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Men's Health Illustration; Getty Images // 20th Century Studios

FOR A SERIES ostensibly about a hockey-mask-wearing, machete-wielding killer, the Friday the 13th series is weird . From the original film, which doesn't really star Jason Voorhees as the killer (a favorite kernel of hack trivia nights nationwide), to fighting a Carrie stand-in to going to space, the slasher franchise has gone through many an identity crisis. Not to mention the wild legal battle over the rights to the names “Jason” and “ Friday the 13th .”

For a series born from a cheap, down-and-dirty exploitation film meant to capitalize on Halloween’ s success, it’s done quite well for itself. With ten main series entries, a crossover with Freddy Krueger , a remake, video games, and even a TV series , its longevity is nothing to sneeze at.…