What is a 'Slasher'?

The 'Slasher' is a sub-genre of horror, with typical conventions such as a psychopathic killer of whom kills a group of unexpectant individuals. The slasher genre is said to have originated from Hitchcock's 'Psycho'. The film follows some stereotypical conventions of the psychopathic killer appearing and murdering young individuals, usually after getting drunk or having sex, until there is no one left but the final girl; conventionally the final girl is a virgin and is able to defeat the killer. Furthermore, within 'Slasher' films, the killer always uses unconventional weapons; these include blades, chainsaws, blunt objects etc. The film almost always also contains a backstory that explains how the killer has developed his psychopathic state; as well as what the location which the film is set means to them and why the specific type of group that is targeted. Within the 'Slasher' genre, especially as it developed through the years, it seems that the killer has almost supernatural qualities as they may come back from the dead in a sequel or survive various attempts made by their victims to kill them.
Hitchcock's 'Psycho' was released in 1960 but the golden age of the 'Slasher' genre was in the 1980's; this was the era where 'Nightmare On Elm Street', 'Halloween' and other great classics were made and released; from this came sequels and other films that replicated the plots and conventions thus making the 1980's a popular time for the 'Slasher' genre of horror. Although, as the 1980's came to an end, audiences were tired of the genre but its revival came later in the mid 1990's with Wes Craven's 'Scream'. This showed that the 'Slasher' genre was a classic and would continue to be popular as it was picked up again and was very popular; even to this day the 'Slasher' sub-genre is an classic when it comes to horror and very successful within the horror franchise.


Seminal - 'Psycho' - not entirely a slasher, although the release of 'Psycho' laid down the archetype for the sub-genre - a mentally deranged killer of whom prays on a young woman, who to his knowledge is innocent - this film would later influence many other films of the genre and would be resurrected in remakes and sequels within, as well as after, the golden age of 'Slasher'.

Classic - 'Halloween', 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' - 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' is the film most credited with establishing the stables of the 'Slasher' genre. A killer of whom murders a group of young individuals until the final girl survives the film.

Revisionist - 'Scream', 'Cherry Falls' - 'Scream' was made in the revival of the 'Slasher' genre; it is most notable due to its own parody film. It was the most financially successful 'Slasher' film ever made with its three sequels that followed.

Parody - 'Scary Movie'