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An escaped asylum patient in a white mask stalks a quiet, unsuspecting suburb prowling for teenagers to mutilate.
The premise of John CarpentersHalloweenstands in for the very definition of a modern slasher film.
Its swift rise was matched by a swift decline in both quantity and quality, however.
Thats nothing compared with the golden age of slashers.
The apex of the subgenres wave, 1981, saw a staggering amount of them released into theaters.
The films killer presumably wanders the woods because theyre typically a remote locale in movies.
Theyre a heavily trafficked thoroughfare.
Originally shot as a comedy, the film quickly pivoted to a slasher to capitalize on the craze.
Sadly, it doesnt shake itszoinks!quality.
28.Scream
No, not Wes Cravens self-aware slasher from 1996.
1981sScreamdoes have a cult following but for all the wrong reasons.
As soon asScreamstarts, its clear it wont deliver on either front.
The opening sequence follows a group rafting down a river.
Itsset to the unmistakable sax of an 80s-sitcom theme.
But thats not the most nonsensical part.
Howdothe dozen or so characters know one another?
This is a flat-out terrible film.
Its an unsettling watch, incomprehensible at times, but fans of splatter will adore it.
25.Bloody Birthday
Here comes another member of the terrifying poster, shame about the film club.
Abirthday cake with severed fingers lit as candlesadorns the one-sheet, a confection sadly absent from the movie itself.
Three children born under an eclipse decide to embark on a killing spree ten years later.
Its Chucky meetsThe Bad Seed.
But it falls flat.
None of the murderous kids pack much malice into their actions.
And guns and ropes are fine, but this slasher needed a knife.
24.Bloody Moon
Bloody Moons German title,Die Sage des Todes,means The Saw of Death.
If only the slipshod goofiness of that scene permeated the rest of the run time.
Franco wedges in a strange subplot involving both a Lothario gardener and incest.
Radzoffs wife brings him back from the dead, and his vengeful reanimated self slays the kids responsible.
Despite its lean run time (86 minutes), it feels overlong and dull.
The death scenes are a highlight, closing in on the ghouls face as he disposes of the teens.
After hes decapitated by a scabbard, his head thuds in slow motion down a staircase.
Scream queen Linnea Quigley appears in a brief role along with futureWheel of Fortunehost Vanna White.
Strangely, it made $24 million on a $250,000 budget.
Whatever her opinion, Joe Giannones woodsy slasher is a fun, low-budget splatterfest.
6 on this list) tackled the same tale.
Keep an eye out for a particularly unique death involving a car hood.
19.Student Bodies
Only one year afterFriday the 13thcame the first slasher spoof,Student Bodies.
WhileScreamdeconstructed the slasher in a clever, knowing way, this is a more zany, Jerry Zuckerstyle pic.
Its main gag revolves around a breathless stalker whose voice-over charts his struggles with athletic victims.
Even this early in the genre, exhausted tropes and hammy dialogue are mercilessly poked.
Whats with all the senseless killing?
Why not a murder that makes sense?
It only gets more twisted.
Its a hodgepodge of genres, with demons, monsters, and religion all in the villainous melting pot.
Weirdly enough,Eyes of a Strangerboasts none ofFridays sense of fun.
This is a morose serial-killer thriller, visually muted like a TV movie.
The movies high point is Jennifer Jason Leigh, who makes her screen debut as Tewess younger sister.
A knife stabs at her soaped navel andbends.
Tobe Hoopers opening sequence is less a sly wink toHalloweenthan a blunt elbow to the ribs.
Hoopers good intention well paced, beautifully scored never quite matches Carpenters classic in terms of scares.
For a film so bloodless, its astonishing to learn it landed on the video-nasty list.
13.Madhouse
No slasher this unheard-of should look this good.
Victims are dispensed in violent ways by a helmeted biker, resulting in their decapitation.
Its set pieces which include an aquarium beheading make this worth the watch.
Thats why youve been acting crazy!
Her avenger returns from beyond the grave as a murderous scarecrow who picks off his killers one by one.
This made-for-TV slasher avoids the pitfalls of bigger-budgeted theatrical releases.
Are these men being picked off by a scarecrow, or are they simply paranoid?
9.Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker
Young Billys parents are unceremoniously offed in aFinal Destinationesque car accident.
It was also released asNight Warning, which makes zero sense; a better title might beAll Homophobes Die.
6.The Burning
Friday the 13thserves as a loose inspiration for this terrific, nasty slasher.
The ban only stirred up more intrigue.
5.Final Exam
What are your expectations when you settle down with a slasher?
Most novel is the killers identity: It remains unknown, along with their motive.
Bacall plays a Broadway star whose avid fan base includes an obsessive Michael Biehn.
While it doesnt quite master the tension-building set pieces thatMiserywould perfect years later, its an altogether unique beast.
Whats impressive is the films willingness to pivot slightly from slasher tradition.
Here, everyone is fair game, not just teenagers.
Thats why it feels so original despite having arrived at the height of the slasher boom.
It takes chances, some of which involve the grisly death scenes.
Mommys gone, but this is Jasons show now and hes not afraid to getcreepy.
We get to know and like them, including final girl Ginny.
One body-discovery scene a staple borrowed fromHalloween palpitates with fear as Jason delivers a genuinely terrifying jump scare.
her rotting head on a platter.
