History Main / SlasherMovie

* AdultsAreUseless (Parents, teachers, or any kind of authority figure are either blissfully unaware of what's happening or being obstructive and denying it).In the case of Nightmare on Elm Street, they're almost villains themselves.

* ''{{Scream}}'' -- 1981 slasher which is usually said to be rather awful. Notable for [[NamesTheSame sharing its name]] with:

* ''{{Maniac}}'' (1980)

* AdultsAreUseless (Parents, teachers, or any kind of authority figure are either blissfully unaware of what's happening or being obstructive and denying it).

* ''HunterTheVigil'' has... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Slashers]], who are people influenced by the supernatural into becoming perfect {{Serial Killer}}s, although not necessarily TheJuggernaut as we usually see in movies (there ''is'' such a thing as a DiabolicalMastermind). They don't begin as [[NighInvulnerability indestructible]], but if their exploits become the stuff of myth, they become Scourges, [[YourMindMakesItReal who can resurrect themselves through the power of the public's fear of them]] as a frequent power.. Curiously, [[VillainProtagonist it's possible to play as one]], since they develop their [[{{Ubermensch}} own morality]], which allows them to be AffablyEvil. This, combined with the fact that their targets often ''are'' worthy of TheScourgeOfGod, makes them ideal Hunters... [[WhatTheHellHero although the others don't really like them]].

* ''[[BehindTheMask Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon]]'' -- A {{mockumentary}} that follows a [[FollowTheLeader wannabe slasher]] as he prepares for his killing spree; later turns into a straight example.

* ''JustBeforeDawn''

* ''Film/MySoulToTake'' -- Dead killer's soul went into the body of a child born the night he was killed. His son either is that child, or has to stop him.

* ''Film/MySoulToKeep'' -- Dead killer's soul went into the body of a child born the night he was killed. His son either is that child, or has to stop him.

* [=~Don't Go In The Woods~=] / SummerCampy (Summer camps and backwoods are a popular setting)

* {{Gorn}}

* ''[=~April Fool's Day~=]''

* ''[=~He Knows You're Alone~=]''

* ''{{Pumpkinhead}}'' -- Those who have been wronged in some terrible manner summon the titular Vengeance Demon to kill for them. Tows the line between this and a monster movie.

* ''BlackChristmas'' -- One of [[TropeMaker the earliest examples]] of a straight slasher movie. Also started the tradition of [[HorrorHoliday holiday-themed]] horror movies.

Keep in mind, that every slasher movie features a serial killer or a spree killer, but not every serial killer or spree killer movie is a slasher movie.

* CoolMask (On some of the killers. Usually leads to DramaticUnmasking)

* CoolMask (On some of the killers. Usually leads to TheUnmasking)

* ''{{Scream}}'' -- 1981 slasher which is usually said to be rather awful, OrSoIHeard. Notable for [[NamesTheSame sharing its name]] with:

* ''Bird with the Crystal Plumage'' (1970): Influential film by famed Italian horror director DarioArgento, who made his debut here. By this film, most of the tropes were in place, although the term "slasher flick" didn't exist yet, and the plot and characters were more akin to those in a usual {{whodunit}}.

* ''10 to Midnight'' (1983) ''DirtyHarry'' meets ''FridayThe13th''

* ''{{Halloween}}'' -- The original movie [[TropeCodifier popularized the genre in the US]]. Created the first of the Big Three slasher icons: Michael Myers (no, not the guy who played AustinPowers). Often credited as the TropeCodifier, alongside ''Friday the 13th''.

* ''TheTerminator'' -- The first film definitely has elements of this genre. Though the sequels are straight action movies.

* ''ScaryMovie''.