HallowWoods HORROR ESSENTIALS 101 SLASHERS

Psycho 1960 It’s legend. Even if you know the story it is worth it for the excellent filmmaking.

Black Christmas 1974 Widely celebrated as “the first Slasher” (if you don’t count Psycho) many of the tropes used in other movies originated here.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974 Low budget, low violence, high impact. As a Texan you have to.

Halloween 1978 For such a simple premise this movie changed everything. Hugely successful and terrifying to every suburbanite out there. It’s got it all from the filmmaking, the music, the killer, and of course America’s Sweetheart: Jamie Lee Curtis, daughter of Janet Leigh (Psycho).

The Shining 1980 Isolation will drive you insane.

Friday the 13th 1980 Probably the most recognizable horror movie killer of all time. Don’t hold your breath though, the hockey mask doesn’t come into play until the 3rd installment.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984 Freddy Kruger immediately became a household name and made Robert Englund famous. Sleep tight.

SCREAM 1996 My personal favorite. Simultaneously pokes fun at the Slasher genre while firmly rooting itself within the cannon. MONSTERS

Frankenstien 1931 Dracula 1931 The Mummy 1932 The Wolf Man 1941 Creature from the Black Lagoon 1954

Jaws 1975 Stephen Spielberg & John Williams hit it out of the park. Fraught with filming difficulties this film is a major accomplishment. Nominated for Best Picture but lost. Jaws changed the way the film industry functioned to what we expect now: high tech, high budget blockbusters. Pay attention to the limited use of red to make the blood all the more shocking. Spielberg is truly a master even at this young age. Ruined the beach for everyone.

Alien 1979 The stalk and kill structure functions much like a slasher but the SciFi aspect and high design of artist HR Giger really sets it in a category of its own. While this is a classic, it’s sequel Aliens is arguably better.

The Thing 1982 The practical special effects alone make this worth it. Widely celebrated and definitely a favorite of mine.

Pumpkinhead 1988 Not the best, not a classic, but I’m a big fan. Just a solid creature feature.

Trick r Treat 2007 An anthology that weaves storylines together all taking place on Halloween night. This is a fun one. HAUNTING & POSESSION & PARANORMAL

House on Haunted Hill 1959 A Vincent Price classic. Has inspired several remakes and reimaginings including the recent tv show.

The Exorcist 1973 Woah. Be ready for this one, it’s confronting and disturbing. Based on actual events.

Carrie 1976 This girl has got some power. The best part of Carrie is that even though she becomes the monster you still find yourself rooting for her the whole time.

Evil Dead 1981 The only male Final Girl I can think of. Don’t go to the cabin in the woods, stay out of the basement, don’t read the latin. Some kids never learn.

Poltergeist 1982 This is why you don’t build your house on an ancient Native American burial ground. Spoiler alert! This house is clean.

The Conjuring 2013 Real life paranormal investigators Ed & Lorraine Warren are responsible for also investigating The Amityville Horror. WITCHCRAFT & OCCULT

Rosemary’s Baby 1968 Controversial director Roman Polanski’s debut film. Dark and comedic.

Susperia 1977 Italian Euro-horror at its finest. Dario Argento’s films are colorful and bizarre.

The Serpent and the Rainbow 1988 Haitian Voodoo and the REAL origins of zombies.

The Craft 1996 A perfect hybrid between 90’s teen and horror. We are the weirdos, mister.

The Blair Witch Project 1999 Yes, it was a found footage cultural phenomenon that provided the world with a whole slew a shaky camera crap that we’re still getting… but this one holds up. Especially since much of the general public thought it was real. Marketing gold! ZOMBIES

Night of the Living Dead 1968 George Romero, father of the zombie, invents the zombie. Slow but a classic. They’re coming for you Barbara!

Return of the Living Dead 1985 Punk Rock and More Brains! This is a real fun one.