SLASHER RENAISSANCE 2020

The term 'Slasher' is defined as a sub-genre of horror and thriller movies, it is used to describe a horror movie based on a killer murdering several people. In 1960, a movie called 'Psycho' was released and is what I believe to be the original slasher, it is often referred to as 'the mother of slasher movies' and the 45 second 'shower scene' murder is one of the most iconic and most recognised scenes in film of all time, if you don't know what scene that I am referring to then... Get off my blog. However, many people believe that 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' and 'Black Christmas' were the first movies to pioneer the slasher sub-genre due to the fact that they were the first movies to feature the 'traditional' elements of a slasher movie.

TRADITIONAL SLASHER ELEMENTS:

• Masked killer with psychological issues
• Strong violence and elaborate death scenes
• The 'final girl' who survives
• No supernatural forces (Vampires, wolves, aliens)
• Kill Count higher than 2 - Victims killed one by one
• Knives, scissors, chainsaws, farm tools, shears, meat cleavers blades, hooks etc can be used as weapons, anything other than a gun

'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' has a masked killer, a final girl who outlives her friends and graphic, bloody violence, moreover 'Black Christmas' was one of the first movies to merge murder-mystery with the slasher sub-genre. From 1978 to 1984 was 'the golden age' of slasher movies, the three most famous movies from that era are John Carpenter's 'Halloween' (1978) (which started the 'slasher craze'), Wes Craven's 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' (1980) and Sean S. Cunningham's 'Friday The 13th' (1984), all 3 of those movies were so popular  that they all received multiple sequels and have huge fan-bases still to this day, 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' and 'Friday The 13th' even had their own TV series'. Michael, Freddy and Jason are considered to be the unholy trinity of horror, they're like the Sanderson sisters, if they were out to brutally murder everyone that they set their sights on.

At the beginning of the 90's, slasher movies were not as popular as they were during the golden age of the slasher sub-genre. That was, until Wes Craven brought out 'Scream', which completely changed the game for slasher movies and is one of the most popular horror movies ever. Everything from the ghost-face mask, to the references to horror movies from the past, to the iconic opening scene that everyone knows and to the line "My mom and dad are gonna kill me!" is just perfect. The characters in the movie were a lot more self aware and than characters in horror movies in the past, for example when asked by Ghostface if she likes scary movies, final girl Sidney Prescott replies with "They're all
the same. Some stupid killer stalking some big-breasted girl who can't act who's always running up the stairs when she should be going out the front door.". Scream spawned 3 more movies, a TV series with 3 seasons and a legacy that will be remembered forever. Allegedly the Scream franchise is being revived and 'Scream 5' is in the works (Revive Jill Roberts/bring her back as a ghost or die), despite Neve Campbell stating that another 'Scream' movie would be challenging to create after the death of Wes Craven. Neve rightfully credits Wes Craven for being the reason why those movies were good. Wes Craven completely redefined horror with movies such as 'Scream', 'A Nightmare On Elm Street', The Hills Have Eyes, 'The Last House On The Left' and many more, may he rest in peace.
After 'Scream', came slasher movies like 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' which starred Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr, Ryan Phillipe and Jennifer Love Hewitt, it's a about four friends who are stalked by a psychotic fisherman following the accidental car accident that they covered up and attempted to pretend did not happen. The film received two sequels, 'I Still Know What You Did Last Summer' (1998) and 'I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer' (2006), however I believe that after the death of Sarah Michelle Gellar's character, Helen, in the first movie, that the movie should have ended right there and then as Julie lacked the emotional depth and strength that Helen had, and did not deserve to be the final girl.
Moreover, 'Bride Of Chucky' (1998) is one of the first movies I remember watching as a child (Is that acceptable?) and is one of the most significant horror movies ever. It marked the introduction of the best character in the franchise, Tiffany Valentine. Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Katherine Heigl and Nick Stabile starred. The movie is about Chucky's and his lover, Tiffany Valentine, on a murder-spree whilst they try to find the magical amulet to transfer their souls back into their human bodies. The soundtrack is amazing, with Rob Zombie's 'Living Dead Girl' playing during the opening credits, I don't know a more legendary way to begin a movie. I only have one word for Tiffany's makeover scene that has Blondie's 'Call Me' playing over it... POWERFUL. The quote "Barbie, eat your heart out." speaks to my soul.

Postmodern slashers (1996-present) are my favourite slasher movies. My favourite slasher film of all time is 'Bride Of Chucky' which came out in 1998, because Tiffany Valentine has my whole heart, however I do adore the 'Scream' franchise and don't think that any other slasher movie will ever be able to be on the same level of legendary as those movies, they are too iconic for words and I pity those who haven't seen them (Especially 'Scream 2' purely because of Sarah Michelle Gellar). I think some honourable mentions of postmodern slashers that I enjoy (in no particular order) are...

• 'Valentine' (2001)
• 'House Of Wax' (2005)
• The entire 'Scream' franchise
• 'Bride Of Chucky' MY FAVOURITE (1998)
• 'Seed Of Chucky' (2004)
• 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' (1997)
• 'Sorority Row' (2009)
• 'Final Destination 3' (2006) - There isn't an actual killer however death is the ultimate killer
• 'Prom Night' (2008)
• 'Cherry Falls' (2000)

What I hope to be achieved this decade is for slasher movies to be made great again, the list of horror movies that we got that were actually good during the last decade is very small, there are far too many unnecessary reboots (The 'Child's Play' reboot that came out in 2019) and supernatural movies being made. Words cannot describe how boring I find movies like, 'The Nun' (2018), 'Insidious' (2010), 'Hereditary (2018) and ALL OF THE FREAKING ANNABELLE MOVIES. What happened to movies based on psychotic serial killers with twisted out to stab and slaughter everyone? The last slasher movie that amazed me was Wes Craven's 'Scream 4' which came out in 2011, ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO. Call me a psychopath but I would much rather see a serial killer mercilessly stabbing somebody to death rather than someone crying over a ghost haunting them.