. In his own words:

Speaking about the prosthetic on The Bondsman, let me clarify; it was a striking neck piece that resembled a cut, at least from my perspective. Frankly, I find it excellent. As an actor, you desire your prosthetics to be visually appealing but also minimize chair time and ensure comfort. This one managed to achieve both feats. I didn’t have any inconveniences like drinking through a straw or the like.

I can’t help but imagine the chuckle it would have brought to see Hub struggle with a straw, given his peculiar way of drinking in the premiere. However, the sheer entertainment value of The Bondsman is not contingent on this amusing thought; instead, it delivers an outstanding performance by a top-tier cast featuring Jennifer Nettles, Beth Grant, Jolene Purdy, Maxwell Jenkins and Damon Herriman. The sight of Bacon and Herriman sharing the screen together has me yearning for a time when Kevin Bacon could have retroactively been part of Justified.

You can watch all eight episodes from the initial season of “The Bondsman” online right now, so I recommend you stream them before the mystical wind deity resting in the nearby corner rises and takes control of you instead.

2025-04-06 01:37

Kevin Bacon Says His Death In The Bondsman Went Exactly The Way An Actor Would Want It To

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