1984–1994: Direct-to-video films and franchises The home video revolution, fueled by the popularity of VHS, provided a new outlet for low-budget filmmaking. Without major studio backing for theatrical release, slasher films became second only to pornography in the home video market.

Why were slasher films popular in the 70s?

In many ways, it exemplifies how horror films of the 1970s mirrored societal anxiety over family and religion, and, as such, how the newfound popularity of the genre stemmed from its representation of societal fears and the trauma that arose from them.

Why were slasher films popular in the 80s?

Slasher films reached an apex during the 1980s; their gross grandiosity and unrestricted derangement, often achieved through cheap and frivolous practical effects that fooled no one but satiated the myriad horror fans, are rooted in the more-is-better mindset.

When was the slasher genre popular?

Slasher films are a genre of horror most popular from the late 50s to the early 90s, defined by its use of a generally masked killer harassing and murdering groups of people. The genre and its popular films created many of the tropes we see in horror today, and many franchises have been spawned out of the films.

What movie started the slasher craze?

Halloween, though not the first film of its kind, was the first to introduce the concept of the slasher as an indestructible evil force and is often considered the film responsible for the rise of the slasher trend, popularizing many of what would become key elements in the genre.

A History of Slashers

What is the psychology behind slasher movies?

Horror entertainment can trigger the fight-or-flight response, which comes with a boost in adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine. The brain can then process surroundings and conclude that the experience is not a genuine threat. This knowledge of personal safety is one reason horror fans habitually watch scary movies.

Who is the most iconic movie slasher?

Who is the target audience for slasher genre?

With the target audience for this genre of films generally being young men, it is assumed that the audience will identify with male characters.

Why don t they make slasher films anymore?

In 1996, horror movies had been butchered. No studio was willing to make them anymore, and if they did, they almost never did well. Even the most iconic slasher villains (Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger) were no longer bringing in the numbers because of sequel over-saturation.

Was Halloween the first slasher?

Nor is it the first film in the ever nebulous category of “iconic” slashers—that would be The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, coming out a good four years prior to Halloween.

When was horror at its peak?

While Universal created its icons of horror during the era of black-and-white film, the peak of horror movies in the '80s gave us new icons that to this day live on in popular culture.

Why was horror so big in the 80s?

1980s horror movies benefited immensely from the introduction of home video. The VCR made movie watching a private activity for the first time in the medium's history, conducted in the home rather than in a regulated public theatre. What people wanted, of course, was pornography, lots of it.

What slasher film made the most money?

Why are most horror movies set in the 80s?

Ultimately, the 1980s is a popular setting for contemporary horror movies for various reasons that include the ability to challenge stale tropes, reinvent sub-genres, create nostalgia driven fondness, and use historical events to better amplify a story's horror elements with real-life roots.

Why the 80s was the best decade for horror movies?

The 1980s neglected the '60s and '70s preference for building tension. They chose to expose everything instead. The days when much of the horror happened out of shot were over. Now, audiences screamed at buckets of gore, over-eccentric villains and cheesy yet disturbing events.

Why were horror movies popular in the 90s?

As in previous decades, 1990s horror movies suckled on contemporary fears and spat them back as fiction. The first Gulf War and recession of 1990-2 set the cultural tone at the beginning of the decade, as the negative consequences of deregulation and rampant capitalism began to have an impact.

What movie popularized slasher films?

Both of those movies were successful, but it was the huge popularity of John Carpenter's Halloween in 1978 that led to the main slasher-movie boom, including dozens of largely worthless knock-offs.

What are the big three slasher movies?

Halloween (1978), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), and Scream (1996) are classics that have been popular amongst people, especially during October. Halloween (1978) started off with an already gruesome beginning.

What's the scariest movie you've ever seen?

Who is the most violent slasher?

Who is the most terrifying slasher?

Who is the strongest horror movie slasher?

Are there any female slashers?

Who is king of slashers?

Best Slasher #1 - Michael Myers (Halloween, 1978)

Beyond John Carpenter's filmmaking, there are a few reasons why Myers is the ultimate slasher.

Is Michael Myers a slasher?

Michael Myers is a fictional character from the Halloween series of slasher films. He first appears in John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) as a young boy who murders his elder sister, Judith Myers. Fifteen years later, he returns home to Haddonfield, Illinois, to murder more teenagers.