25 Essential Slasher Movies
Slashers โ that gloriously grubby, stabby subsection of horror โ were first unsheathed in the early 1970s, ๐ when Mario Bava stalked his cavorting, frequently disrobed victims around in A Bay of Blood. The movie set up mood ๐ of the slasher: Sexually charged, with a degree of mystery, where the ample cast of characters one-by-one take a sharp ๐ turn into doom. Slashers can be stylish (Opera, Dressed to Kill), carnal (Torso, Friday the 13th), grimly violent (The Prowler, ๐ The Burning), trashy (Pieces, The Slumber Party Massacre) and even supernatural (Halloween, Childโs Play). Weโre studying all sides of the ๐ blade as we assemble movies that best represent this killer genre in the 25 Essential Slasher Movies. โAlex Vo
#24 Switchblade ๐ Romance (2003) 41% #24 Adjusted Score: 45205% Critics Consensus: There is indeed a good amount of tension in this French ๐ slasher, but the dubbing is bad and the end twist unbelievable. Synopsis: A beautiful young Frenchwoman, Alex (Maรฏwenn Le Besco), ๐ travels out to the country to visit her family and brings along... A beautiful young Frenchwoman, Alex (Maรฏwenn Le Besco), ๐ travels out to the country to visit her family and brings along... [More] Starring: Cรฉcile De France, Maรฏwenn, Philippe Nahon, ๐ Franck Khalfoun Directed By: Alexandre Aja
#17 Candyman (1992) 79% #17 Adjusted Score: 86269% Critics Consensus: Though it ultimately sacrifices some ๐ mystery in the name of gory thrills, Candyman is a nuanced, effectively chilling tale that benefits from an interesting premise ๐ and some fine performances. Synopsis: Skeptical graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) befriends Anne-Marie McCoy (Vanessa Williams) while researching superstitions ๐ in a housing project on... Skeptical graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) befriends Anne-Marie McCoy (Vanessa Williams) while researching superstitions ๐ in a housing project on... [More] Starring: Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, Xander Berkeley, Kasi Lemmons Directed By: Bernard Rose
#13 Child's ๐ Play (1988) 74% #13 Adjusted Score: 78331% Critics Consensus: Child's Play occasionally stumbles across its tonal tightrope of comedy and ๐ horror, but its genuinely creepy monster and some deft direction by Tom Holland makes this chiller stand out on the ๐ shelf. Synopsis: Gunned down by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), dying murderer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) uses black magic ๐ to put... Gunned down by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), dying murderer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) uses black magic ๐ to put... [More] Starring: Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Alex Vincent, Brad Dourif Directed By: Tom Holland