The Evolution Of Slasher

 

 

Slasher films are a subgenre of horror films typically involving a stalking murdering psychopath who murders a large amount of people usually has a weapon such as knifes, blades, chainsaw and cleavers ; very rarely does the killer have a gun. The victims are usually photogenic teenagers or young adults who are away from mainstream civilization or far away from help and often involved in sexual activities, illegal-drug use, or both. These films typically begin with the murder of a young woman and typically end with a lone female survivor who manages to subdue the killer, only to discover that the problem has not been completely solved.

 

   Alfred Hitchcock's famous film Psycho  (1960) is sometimes described as the mother of all slasher films. Although there are only two murders in the film, the idea of a disguised and insane killer came to prominence with this film. However, unlike other slasher films inspired by it, the characters in the film are well developed and revolve around a far more complex storyline. Indeed, the murderer's insanity is also clearly explained, in comparison to other slasher film villains. In Psycho, the killer is arguably psychotic, rather than clearly psychopathic: he has obvious and bizarre delusions, such as the belief that his dead mother is still alive. Psycho was so influential that many critics see it as a turning point in cinema history. It marked the transition from the Gothic horror of vampires, were-wolves and monsters to modern issues and fears. The famous "shower murder" with its screeching violin soundtrack is perhaps the most famous scene in horror-film history. However, although it directly inspired the subsequent slasher genre, psycho is more accurately categorized as a psychological horror/thriller.

 

Notable Slasher Films:

 

• The Texas chainsaw massacre1974) - The film most often credited with establishing the "staples" of the slasher genre, including young people poking around in places where they don't belong (and harm consequently befalling them), the lone female survivor (or Final girl), the lumbering masked killer who never speaks, etc. The film was followed by three sequels, a remake, and a prequel to said remake.

•  Black Christmas is a holiday-themed horror film. The 1972 television film Home for the Holidays concerns a Christmas family reunion turn deadly when a killer starts dispatching guests with a pitchfork