What Are The Best Slasher Horror Movies?
Are you seeking out the best Slasher Horror Movies? We look at the genre of slasher horror film and find out more about the most popular slasher film franchises.
Table of Contents
What Is A Slasher Movie?
A slasher film is a subgenre of horror films that typically involve a killer or a group of killers stalking and killing a group of people, usually teenagers or young adults.
The killers are usually portrayed as ruthless and unstoppable, and the violence is often graphic and gory. The films typically feature a high body count, with the victims being killed one by one in a variety of gruesome ways.
Slasher films often feature a “final girl” trope, in which the last surviving victim (usually a female) is able to outsmart or outfight the killer, and escape or defeat them.
The films also often include elements of suspense and tension, as the audience is aware of the killer’s presence and is waiting for the next attack.
Some examples of popular slasher films include Halloween, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
These films established many of the conventions of the slasher genre, including the use of a iconic killer, the stalking and killing of teenagers and young adults, and the use of suspense and tension to build up to the violent climax.
What Are The Most Popular Slasher Horror Movies?
Some of the most popular slasher horror movies include “Halloween,” “Friday the 13th,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Scream,” and “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.”
Below is a list of popular slasher horror movies:
- Halloween (1978)
- Friday The 13th (1980)
- A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
- Scream (1996)
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- Psycho (1960)
- The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
- Black Christmas (1974)
- Peeping Tom (1960)
- The Burning (1981)
- Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)
- Dressed To Kill (1980)
- Opera (1987)
- The Funhouse (1981)
- Tenebrae (1982)
- My Bloody Valentine (1981)
- Stage Fright (1987)
- Sleepaway Camp (1983)
- A Bay Of Blood (1971)
- Candyman (1992)
- The Prowler (1981)
- Alone In The Dark (1982)
- The House On Sorority Row (1983)
- Child’s Play (1988)
- Torso (1973)
- Urban Legend (1998)
- April Fool’s Day (1986)
- The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)
- Maniac (1980)
Best Slasher Horror Movies Franchises
The best slasher horror movies built up a loyal fanbase who wanted to see more of the killer in action.
The most popular slasher horror movies built up a franchise of recurring villains who took joy in stalking and mutilating their victims.
Halloween Slasher Horror Movies
The Halloween franchise is a series of slasher horror films centered around the character of Michael Myers, a serial killer who stalks and kills teenagers and young adults, especially on Halloween night.
The original “Halloween” film was released in 1978 and was directed by John Carpenter. It was a critical and commercial success and established many of the conventions of the slasher genre.
The film follows Myers as he escapes from a mental institution and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again. The original film starred Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, the babysitter who becomes Myers’ main target.
The franchise has since spanned 11 films, including several sequels, remakes, and a rebooted film series.
The sequels include “Halloween II” (1981), “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (1982), “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” (1988), “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” (1989), “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” (1995), “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (1998) and “Halloween: Resurrection” (2002).
The 2007 “Halloween” is a re-imagining of the original film, while the 2018 film “Halloween” serves as a direct sequel to the original film, ignoring the events of all previous sequels.
The films have been directed by various filmmakers and feature different actors in the role of Michael Myers, but the basic premise of the films remains the same: Michael Myers escapes from captivity and goes on a killing spree, with Laurie Strode and her family often being the main target.
Friday the 13th Slasher Horror Movies
The Friday the 13th franchise is a series of horror films centered around the character of Jason Voorhees, a seemingly undead serial killer who stalks and kills teenagers and young adults, usually at Camp Crystal Lake.
The original “Friday the 13th” film was released in 1980 and was directed by Sean S. Cunningham. It was a commercial success and spawned a series of sequels, which have been released over the course of four decades.
The original film follows a group of counselors at Camp Crystal Lake who are stalked and killed by an unknown assailant.
The film was followed by several sequels that depict Jason Voorhees as the killer and reveal more about his backstory and the events that led to his becoming a serial killer.
The sequels include “Friday the 13th Part 2” (1981), “Friday the 13th Part III” (1982), “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter” (1984), “Friday the 13th: A New Beginning” (1985), “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives” (1986), “Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood” (1988), “Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan” (1989), “Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday” (1993) and “Jason X” (2001).
The franchise also includes a crossover film with the Nightmare on Elm Street series, “Freddy vs. Jason” (2003).
The franchise has been rebooted with the 2009 “Friday the 13th” which is a re-imagining of the first film.
The films have been directed by various filmmakers and feature different actors in the role of Jason Voorhees, but the basic premise of the films remains the same: teenagers and young adults are stalked and killed by Jason Voorhees, usually at Camp Crystal Lake.
A Nightmare on Elm Street Slasher Horror Movies
The A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise is a series of horror films centered around the character of Freddy Krueger, a burnt serial killer who stalks and kills teenagers and young adults in their dreams.
The original “A Nightmare on Elm Street” film was released in 1984 and was directed by Wes Craven. It was a critical and commercial success and established the character of Freddy Krueger as one of the most iconic figures in horror cinema.
The original film follows a group of teenagers who are stalked and killed by Krueger in their dreams. The film was followed by several sequels that depict Krueger as the killer and reveal more about his backstory and the events that led to his becoming a vengeful spirit.
The sequels include “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge” (1985), “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors” (1987), “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master” (1988), “A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child” (1989), “Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare” (1991), “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare” (1994) and “Freddy vs Jason” (2003).
The films have been directed by various filmmakers and feature different actors in the role of Freddy Krueger, but the basic premise of the films remains the same: teenagers and young adults are stalked and killed by Freddy Krueger in their dreams.
The series is known for its dark and twisted tone, its memorable villain, and its use of dream sequences to create a surreal and unsettling atmosphere.
Scream Slasher Horror Movies
The Scream franchise is a series of horror-comedy films centered around a mysterious serial killer known as Ghostface who stalks and kills teenagers and young adults.
The original “Scream” film was released in 1996 and was directed by Wes Craven. It was a critical and commercial success and is considered a postmodern take on the slasher genre. The film follows a group of high school students who are stalked by a serial killer in the small town of Woodsboro.
The original film was followed by three sequels: “Scream 2” (1997), “Scream 3” (2000) and “Scream 4” (2011). The sequels continue the story of the original film and introduce new characters who are also targeted by Ghostface.
The Scream franchise is known for its clever and self-referential approach to the horror genre, with the characters frequently discussing and referencing other horror films, as well as its use of irony and black comedy.
The series features an ensemble cast including Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Jamie Kennedy among others. The franchise also popularized the concept of “The Rules” – a set of guidelines that horror movie characters are supposed to follow to avoid being killed.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Slasher Horror Movies
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a series of horror films centered around a family of cannibals, led by the iconic character of Leatherface, who stalk and kill unsuspecting travelers.
The original “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” film was released in 1974 and was directed by Tobe Hooper. It was a commercial success and is considered a classic of the horror genre.
The film follows a group of friends who stumble upon the cannibalistic Sawyer family while on a road trip in Texas.
The original film was followed by several sequels that explore the backstory of the Sawyer family and the events that led to their becoming cannibals.
The sequels include “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” (1986), “Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III” (1990), “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation” (1994) and “Texas Chainsaw 3D” (2013).
The franchise is known for its gritty and violent tone, its disturbing imagery and its use of practical effects. The series features various actors in the role of Leatherface, the iconic killer who wears a mask made of human skin and wields a chainsaw.
The films are often seen as a commentary on the darker aspects of American society such as consumerism, the treatment of animals, and the treatment of the mentally ill.
Childs Play Slasher Horror Movies
The Child’s Play franchise is a horror film series that began in 1988 with the film “Child’s Play.” The franchise centers around a character named Chucky, a killer doll controlled by a voodoo curse.
The films follow Chucky as he terrorizes various groups of people, usually involving a new family that has acquired the doll.
Chucky is the main antagonist in the Child’s Play franchise. He is a doll that is possessed by the spirit of a serial killer named Charles Lee Ray. The doll was originally intended as a children’s toy, but after Charles’ spirit is transferred into it, it becomes a killer.
Chucky is known for his small size, menacing grin, and red hair. He is often portrayed as cunning and sadistic, and has a penchant for making dark jokes and puns.
Throughout the series, Chucky terrorizes various groups of people, often targeting children and those who get in his way.
The franchise has seven films in total, with the most recent one being “Curse of Chucky” in 2013 and a reboot film was released in 2019. Additionally, the franchise also includes a television series called “Chucky” which was premiered on Syfy in 2021.
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