In Part III, one of the victims (the famous Shelly!) was wearing the mask earlier as a prank. The character later disappeared off-screen, and then Jason showed up wearing the mask. It may not have been the most brilliant concept of all time or executed perfectly on screen, but at least it was an attempt to fit it into the story and create some suspense. Instead of Jason, you know, randomly finding it on the floor in a barn.

Exactly. While I didn't see it in a theater, the audience probably didn't know it would end up being some iconic symbol for the character. I thought it was great how Shelly used the mask as a gag and then later on Jason appears with it on. We can only imagine how that encounter with Shelly must have gone, though we find out a bit later: not well. I think something like that worked best off-screen.

This has actually become one of my most favorite movie legends.
The rejected loser who always tried to scare people (And often pissed them off in the process) would later be responsible for creating one of the most iconic images for cinematic boogeymen.....And all this was unplanned.

i know this is how he got the mask (off screen from Shelly), but do you really think the filmmakers (Steve Miner) of this one, one of the more maligned of the series, intended to create suspense and mystery as to Shelly's death? i think it was just laziness on their part.

Good point！ I appreciate people who is ready to share information with others!

1) Shelly is shown wearing the mask.
2) Shelly isn't seen for a while.
3) Jason appears wearing the mask.

So, yes.

Also, Jason's first victim after he puts on the mask mistakes him for Shelly, which is probably more to the point of why it was used in the first place. Therefore, I think it is a definite certainty that the mask had at least some story significance in the original, and was used as a device to create suspense.

Watching this movie a few times on DVD, I've come to some random conclusions.

The movie looks too slick and glossy to be truly scary. When I first saw the trailers, I liked the fact that this movie had stunning cinematography. Now, I think it hurt it.

I liked that random redneck character Donnie who got killed in the barn. He reminds me of the type of character you would see in Part V. He may be my favorite character in the movie.

I really liked the opening sequence. It contained the only scary parts of the movie. The attack in the shack, and Jason just standing there, before he runs up and kills Richie. I liked the random Sister Christian song. I also thought the Wade character was pretty funny.

I liked the Jason in his movie. A woodsman setting up traps. This is easily the best Jason since "The Final Chapter".

I had no problem with the deaths. Everything's been done before.

The characters wern't that bad, as far as the series goes. I just wish they had a few more scenes of development. Bree has barely any dialogue at all.

The fabulously gratuitous sex scene, that just goes on and on. Great big natural breasts. This scene kicks ass, but it's poorly set up. He's supposed to be cheating on the Jenna character, but they don't really make much of it. I would've had a love triangle thing set up beforehand.

All the chase stuff in the last act, would've way more scary, if the movie wern't so glossy.

The score has grown on me somewhat, but it's still not great or memorable, and I would've prefered way more nods to the early movies.

It feels a little lazy, a little bland, but it's still a decent/average movie..