The Slasher Film subgenre is by far one of the most popular of all the Horror subgenres. Films about Slashers also reside in quite a few other Horror and Thriller film subgenres including Home Invasion Films, Medical and Psychological Thriller Films, Survival Horror Films and Films About Stalkers. The subgenre has developed many Slasher Film tropes over the years including a killer stalking a victim, killer wearing a mask, killer’s victim making dumb decisions, etc.
Psycho (1960) was one of the first and classic films of the Slasher film subgenre. It wasn’t until the 1970’s though that the subgenre started to grow. The 1970’s saw the birth of two of the most famous Slasher film franchises with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and Halloween (1978). Other classic Slasher films from the decade included Black Christmas (1974), Alice, Sweet Alice (1976) and Suspiria (1977). The 1970’s also had a few other notable releases such as Horror Express (1972), Wicked, Wicked (1973), The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) and Don’t Go in the House (1979).
It wasn’t until the 1980’s that the Golden Age of Slasher Films began. Slasher Films were part of major studio releases during the decade and additional classic Slasher franchises were born with Friday the 13th (1980), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and Child’s Play (1988). There were so many Slasher films released during the 1980’s that it’s hard to even compile a list of every film. However, classics of the subgenre released during this decade included Prom Night (1980), Motel Hell (1980), Terror Train (1980), Maniac (1980), My Bloody Valentine (1981), The Funhouse (1981), The Burning (1981), Happy Birthday to Me (1981), Student Bodies (1981), Just Before Dawn (1981), The Prowler (1982), Pieces (1982), The Slumber Party Massacre (1982), Christine (1983), Sleepaway Camp (1983), Children of the Corn (1984), Body Double (1984), Maniac Cop (1988) and Puppet Master (1989). This decade also saw the emergence of Giallo films which were Italian horror films with mystery or detective elements. Some of the more popular films of the Giallo film subgenre included Madhouse (1981), The New York Ripper (1982), Tenebre (1982), Phenomena (1985) and Opera (1987).
The 1990’s saw popular Slasher film franchises dominate the decade with a torrent of sequels. Freddy Krueger continued slashing his way through teenage nightmares with Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) and New Nightmare (1994). Michael Myers stalked his latest victims with Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998). And Chucky was the demonic doll that couldn’t stop killing in Child’s Play 2 (1990), Child’s Play 3 (1991), and Bride of Chucky (1998). The 1990’s also saw the emergence of two new Slasher film franchises. With Scream (1996), a horror franchise was born that reinvented the Slasher film by first parodying Slasher film tropes and then creating new ones. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) also started a franchise that rose above typical Slasher films of the day and continued to evolve the subgenre with witty dialogue and self-awareness. Other classic and popular Slasher films of the decade included Candyman (1992), Trauma (1993), Nightwatch (1994), Mute Witness (1995), Urban Legend (1998) and the remake of Psycho (1998).
In the 2000’s, the popularity of the Slasher film subgenre waned a bit as some of the most popular Horror franchises ran out of gas. One revitalization attempt of the Slasher film subgenre even pitted two of the most iconic Slasher film icons against each other in Freddy vs. Jason (2003). Reboots of these same franchises and other classics of the subgenre were even attempted with Rob Zombie’s Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009), an updated retelling of Friday the 13th (2009) and a reboot of an early 80’s classic with My Bloody Valentine (2009). But, the decade did give way to some notable efforts of the Slasher film subgenre with From Hell (2001), Reeker (2005), Cry Wolf (2005), Venom (2005), Hatchet (2006), Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006), Cold Prey (2006), The Hills Run Red (2009) and The House of the Devil (2009).
The 2010’s saw more Slasher films that were self-aware and parodied many Slasher film tropes. Popular films of this type included The Final Girls (2015), Happy Death Day (2017) and Happy Death Day 2U (2019). Though the decade also saw continued reboots and sequels of previous Slasher film franchises, there were also some very original films of the subgenre with Detention (2011), Lesson of the Evil (2012), Kristy (2014), Hush (2016) and You Might Be the Killer (2019).
The 2020’s are already seeing a resurgence of originality within the Slasher film subgenre with Freaky (2020), Fear Street: Part 1 1994 (2021), Fear Street: 1978 (2021) and Malignant (2021).
Our list of Slasher Films includes over 346+ films from 1960 – 2021. For now, our lists also include Giallo films but these will require their own list in the near future. In addition, due to so many Slasher films being released in the early 1980’s, we will also create a list devoted to this time period for some hidden gems you might have missed. For now, our list of Top Slasher Films You Haven’t Seen includes a few 1980’s films as well as more recent efforts. Honorable mentions that didn’t make the list includes: April Fool’s Day (1986), Return to Horror High (1987), Cry Wolf (2005), Dream Home (2010) and Fear Street: 1978 (2021). We also had the hardest time keeping Time Walker (1982) off the list. This hard-to-find movie isn’t very good, but it was seen by quite a few people growing up during the 1980’s. This part Slasher film, part Mummy film and part Alien film, is always one of the films people are trying to find for nostalgic purposes so we’ll make this easy for them. Time Walker from 1982 is the answer to the question, “What is the name of the movie that had a Mummy with glowing eyes that killed people while trying to retrieve crystals?”
We have embedded a compilation video of our Top Slasher Films You Haven’t Seen and more details on these films can be found in the list below. Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Plot: Orphaned nephew is watched over by his aunt who obsesses over him while slowly going insane.
KBZ’s Take: This is more of a Psychological Horror film than a straight up Slasher film, but it’s still a good film of the subgenre. Lost in the wave of Slasher films that released in the early 1980’s, this film focuses more on a woman slowly going insane who resorts to killing so her nephew won’t leave. There’s typical slasher kills here but the main draw is watching the slow descent into madness by Aunt Cheryl (Susan Tyrell). Oh, and the film has one of the earliest roles of the late Bill Paxton as a high school bully.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3EXj1fR
Plot: TV woman learns that her neighbor is a serial killer and has eyes for her sister who cannot see, hear or speak.
KBZ’s Take: While the film plays more like a TV Movie of the Week, it has surprisingly gruesome Slasher kills and a few suspenseful scenes. It also features Jennifer Jason Leigh as the deaf, mute and blind sister whose next film would be a major success in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). Not a classic film of the subgenre, but one any Slasher film fan shouldn’t miss.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3EWuJrm
Plot: A schoolteacher devises a new plan to curb the rise of bullying in his school.
KBZ’s Take: This is a Takashi Miike film, so you know what you’re going to get when you watch his films – weirdness, gore and extreme violence. And this film has all of that and more. Without going too much into the plot, let’s just say this film examines what happens when a serial killer becomes a teacher and decides he’s going to teach his students a lesson.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Uirhgk
Plot: High school woman suffers from blackouts amid bizarre killings happening in the school.
KBZ’s Take: This film was a classic of Blockbuster shelves with its catchy poster art (shown above). While most people remember the art, they have forgotten the film or haven’t seen it. It’s one of the classic gems of the early 1980’s Slasher period and its tagline does deliver – Six of the most bizarre murders you will ever see. What this film lacks in plot and character building, it does make up for with its inventive Slasher kills.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3gYpHm1
#6
Kristy
Plot: A college girl alone on campus over holiday break is stalked by a group of outcasts.
KBZ’s Take: A film you probably don’t want to watch alone, Kristy is one of the lesser known but best of the Home Invasion and Slasher Films subgenres. While technically not a home that is invaded, a desolate campus is a more harrowing setting as Justine (Haley Bennett) tries to hide and evade the cult-like masked killers. Definitely recommended for fans of both subgenres and Suspense Thrillers.
Additional Lists: Top Home Invasion Films You Haven’t Seen #6
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3VJ6weR
#5
Nightwatch
Plot: A night watchman at a morgue becomes a suspect in a rash of grisly murders.
KBZ’s Take: Remade 3 years later as Nightwatch (1997) with the same screenplay and the same director, there’s just something about the Danish original that makes it rise above its US remake. Seek out the 1994 original film as it has better atmosphere, creepiness and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (of Jamie Lannister fame) shines in the role as a night watchman slipping slowly into ever increasing paranoia.
Additional Lists: Top World Cinema Horror Films You Haven’t Seen #9
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3UqF0ll
#4
Hush
Plot: A deaf woman is stalked by a killer in her home.
KBZ’s Take: An early effort from Mike Flanagan (Gerald’s Game (2017) and Doctor Sleep (2019)), to say watching Hush is anxiety-inducing would be an understatement. While playing off the ‘home alone in a secluded area’ Home Invasion trope, Flanagan raises the stakes with the woman also being deaf. However, that’s where the inventiveness of this film makes it so special within the subgenre. Kate Siegel gives a career defining performance as she battles wits with her would be killer.
Additional Lists: Top Home Invasion Films You Haven’t Seen #2
Where to Stream / Buy: https://www.netflix.com/title/80091879
#3
Freaky
Plot: A serial killer swaps bodies with a 17-year-old girl.
KBZ’s Take: If you enjoyed Christopher Landon’s Happy Death Day (2017) and Happy Death Day 2U (2019), then you’ll also enjoy this film (if not more). Similar to how Happy Death Day created a unique experience by meshing together the Time Loop and Slasher Film subgenres, Freaky molds the Serial Killer, Slasher Film and Body Swap subgenres into a hilarious yet often suspenseful creation. Highly recommended film to see especially for Vince Vaughn’s many hilarious physical moments as the ‘teen girl’.
Additional Lists: Top Body Swap Films You Haven’t Seen #2
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3B13Yke
Plot: College student dies at the hands of a masked killer…only to wake up that same day to be killed again.
KBZ’s Take: Happy Death Day follows in the footsteps of Time After Time (1979) and Back to the Future (1985) as one of the best written Time Travel films foreshadowing events throughout the film. Part Teen & College Comedy Film and part Slasher Film, Happy Death Day brings refreshing nuance to the Time Loop microgenre (which has already established overused and tried tropes). Highly recommended film along with its sequel, Happy Death Day 2U (2019), which explores Multiverse Theory within Time Loops.
Additional Lists: Top Time Loop Films You Haven’t Seen #3, Top Teen & College Comedies You Haven’t Seen 2014 – 2017 #1
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3OQfZih
#1
Malignant
Plot: Woman is terrorized by shocking visions of murders and begins to realize she might be the murderer.
KBZ’s Take: This one of the best and most bonkers Slasher Films you will ever see. While we’re going to admit that we’re putting this at #1 due to recency bias, it’s still a film that we were blown away by. Most of the first 2 acts follow typical Slasher film and Giallo film tropes as the mystery of who is killing people is slowly revealed. By the time you get to the 3rd act and the big reveal, we guarantee you will be like “WTF!”. This film has one of the biggest WTF moments we have ever seen…in any film. If you enjoyed James Wan’s previous efforts (that also had surprising reveals and shock scares) like Saw (2004) and Insidious (2010), then you will definitely enjoy this film. It’s a testament to Wan’s ability as a director to keep evolving and reinventing Horror tropes that he does with this film in spades.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Vrdw03
