Sub-Genre Slasher

For our horror movie we have chosen to do delve into the 'slasher' genre, this has given us the opportunity to dabble into the technicalities of using stage products like latex, fake blood and moulding wax to create props and therefore the illusion of horror. This has allowed us to really get enthusiastic about our project because we are getting to explore one of the earliest and most popular genres of horror.Examples of famous slasher films that pioneered the genre are: Psycho(1960) Black Christmas(1974) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre(1974) Halloween(1978) Nightmare on Elm Street(1984)



These films brought horror movies to the mainstream and earned widespread commercial success. However after a series of average re-makes and sequels to the original productions, some would say that the slasher genre lost its substance, resulting in 'direct to video' releases.


In the mid-90s the slasher genre was revived by Wes Craven's Scream(1996);director of Nightmare on Elm Street, and attracted a new and younger audience. It gained both critical acclaim and commercial success with it's ingenious and witty storyline, where the characters had a self awareness of being in a horror movie while looking out for conventional traps e.g. someone saying "I'll be right back", whilst trying to avoid making typical mistakes.



Behind The Mask
Final DestinationFinal Destination is another good example of a group of teenagers who are on a journey together and then the horror begins. This is a typical convention of slasher horror films. Final Destination also incorporates 'supernatural horror' with "Death" being the main killer.



















HatchetA 2006 American Slasher film where the killings are very gruesome which is a characteristic of slasher movies to give a more scary effect.







I Know What You Did Last Summer I know what you did last summer is a 90's slasher with a tightly written mystery plot. It recieved very mixed reviews from critics and was followed by 'I Still Know What You Did Last Summer'. This film was likely to have a popular reception with 16 - 24 year olds.





EFFECTIVENESS OF SLASHER



In many slasher movies, the intention is to create suspense around the killer and his/her motives within in the audience. It reveals the graphic acts of the murder which in many slasher movies the victims are likely to be young or college students. Young people aged between 16-24 years old can relate to these films. Many of the concepts used in Slasher movies are based on typical teenage activities such as partying, going on a trip together etc. However, there is also a comparison between the the films made in the past andrecent films. Many films being produced now include more nudity, gore and influence of the supernatural. Furthermore, the audience are more aware of their surrounding today that some of the horror films they watch are likely not to have a huge impact on them as much as it would have in the 1970s, where horror movies were a lot more controversial given the time period.