13 Slashers Through the Ages: A Series Summary

For ease of access, here is the Slasher Series in one post! I had a blast programming each entry, and I hope that you did too. October might already be over, but who is there to say that you cannot continue to celebrate horror movies year-round? Watch ThanksKilling on Thanksgiving, watch Black Christmas on Christmas Day, horror does not need to be appreciated just 31 days during the year. Let’s take one last look into our Slasher Series, shall we?
1. Peeping Tom
“The focus and fascination of capturing and viewing expressions at the center of this film are fascinating. In its themes and story, Peeping Tom does a great job of exploring voyeurism and violence. While its subject matter may have been too much for the time, it is hailed as a masterpiece today.” – Ernesto Valenzuela
2. Black Christmas
“Bob Clark has captured the essence of Christmas so beautifully, that it might seem as if you can hear with each passing step the sloshing of snow compacted into water and the warm buzz of Christmas lights splaying all sorts of colors into the white. It is because of this holiday’s peaceful atmosphere that dread can feel so palpable, and why I consider Black Christmas to be so intensely frightening.” – Daniel Hrncir
3. Deep Red
“In essence, what we have here is a basic murder mystery narrative brought to life with incredible gusto. Not to mention, it is a mystery narrative that somehow manages to save its most satisfying moment for the very end. If anyone else helmed this project, there would be potential for the material to feel tiresome.” – Mark Tan
4. Maniac
“The makeup and effects were done by effects legend Tom Savini. One of the things that make the horror genre so special is that fans don’t just care about who’s on-screen and behind the camera. Horror fans care about who’s doing the effects.” – Derek Flores
5. The Slumber Party Massacre
13 Slashers Through the Ages: ‘Slumber Party Massacre’ Review
“There is a strange comfort to be had in knowing what to expect from a silly movie like this one. It is about as breezy as an autumn wind shaking up red and orange leaves outside your front door.” – Daniel Hrncir
6. Sleepaway Camp
“It is surprising that this movie took place in 1983. It acknowledges and represents gay men and women. And to think as I am watching this movie in 2019 how far many filmmakers have brought the LGBTQ community is relieving.” – Jacqueline Lainez
7. A Nightmare on Elm Street
13 Slashers Through the Ages: ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ Review
“Craven has captured the essence of something so intangible and mysterious; lighter than any thought or feeling, that we have to celebrate Nightmare. And he did it all in the confines of a predictable slasher format that could appeal to any taste, from high-brow to the lowest of brows.” – Daniel Hrncir
8. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
13 Slashers Through the Ages: ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2’ Review
“I usually hate jump scares due to how cheap and unnecessary they feel, but Hooper executes them the right way. It works on dread, timing, and it seems like the Sawyer brothers got together and planned the jump scare for the character and not the audience.” – Derek Flores
9. Scream
“There are horror films for everybody, but I think anybody that loves horror films can enjoy Scream. Wes Craven proved himself to be far more than a genius with this film. I tip my hat to you Craven, God rest your soul.” – Cleve Barber Jr.
10. Funny Games
“The two sadists don’t have a motive, credence, or clear reason for doing what they do. They simply happen to enjoy it. It shows that we, the audience, will come back to the same kinds of scenarios again and again for two hours of cheap thrills. In a sense, we are the worst slashers of all.” – Dominic Dold
11. Hostel
“Hostel, for all its guts and seedy characterization in its opening, is a slasher I can’t get out of my head. While the style of slasher it allegedly forged finds itself much-maligned, this film is a grand thesis in favor of using graphic violence to make a wider point.” – James Preston Poole
12. You’re Next
“Adam Wingard realizes that the line between horror and comedy is very thin, so he chooses to playfully step over that line as much as possible. That results in a film that’s always a blast to watch, up until a final moment that’s as brutal and cruel as it hilarious.” – James Preston Poole
13. Halloween
“The horror is tasteful in this movie. I screamed six or seven times while watching, but still enjoyed the fact that there wasn’t blood spewing everywhere. Jump scares will never be my thing though.” – Katie Gilstrap
Until next October, horror fans!
All of the films covered in our Slasher Series are available on Blu-ray and Digital HD.