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This article originally ran in 2018.
Were republishing it because its spooky season.
These are the game changers, the rule breakers, the iconic, and the absolutely terrifying.
Unprecedented for its depictions of violence and sexuality,Psychoalso was among the first to render its killer empathetic.
In fact, many of the death sequences are lifted and replicated inFriday the 13th Part 2.
It follows a mysterious masked killer who stalks and butchers female college students.
Most chillingly,Black Christmasrefuses to giving meaning behind the violent deaths of its characters.
It pulls him into a complex mystery involving a serial killer with an affinity for childrens toys and songs.
The result: a pinnacle of giallo filmmaking.
Halloween(1978)
Whats left to say about this classic that hasnt already been said?
The quintessential slasher film launched the genres Golden Age and inspired countless copycats in the wake of its release.
Simply put,Halloweenis the definitive poster child of the slasher film.
Maniac(1980)
Director William LustigsManiacbucks the typical formula.
At the partys peak, Slaters body goes missing and someone begins picking off the girls one by one.
Popular 90s slasherI Know What You Did Last Summerlikely drew inspiration from this morality-based horror film.
If youve seen it, youll never forget it.
Theres less gore than usual, and the deaths arent even the most inventive.
A showcase of practical effects, Freddys kills are among the most inventive around.
More importantly, this sequel signaled that it was okay for the central antagonist to have a personality.
Rose deconstructs the slasher formula and rebuilds it around themes of race, privilege, and taboo relationships.
This killer is Death itself, an unseen force that looms large over the entire film.
By having a killer without any tangible presence,Final Destinationintroduced an intriguing twist to an old format.
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