The Evolution Of Slasher Movies

If I had to pick a horror subgenre I could watch over and over again, it would be slasher movies. They're basically whodunnits with high body counts and really fun action set pieces. Over the years, slasher movies have evolved, and it's been pretty interesting to track them. Today, I want to go through that evolution and see what we can learn. Let's dive in. The First Slasher MoviesThere's a pretty bug divide in the slasher community about what came first. I am on the side that Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho or Michael Powell’s Peeping Tom should be considered as the first slashers. But there are a lot of people who don't think they fit the perfect mold, so they start the genre with 1974's Black Christmas and then 1978's Halloween. Whatever side you're on, you can see that the genre has been around for a while. And over the years, it's had some main characteristics stand out. Characteristics of Slasher Films I've been watching slasher films for as long as I can remember because they're like mysteries on steroids. You have victims and usually you're trying to figure out the killer. Although in some instances you know the killer and you're just trying to get their backstory or a way to defeat them. Let's dig into some other things that define the genre. Core Characteristics: The Killer: A central, often masked or disfigured, antagonist who is the driving force of the violence. Often possesses a personalized weapon (knives, machetes, etc.). May have a specific motivation, such as revenge. The Victims: Typically young adults, often teenagers. The victims are often killed off one by one, creating suspense and a sense of dread. The Final Girl: A female protagonist who ultimately survives the killer's rampage. Gore and Violence: Graphic depictions of violence are a staple of the genre. We like splatter and lots of bodies hitting the floor. The kill scene set pieces are often elaborate and designed to shock the audience. Suspense: Slasher films rely heavily on building suspense through stalking, chase sequences, and jump scares. The use of creepy music and atmospheric settings contributes to the tension. Recurring Tropes: Characters making questionable decisions (e.g., splitting up). A sense of moral judgment, where characters engaging in "immoral" behavior are often the first to be killed. The killer's backstory.How Horror Films Have Changed Over The YearsAfter the first slasher movies came out, people started really embracing the genre and defining many of the characteristics we just talked about. Movies leaned into gore, practical effects, and iconic villains. We had people like Jason Vorhees and Michael Meyers entering the cultural lexicon and setting expectations for what people would get from these movies. Of course, the more people come to expect, the more filmmakers have to subvert them. When you hit the 90s, we had seen so many slashers that they felt kind of stale. So then you got Scream. It was a meta take on these kinds of movies and totally revamped the genre. Slashers also mirror the culture. When social media started, slashers added a whole new element to its motivations and its characterizations. And as we wanted more blood and gore, they also shifted to more violent kills. Modern slashers are featuring more diverse characters and inclusive narratives, broadening their appeal past just white high school characters. Now, slasher films have decades to play with. We can have films built around nostalgia for the old ones, or new takes on the genre like X and Terrifier and the new Scream reboot movies. The genre has evolved over time and continues to change with the rise in tech and with new audiences' expectations. Summing Up Slasher Movies Like I said up top, this is my favorite subgenre of horror. These are movies I find delightful to write about and worlds I like to live in for a few hours. They change with the times and are great vehicles to talk about social issues or whatever you need to get off your chest because they are adaptable to metaphors. What are your favorite slasher movies? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Mar 29, 2025 - 01:39

If I had to pick a horror subgenre I could watch over and over again, it would be slasher movies. They're basically whodunnits with high body counts and really fun action set pieces.

Over the years, slasher movies have evolved, and it's been pretty interesting to track them.

Today, I want to go through that evolution and see what we can learn.

Let's dive in.

The First Slasher Movies

There's a pretty bug divide in the slasher community about what came first. I am on the side that Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho or Michael Powell’s Peeping Tom should be considered as the first slashers.

But there are a lot of people who don't think they fit the perfect mold, so they start the genre with 1974's Black Christmas and then 1978's Halloween.

Whatever side you're on, you can see that the genre has been around for a while. And over the years, it's had some main characteristics stand out.

Characteristics of Slasher Films

I've been watching slasher films for as long as I can remember because they're like mysteries on steroids.

You have victims and usually you're trying to figure out the killer. Although in some instances you know the killer and you're just trying to get their backstory or a way to defeat them.

Let's dig into some other things that define the genre.

Core Characteristics:

The Killer:
- A central, often masked or disfigured, antagonist who is the driving force of the violence.
- Often possesses a personalized weapon (knives, machetes, etc.).
- May have a specific motivation, such as revenge.
The Victims:
- Typically young adults, often teenagers.
- The victims are often killed off one by one, creating suspense and a sense of dread.
The Final Girl:
- A female protagonist who ultimately survives the killer's rampage.
Gore and Violence:
- Graphic depictions of violence are a staple of the genre. We like splatter and lots of bodies hitting the floor.
- The kill scene set pieces are often elaborate and designed to shock the audience.
Suspense:
- Slasher films rely heavily on building suspense through stalking, chase sequences, and jump scares.
- The use of creepy music and atmospheric settings contributes to the tension.
Recurring Tropes:
- Characters making questionable decisions (e.g., splitting up).
- A sense of moral judgment, where characters engaging in "immoral" behavior are often the first to be killed.
- The killer's backstory.

How Horror Films Have Changed Over The Years

After the first slasher movies came out, people started really embracing the genre and defining many of the characteristics we just talked about.

Movies leaned into gore, practical effects, and iconic villains. We had people like Jason Vorhees and Michael Meyers entering the cultural lexicon and setting expectations for what people would get from these movies.

Of course, the more people come to expect, the more filmmakers have to subvert them. When you hit the 90s, we had seen so many slashers that they felt kind of stale.

So then you got Scream. It was a meta take on these kinds of movies and totally revamped the genre.

Slashers also mirror the culture.

When social media started, slashers added a whole new element to its motivations and its characterizations.

And as we wanted more blood and gore, they also shifted to more violent kills.

Modern slashers are featuring more diverse characters and inclusive narratives, broadening their appeal past just white high school characters.

Now, slasher films have decades to play with. We can have films built around nostalgia for the old ones, or new takes on the genre like X and Terrifier and the new Scream reboot movies.

The genre has evolved over time and continues to change with the rise in tech and with new audiences' expectations.

Summing Up Slasher Movies

Like I said up top, this is my favorite subgenre of horror. These are movies I find delightful to write about and worlds I like to live in for a few hours.

They change with the times and are great vehicles to talk about social issues or whatever you need to get off your chest because they are adaptable to metaphors.

What are your favorite slasher movies?

Let me know what you think in the comments.