(Photo by Paramount, New Line Cinema, Dimension Films, Maple Pictures, New World Pictures, Lionsgate / Courtesy: Everett Collection)
25 Essential Slasher 🧲 Movies
Slashers — that gloriously grubby, stabby subsection of horror — were first unsheathed in the early 1970s, when Mario Bava 🧲 stalked his cavorting, frequently disrobed victims around in A Bay of Blood. The movie set up mood of the slasher: 🧲 Sexually charged, with a degree of mystery, where the ample cast of characters one-by-one take a sharp turn into doom. 🧲 Slashers can be stylish (Opera, Dressed to Kill), carnal (Torso, Friday the 13th), grimly violent (The Prowler, The Burning), trashy 🧲 (Pieces, The Slumber Party Massacre) and even supernatural (Halloween, Child’s Play). We’re studying all sides of the blade as we 🧲 assemble movies that best represent this killer genre in the 25 Essential Slasher Movies. —Alex Vo
#24 Switchblade Romance (2003) 41% 🧲 #24 Adjusted Score: 45205% Critics Consensus: There is indeed a good amount of tension in this French slasher, but the 🧲 dubbing is bad and the end twist unbelievable. Synopsis: A beautiful young Frenchwoman, Alex (Maïwenn Le Besco), travels out to 🧲 the country to visit her family and brings along... A beautiful young Frenchwoman, Alex (Maïwenn Le Besco), travels out to 🧲 the country to visit her family and brings along... [More] Starring: Cécile De France, Maïwenn, Philippe Nahon, Franck Khalfoun Directed 🧲 By: Alexandre Aja
#17 Candyman (1992) 79% #17 Adjusted Score: 86269% Critics Consensus: Though it ultimately sacrifices some mystery in the 🧲 name of gory thrills, Candyman is a nuanced, effectively chilling tale that benefits from an interesting premise and some fine 🧲 performances. Synopsis: Skeptical graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) befriends Anne-Marie McCoy (Vanessa Williams) while researching superstitions in a housing 🧲 project on... Skeptical graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) befriends Anne-Marie McCoy (Vanessa Williams) while researching superstitions in a housing 🧲 project on... [More] Starring: Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, Xander Berkeley, Kasi Lemmons Directed By: Bernard Rose
#13 Child's Play (1988) 74% 🧲 #13 Adjusted Score: 78331% Critics Consensus: Child's Play occasionally stumbles across its tonal tightrope of comedy and horror, but its 🧲 genuinely creepy monster and some deft direction by Tom Holland makes this chiller stand out on the shelf. Synopsis: Gunned 🧲 down by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), dying murderer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) uses black magic to put... Gunned 🧲 down by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), dying murderer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) uses black magic to put... [More] 🧲 Starring: Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Alex Vincent, Brad Dourif Directed By: Tom Holland
#7 Black Christmas (1974) 69% #7 Adjusted Score: 🧲 73056% Critics Consensus: The rare slasher with enough intelligence to wind up the tension between bloody outbursts, Black Christmas offers 🧲 fiendishly enjoyable holiday viewing for genre fans. Synopsis: As winter break begins, a group of sorority sisters, including Jess (Olivia 🧲 Hussey) and the often inebriated Barb (Margot Kidder),... As winter break begins, a group of sorority sisters, including Jess (Olivia 🧲 Hussey) and the often inebriated Barb (Margot Kidder),... [More] Starring: Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, Keir Dullea, Andrea Martin Directed By: 🧲 Bob Clark
#5 Opera (1987) 90% #5 Adjusted Score: 91206% Critics Consensus: The Opera house location gives plenty to work with 🧲 for director Dario Argento, who hits his decadently bloody high notes here. Synopsis: A hooded figure forces a young diva 🧲 (Cristina Marsillach) to watch as he murders performers in a production of Verdi's... A hooded figure forces a young diva 🧲 (Cristina Marsillach) to watch as he murders performers in a production of Verdi's... [More] Starring: Cristina Marsillach, Urbano Barberini, Daria 🧲 Nicolodi, Ian Charleson Directed By: Dario Argento
