Five years after the gruesome events at Camp Crystal Lake, a new counselor training center opens on the shores nearby, oblivious to the camp's bloody history and the lingering tales of the supposed drowned boy, Jason Voorhees. Despite the locals' warnings and the camp's cursed reputation, a fresh group of young adults arrive, eager to set up and prepare for the upcoming campers. Among them are Ginny, a child psychology major who becomes the de facto leader, and Paul, the supervisor, who tries to maintain a sense of normalcy as strange occurrences begin to unsettle his team.

As the counselors engage in their training and try to shake off the eerie feelings the dense woods and dark waters evoke, it becomes clear that they are not alone. Sinister signs indicate that the legend of Jason might be more than just a story. Ignoring the ominous warning from a crazed local, they continue their preparations, unaware that a shadowy figure is watching them, waiting. One by one, they face the deadly consequences of trespassing on hallowed ground, as they are stalked by an unseen assailant with a vendetta against those who dare to invade his sanctuary. The nights fill with terror, and the survivors must fight to escape the grip of the horror that haunts Camp Crystal Lake.