Crystal Lake Wins Over Critics, a Promising Prequel to Friday the 13th

Crystal Lake, the prequel to the Friday the 13th saga on HBO Max, is receiving generally encouraging reviews. The original showrunner, Bryan Fuller, handed over his role to Brad Kane after production issues, as noted by studio A24. According to Écran Large, American critics highlight the performance of Linda Cardellini, described as "absolutely sensational", and call the series "a delightfully devouring entertainment, perfect for the Halloween season". Other critics find it "twisted, nicely gory and fun", although some feel it will not surprise the biggest fans. The series thus follows in the tradition of televised prequels like Bates Motel or Hannibal.