Jason Voorhees first appeared in Friday the 13th in 1980, and composer Harry Manfredini created the echoing cue from the phrase kill her, Mommy, shortening it to ki ki ki, ma ma ma. Unlike a loud jumpscare scream, the whisper became the franchise's audio shorthand for Jason stalking nearby. It spread through sequels, games and Halloween media, and creators still reuse it online because a few seconds instantly establish slasher horror without showing the masked killer.