The one thing I love most about horror is how it's
always evolving, with sub-genres taking centre stage for a decade or two. You know what I'm talking about. Sub-genres like monster movies, creature
features, found-footage.
Recently, I've been thinking a lot about my
personal favourite sub-genre: The Slasher Movie and whether or not there's any
room for it any more in modern day horror.
With the sub-setting of horror movies of late
being either 'found-footage' or what can only be described as 'torture-porn' it
seems that movies that focus on a psychopathic lunatic with a grudge against
humanity have subsided.
Now, as I've already stated, I'm a slasher girl. I love watching teens get butchered against a
killer that seems to be superhuman. A
killer like Ghostface, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers will
always have a place in my heart. In
fact, 9 times out of 10 I will select a slasher film when the boredom stakes
get high.
Whether we like them or not, slashers have played
a huge part in the horror genre.
Halloween, often branded the granddaddy of the slasher craze, has staked
its spot in cinematic history and, after 30+ years, is still raking in new
fans. (Fun Fact: Scream 4 quoted Peeping
Tom, 1960, as starting the slasher craze)
So, with the influx of 'torture-porn' and
'found-footage' films, is this the end of the slasher movie craze?
As long as there has been horror, there has been madmen
brandishing weapons, hell bent on slicing and dicing victims. From movies like Psycho, Peeping Tom and
Halloween to more modern creations like Scream and Hatchet, the slasher movie
has made an impact on the way we view horror.
With movies today leaning more towards blood, guts
and gore, the slasher almost seems to be buried by it's bloodier rivals (no pun
intended). However it would also seem
that the slasher is the most common style of horror film, with zombies coming a
close second.
Why? Because
everyone has seen a slasher. Even if you
hate horror films, I guarantee that you have indeed sat through a slasher
film. We all know the formula for a
slasher and most young directors who want to work in the horror genre begin
with a slasher because it's the most recognised sub-genre in horror.
In 2006, Hatchet hit cinemas. A throwback to the slasher craze of the late
'70's and '80's, Hatchet produced a killer that could rival the likes of Myers,
Krueger and Voorhees. While rivalling
the big bads of the horror genre, Hatchet also gave in to modern audience
demands and gave us gut wrenching moments and blood, blood, blood.
Combining blood, guts and gore with the typical
slasher qualities was a win for Hatchet, and the film prevailed, causing a stir
that the slasher was back.
In typical slasher tradition, Hatchet II had to up
the ante, being gorier. I guess we have
the rules of Scream and its sequels to thank for that.
Speaking of Scream, let's take a look at one of
the most popular slasher films of all time.
A group of articulate teenagers sitting around and deconstruct horror movies while a real life killer strikes, taking them out one by
one. Scream followed the slasher craze
to a tee, taking advantage of movies that had come before it. (Fun Fact: As
Dewey enters the house, gun drawn, the music playing is actually from the movie
Halloween which is playing on TV)
Taking advantage of everything that had come
before it, Scream dominated the '90's.
In 2011, Scream 4 hit cinemas. A
new decade, new rules, and surprisingly was a hit. The slasher was back. One thing I loved most about Scream 4 (aside
from Sidney taking a dig at remakes by telling Jill “You forgot the first rule
of remakes, Jill. Don't fuck with the original.”) was how during the opening
sequence Trudie (Shenae Grimes) states how Saw IV wasn't scary, but gross and
bloody.
Scream 4 really hit the nail on the head when
Trudie stated that while Jigsaw killed people creatively, no one really cared
because there was no character development and it was just body parts flying at
the screen. A statement that I fully
agree with.
An abundance of blood doesn't equal scary. It's stomach churning, vomit inducing and
shows no imagination.
It seems with modern horror we're getting one
element or the other. Character
development with suspense and no blood or a minimal approach to blood, or at
the other end of the spectrum, tons of blood, body parts flying at the screen
and no real storyline or character development.
As far as slashers go, they seem to perfect the blending of the two
elements to create a story that people want to see and will continue to talk
about for decades.
So, why are slashers popular and are they on the
out?
Slashers are popular because they deliver on the
ultimate fear: Man. It's not a demon or
zombies or a supernatural element stalking a group of people. It's a man.
And in some lesser known movies, a woman.
A man who could be anyone, like your next door
neighbour, or the man at the checkout counter at the local grocery store or
even the local police officer who always tips his hat in a greeting. What mankind can do to each other is truly
terrifying.
In slashers, we can relate to the fear the
characters feel as that creepy gas station attendant leers. We can relate to the uncomfortable silence of
an old house. We can relate to the heart
palpitations that comes from answering the phone to hear nothing but breathing
on the other end.
Is this the end?
No. Truth be told, the slasher
sub-genre is a lot like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees. It's immortal and will never die. There will be a few years in between slasher
films, and that they'll lie dormant for a decade or so, but ultimately, they
will never cease to exist.
As long as there is a demand for well constructed
movies that feature a group of people that are relatable to today's audiences,
there will be slashers. As long as there
is well thought out stalking sequences that generally deliver fear, there will
be slashers. As long as there is a
demand for a madman brandishing a big old hunting knife, there will be
slashers.
The Slasher.
Not just a craze, nor just a sub-genre.
The slasher is iconic and will continue to haunt our darkest dreams for
all eternity.
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