A slasher film is a type of horror film in which a murderer stalks and murders a group of victims using bladed or sharp equipment such as knives, chainsaws, machetes, and so on.
Although the term ‘slasher’ is sometimes used informally as a generic term for any horror film involving murder, film analysts cite a set of characteristics that distinguish slasher films from other horror subgenres such as monster films, splatter films, supernatural and psychological horror films.
Early influences include Italian giallo films and psychological horror films such as Peeping Tom (1960) and Psycho (1960). The genre peaked between 1978 and 1984, during what is known as the ‘Golden Age’ of slasher films.
But just because they have said to have peaked during the early ’80s and late ’70s does not mean that the ’90s did not produce any good slasher films (even though they kinda went out of fashion!).
If you’re a fan of slasher films, you probably know how Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson brought the genre back to life with the Scream franchise in the 1990s. These films were smart, funny, and scary, and they featured some of the hottest stars of the time. They also paid homage to the classics of the ’70s and ’80s, like Halloween, Prom Night, and Friday the 13th. Scream was a huge hit, breaking records at the box office and becoming the most successful horror film since The Silence of the Lambs. It also spawned several sequels and imitations, such as I Know What You Did Last Summer, which also had a star-studded cast and a catchy title.
But the slasher craze wasn’t limited to Hollywood. Around the world, filmmakers were inspired by the genre and made their own versions. In Asia, there were films like The Deadly Camp, Bloody Beach, The Record, and Nightmare. In Australia, there was Cut, starring Molly Ringwald. In Britain, there was Lighthouse. In the Netherlands, there were School’s Out and The Pool.
However, by the end of the 1990s, the slasher genre was losing steam. The market was oversaturated and the audience was bored. Even the sequels to Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer couldn’t match the original’s success. And low-budget slasher films couldn’t compete with big-budget horror films that had more money and more famous actors. The slasher genre was once again in need of a revival.
