Slasher film
A killer stalking a group of people with a bladed tool defines the core of this horror subgenre. Film analysts distinguish these movies from monster films or supernatural thrillers by specific structural rules. A past wrongful action often causes severe trauma that reactivates when an anniversary arrives. This cycle drives the narrative forward, forcing the killer to return and strike again. The genre preys on the fear that human killers walk among us, bound only by morality. Unlike creatures like aliens or robots, slasher villains are human beings who have lost their conscience. They commit objectively evil acts because they choose to ignore human moral codes. Audiences derive catharsis and recreation from watching these stalk-and-murder sequences unfold. The formula relies on displacement, drawing upon feelings related to sexual pleasure in its depiction of violence.
The appeal of watching people inflict violence dates back thousands of years to Ancient Rome. Seventeenth-century fairy tales like Bluebeard served as progenitors for modern slasher cinema. Late nineteenth-century plays produced at the Grand Guignol theater used visceral violence to attract audiences. Maurice Tourneur's The Lunatics (1912) exemplified this format with its shocking content. Public outcry over such films eventually led to the passage of the Hays Code in 1930. This code restricted sexuality and violence deemed unacceptable by entertainment industry standards. Crime writer Mary Roberts Rinehart influenced horror literature with her novel The Circular Staircase (1908). That story adapted into the silent film The Bat (1926), featuring guests menaced by a killer in a grotesque mask. Its success spawned old dark house films including The Cat and the Canary (1927). These movies employed point-of-view shots and sins-of-the-father catalysts that propelled plot mayhem. Early examples included Thirteen Women (1932), which told the story of sorority members set against one another. Val Lewton produced The Leopard Man (1943), about a murderer framing crimes on an escaped show leopard. Basil Rathbone starred in The Scarlet Claw (1944), investigating murders committed with a five-pronged garden weeder.
John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) jumpstarted the era commonly cited as the Golden Age of slasher films. Scholars cite over 100 similar films released between 1978 and 1984 during this six-year period. Despite most receiving negative reviews, many were extremely profitable and established cult followings. Films reused Halloween's template of a murderous figure stalking teens while escalating gore and nudity. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) became the most commercially successful horror film since The Exorcist. It concerned a violent clash of cultures between counter-culture and traditional conservative values. Leatherface carried a chainsaw and wore the faces of victims he and his family ate. Black Christmas (1974) used horror to debate social topics including feminism, abortion, and alcoholism. Young women terrorized in a previously safe environment during an iconic holiday made it a precursor to Halloween. Friday the 13th (1980) was the year's most commercially successful slasher film, grossing more than $59.7 million. It sold nearly 15 million tickets in North America despite criticism from Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. The MPAA allowed Friday the 13th an R rating, setting a new bar for acceptable levels of on-screen violence. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) revitalized the genre by mixing fantasy and the supernatural cost-effectively. On a budget of just $1.8 million, the film grossed more than $25.5 million in North America.
Home video revolution fueled by VHS popularity provided a new outlet for low-budget filmmaking after 1984. Slasher films became second only to pornography in the home video market without major studio backing. Drop in budgets usually met with decline in quality as independent productions struggled for theatrical distribution. Films like Madman opened in New York City top ten theaters before finding life on home video. The Dorm That Dripped Blood and Honeymoon Horror each made between $50, 90,000 became successful early days of VHS. Independent companies churned out shot-on-video slashers including Blood Cult (1985) and Spine (1986). Novice filmmakers proved anyone could make a movie on home video mirroring punk rock movement. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) sold approximately 4.5 million tickets while Freddy Krueger films dominated late 1980s horror wave. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) sold 11.5 million tickets in North America. By 1989 major series had faded from public interest resulting in box office failures. Rights to Friday the 13th and Halloween series were sold to New Line Cinema and Miramax Films respectively. Profit losses from crossover events stalled projects for a decade.
Wes Craven's Scream (1996) marked the slasher genre's surprising meta-resurgence with postmodern humor and visceral horror. Directed by Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, the film juggled nostalgia for golden age with contemporary stars. Characters were well-versed in horror film lore knowing all clichés that audience were aware of. With 23.3 million admissions, Scream became highest grossing slasher film of all time crossing $100 million domestic box office first. Marketing distanced itself from slasher genre passing as new thriller showcasing celebrity of Drew Barrymore and Courteney Cox. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) released less than year after Scream sold nearly 16 million tickets at North American box office. Two months later Dimension Films released Scream 2 (1997) which sold 22 million tickets and was critical hit. Urban Legend (1998) reasonable hit selling 8 million tickets though decline showed sales starting to fall again. Three 1998 sequels each significant successes including Halloween H20: 20 Years Later with 11.7 million admissions. Freddy vs. Jason (2003) took note from Scream films mixing nostalgia and self-aware humor with recognizable actors. It sold massive 14 million tickets at domestic box office beating Scream 2 record opening weekend.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) became sleeper hit playing on public familiarity of 1974 original promising updated thrills. Remake sold over 13.5 million tickets in North America followed by The Beginning (2006). Rob Zombie's Halloween (2007) took simplicity of original film but added extreme vision replacing success elements. Zombie's version sold nearly 8.5 million tickets while sequel received less enthusiasm with only 3 million admissions. Friday the 13th remake most successful selling 8.7 million tickets in 2009 peak year for remakes. A Nightmare on Elm Street remake had large opening weekend but quickly fell off charts after 7.8 million admissions. Blumhouse recruited director David Gordon Green to reunite producer-composer John Carpenter and star Jamie Lee Curtis for Halloween (2018). Direct sequel to Carpenter's 1978 original ignored all other franchise entries opening to record-breaking numbers. Film was massive success going on to sell 17.4 million tickets domestic second only to 1978 original. Success spawned two sequels Halloween Kills (2021) and Ends (2022) struck diminishing returns selling respective 9 million and 6.1 million tickets. Jordan Peele produced Candyman (2021) which sold approximately 6 million tickets. Radio Silence rebooted Scream franchise in 2022 becoming sleeper hit with 8 million admissions.
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Common questions
What defines the core of a slasher film?
A killer stalking a group of people with a bladed tool defines the core of this horror subgenre. Film analysts distinguish these movies from monster films or supernatural thrillers by specific structural rules.
When did the Golden Age of slasher films begin and how many similar films were released during that period?
John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) jumpstarted the era commonly cited as the Golden Age of slasher films. Scholars cite over 100 similar films released between 1978 and 1984 during this six-year period.
Which year saw Friday the 13th become the most commercially successful slasher film to date?
Friday the 13th (1980) was the year's most commercially successful slasher film, grossing more than $59.7 million. It sold nearly 15 million tickets in North America despite criticism from Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.
How much money did Scream earn at the domestic box office when it became the highest grossing slasher film of all time?
With 23.3 million admissions, Scream became highest grossing slasher film of all time crossing $100 million domestic box office first. Marketing distanced itself from slasher genre passing as new thriller showcasing celebrity of Drew Barrymore and Courteney Cox.
When was the original Halloween film released and who directed it?
John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) jumpstarted the era commonly cited as the Golden Age of slasher films. The film starred Jamie Lee Curtis and set a template for future movies involving a murderous figure stalking teens while escalating gore and nudity.