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For a lot of people, when the 13th of a month lands on a Friday, it's a signal to be on high alert. The date carries a reputation for misfortune and dread. Some of that can be traced back to a single iconic figure: Jason Voorhees. He’s the hockey-mask-clad killer at the centre of the Friday the 13th movie franchise. Actor and stuntman Kane Hodder brought the character to life across multiple films, yet his own brush with real-world horror proved just as harrowing. During a fire stunt gone badly wrong, Kane sustained severe burns across half of his body. Remarkably, after recovering, he chose to face the flames again as he told Jo Fidgen in 2020.

British-Nigerian writer Nuzo Onoh struggled during her school years, pushed back against her father, and endured physical punishment throughout her childhood. As an adult, she fell into line, pursuing a career in law. Her father’s death unlocked something in her. Suddenly, stories rooted in Igbo traditions and the eerie memories of her early life began pouring onto the page. When she set out to find a publisher, though, she realized her work existed in a category of its own. Undeterred, she set about creating a home for horror literature through an African lens and ultimately claimed one of the field's highest honours. This story was first broadcast in 2024.

At 13 years old, Marie McCreadie lost her voice entirely. For more than ten years, she was completely unable to speak. Some accused her of faking it while others pointed to darker, supernatural explanations. The real story, however, turned out to be stranger than any of those theories. She shared her experience with Outlook's Andrea Kennedy back in 2019.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Saskia Collette

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(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape on a white background with a white label with the words: The Outlook Mixtape. Credit: Getty Images)