Top 10 Best Slasher Movies Of All Time

WatchMojo

It's time to revisit the greatest knife-wielding killers in cinema history! Join us as we count down our picks for the most killer slasher films from horror's bloodiest genre. From masked maniacs to dream demons, these films defined an era of terror and continue to haunt our nightmares with their iconic villains and unforgettable death scenes.

Transcript

00:00I am two seconds away from calling the police.

00:03They'd never make it in time. We're out in the middle of nowhere.

00:07Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most killer slasher films from the history of horror.

00:15Michael?

00:22Number 10. Prom Night.

00:24The slasher boom was in full force when the original Prom Night was released back in 1980.

00:30The film's disco-fueled soundtrack is clearly evidenced by its 1979 production,

00:44and this combination of music and menace stands out from a crowded pack.

00:48Of course, the presence of Jamie Lee Curtis doesn't hurt.

00:50The same can't be said about the antics of a killer out for revenge on the biggest night in high school.

01:02Prom Night was successful enough to warrant a slew of sequels and a remake.

01:06The first of those, Hello Mary Lou Prom Night 2, is arguably better than this original,

01:11although there's no denying the longevity of the franchise over the years.

01:14Number 9. Black Christmas.

01:23Agnes, don't you tell what we did, Agnes.

01:29The title of first slasher is one of nebulous ownership.

01:33Was it Peeping Tom from 1960?

01:35Maybe an Italian giallo like Torso or Bay of Blood?

01:38Perhaps.

01:39But 1974's Black Christmas is often cited as codifying many of the slasher cinema tropes we know today.

01:45Agnes, it's me, Billy.

01:49It's alright, Agnes. It's alright.

01:53Shh, pretty Agnes.

01:56The mysterious killer during a holiday, the rising body count on a college campus,

02:00a final girl left to fend for her life.

02:03There are also the menacing phone calls and a certain related twist,

02:06but let's not get into spoilers.

02:07Black Christmas is still as tense as ever to watch.

02:19A well-shot and atmospheric peace that's something of a holiday tradition for many horror fans.

02:31Number 8. My Bloody Valentine.

02:34Is that what you matter?

02:36No, I'm just making my nightly patrol.

02:41It's important above all else for horror fans to do their homework before viewing the original My Bloody Valentine for the first time.

02:47It's not just the issue of taking a date to see a coal miner go on a killing spree.

02:51The film was sliced to ribbons back over its violence,

02:53which meant that many versions available on VHS and Laserdisc were severely edited.

02:57Today, however, a mostly uncut version exists, and it's a glorious thing to behold.

03:03Don't you go tell a nobody.

03:06Don't say I didn't warn.

03:08This isn't just thanks to the graphically memorable set pieces,

03:11but also how well-made My Bloody Valentine was for its time.

03:14The characters make mostly intelligent decisions,

03:23stick together, and have reasonable common-sense motivations for their actions,

03:27and it all comes together like gangbusters.

03:29Come on, Patty.

03:30Don't do this to me.

03:31We have to get out of here.

03:33No!

03:35Stop it!

03:37Number 7.

03:38You're Next.

03:39Adam Wingard's big breakout proved that classic slasher malevolence could make a comeback in the modern day.

03:44No!

03:46No!

03:47No!

03:48No!

03:49No!

03:50No!

03:51No!

03:52No!

03:53No!

03:54No!

03:55No!

03:56No!

03:57No!

03:58No!

03:59That you're all here, so thank you for coming.

04:04Wingard effectively utilizes memorable visuals, shoots it all well, and plays things straight.

04:09There's a mean-spiritedness to You're Next that's a little retro, without a whole lot of winking or nudging the audience.

04:15Why would you even say something like that?

04:17I never want to do anything interesting.

04:19Meanwhile, the presence of genre icon Barbara Crampton in the cast also lends an atmosphere of authenticity.

04:26It's a solid and memorable example of 2010's horror done right.

04:30Number 6.

04:31Friday the 13th.

04:32We're entering softball territory now with this list, the sort of established classics that you expect to see reference with regards to the Slasher's longstanding history.

04:44The Friday the 13th franchise has been discussed and dissected to death at this point, with multiple sequels, remakes, and even the Peacock prequel series Crystal Lake.

04:58It's important to remember, however, how the original still works remarkably well as a murder mystery, before Jason Voorhees rose from the dead to put frisky campers there instead.

05:07That said, after all the twisty storytelling and twisted slayings, that Jason jumpscare at the end is still the stuff of legend.

05:29Number 5.

05:31The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

05:37This entry is a bit different, because 1974's Texas Chainsaw Massacre really isn't that bloody of a movie.

05:45Instead, the horrors reside within the mind, rendered feverish by the film's oppressively humid atmosphere.

05:50You can actually feel the terror of a group of motorists who discover a family of bloodthirsty cannibals in the middle of nowhere.

05:57The sensation is made more vivid when you hear the cast and crew recall the challenging production aspects.

06:10This is on full display in a nightmare scenario that uses its limitations to feel more gritty and real.

06:16Leatherface became a horror icon after this classic debut, but the original of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre still possesses more power to shock than the many installments that followed.

06:24The original Nightmare on Elm Street possesses very little humor, however.

06:53With Robert Englund's portrayal of the dream demon staying relatively straight.

06:57This is just a dream, he isn't real!

07:00He isn't real!

07:07This allows for Kruger's menace to shine through, as he stalks the children of Springwood right under the eyes and ears of their parents.

07:14The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise would see various sequel highs and lows over the years, but this OG remains something truly special.

07:20Everyone's got to dream, young lady. If you don't dream, you go.

07:25Number 3. Scream.

07:27What do you want?

07:28To talk.

07:29Well, dial someone else, okay?

07:31They just don't make slasher villain icons the way they used to, right?

07:34This is partly what makes the rise of Ghostface so impressive, since the costume killer has endured through multiple generations of horror fans since 1996.

07:43The original Scream was a nice meta-commentary and send-up of established horror film tropes, while also being bold enough to still run with those same cliches.

07:51There are certain rules that one must abide by in order to successfully survive a horror movie.

07:57Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott may complain about slasher characters running upstairs in a panic, but what else can you do when Ghostface is chasing you down?

08:04It's little moments like these that make watching Scream and its world-building across many sequels so much bloody fun.

08:10No, please don't kill me, Mr. Ghostface. I want to be in the sequel.

08:14Number 2. Halloween.

08:16Halloween.

08:16You know that autumn has arrived when this masked maniac begins creeping up on our television screens.

08:26Michael Myers and the Halloween franchise are holiday traditions at this point, with many network and streaming services programming every movie in blocked marathons, and we're here for it.

08:39Get in there, come on, Tommy. Now lock the door!

08:41Following the escape of a bloodthirsty behemoth on his favorite holiday, John Carpenter's Halloween was a game-changer.

08:48It piggybacked on films like Black Christmas, while also bringing to the table a pulsing synth score and one of horror's all-time most iconic masks.

08:56Is every Halloween movie great? No, not really.

08:59No! No!

09:01But who cares when the first one still goes this hard?

09:07Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

09:10Sleepaway Camp.

09:11A gruesome stay in the woods with an infamous twist ending.

09:14How can it be?

09:20Candyman.

09:20A horror icon for the social issues of the 90s and today.

09:24Your death will be a tale to frighten children, to make lovers cling closer in their rapture.

09:31Maniac.

09:31A traumatizing look into the sweaty, mother-obsessed mind of a serial killer.

09:42Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.

09:48You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.

09:52If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.

09:58Number 1.

10:00Psycho.

10:00She just goes a little mad sometimes.

10:06We all go a little mad sometimes.

10:08The original Psycho from director Alfred Hitchcock may not feature a heavy body count, but it still made history.

10:14The perverse rampage of the proprietor of the Bates Motel has been referenced with every annul of not only horror, but film history studies.

10:22It's with the sequels that the more traditional slasher movie elements begin to take shape.

10:32Whatever your opinion on the films themselves, Anthony Perkins consistently astounds in his portrayal of Norman Bates and his tragic inability to control himself or mother.

10:41A&E's TV reboot, Bates Motel, delves into that twisted family drama more deeply.

10:46Each Psycho installment has a unique edge, but the original combines all of them into a masterpiece that defined a genre.

10:52Which sequels cut deepest for you?

11:06Let us know your favorites in the comments.

11:08I'm not so infantile as to let myself get pinpointed by your stupid tracing machine.

11:12And now you'll have to excuse me, but Kitty's just dying to get started.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended