TCM temporarily transforms the normative, traditional, and comfortable cultural assumptions that serve to define and mark the indivisible, oppositional limit between the human species and the animals outside of it into a more fluid and corporeal critique of the typologies of violence that underlie Western consumption practices.Ī seminal cult classic comparable to the likes of Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960), Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968), and Carpenter’s Halloween (1978), TCM ranks amongst the most influential American horror films of the twentieth century, and is perhaps the most famous slasher film in popular culture worldwide. Her emphasis on the disjunction of thought and speech, of the unspeakable proximity between the processes of flesh procurement and food consumption, moreover, speaks to the ways in which the film succeeds to blur the boundaries of acceptability, question ‘natural’ hierarchies, and – through the notorious Leatherface family’s gourmet cannibalism – constantly confront the economies and ecologies of modern meat production. Sally’s attempt to render invisible the torturous mechanisms by which edible meat appears on our plates is notably predicated upon a familiar chain of dissociations that refuse to acknowledge the moral and ecological horrors of industrial food processing. And then sometimes it wouldn’t kill ’em.” Before Franklin can finish recounting the various methods used to “skin” the animals “before they were even dead,” his sister Sally covers her eyes in disgust and retorts, “Franklin, stop! I like meat, please change the subject!” In the opening scene of Tobe Hooper’s slasher classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974, henceforth TCM), a group of young friends drive past the old Texan slaughterhouse where protagonists Franklin and Sally Hardesty’s “grandpa used to sell his cattle.” Looking out the window and across a mass of unwitting livestock, the plump and porcine Franklin describes in horrifying detail the way the animals would “start squealing and freaking out” as they “bashed ’em in the head with a big sledgehammer two or three times. Iconic symbols, such as Krueger's red and green sweater and his bladed glove, emerged from the film, which eventually led to a lucrative franchise, thus securing its place in the annals of horror cinema.By Dr. As time progressed, A Nightmare on Elm Street garnered recognition for its substantial influence on popular culture and the horror genre. The fusion of dreamlike sequences with real-world terror was executed seamlessly through state-of-the-art effects, culminating in intensely suspenseful and gripping scenes. Related: How Slasher Films Created a New American Monster Folklore Director Wes Craven's incorporation of ground-breaking special effects and fantasy components introduced a new paradigm within the slasher genre. This innovative approach gave a surreal touch to the slasher story, greatly expanding its reach and garnering a new loyal fanbase. Krueger's unique way of taking the life of his victims involved infiltrating the dreams of his victims, blurring the line between nightmare and reality. With its petrifying villain, Freddy Krueger, A Nightmare on Elm Street provided a creative spin on the slasher genre. These are the best slasher movies of all time. The strengths of these kinds of films are incredible body counts, teens getting wasted, and terrifying killers that appear human. Even today, the genre is still going strong with the relaunch of the Scream franchise and the successful Halloween trilogy. Films like Scream, Candyman, and I Know What You Did Last Summer were huge successes, becoming self-sustained franchises. That said, thanks to Wes Craven, the slasher genre went under a revitalization.
Updated May 19th, 2023: If you enjoy watching horror movies and are a fan of terrifying slasher films, you'll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional content by Darren Gigool.Īfter horror peaked in the 80s and countless directors got their shot to put their spin on the genre, it hit a wall in the 90s. Films like Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre had inimitable killers that still resonate with audiences today, generating new but unfavorable remakes. When talented directors bought their craftsmanship to create a face for the slasher and give birth to a new kind of villain, this helped create a launching pad for the slasher. Though the origin of the slasher film doesn't have an exact beginning, the sub-genre of horror undoubtedly had a kickoff in the 1970s.
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