Slasher

A 'slasher' primarily refers to a subgenre within horror and thriller media, particularly film and literature, characterized by a violent narrative centered around a killer, often masked or possessing a unique physical trait, stalking and brutally murdering a series of victims. These victims are typically young and engaging in risky behavior, often facing graphic violence and suspenseful chases. The genre emphasizes suspense, gore, and the gradual revelation of the killer's identity or motives, creating a terrifying experience for the audience. The term can also be used less commonly to describe someone who makes repeated, harsh cuts or slashes with a sharp object, and a person who makes cuts in prices.

Slasher meaning with examples

• The iconic 'Friday the 13th' series epitomizes the slasher genre, featuring the hockey-masked Jason Voorhees. Each film follows a similar formula: teenagers engaging in promiscuous behavior at a remote camp are systematically hunted down and dispatched with increasingly creative and gruesome methods by Jason. The anticipation of these kills, often accompanied by suspenseful music, fuels the core appeal of the genre.
• Critics noted the originality with 'Scream', which skillfully deconstructed the slasher formula, blending self-awareness with suspense. The masked killer's identity and motivations evolve throughout the narrative. The movie uses the tropes with which the slasher genre is synonymous with, but twists them. The characters are aware they are in a slasher and react with a heightened level of consciousness and the audience is kept on their toes.
• The popularity of slasher films in the 1980s helped create a demand for horror games, with the 'Halloween' game allowing players to experience the slasher tropes. Players try to survive against the masked Michael Myers as he stalks them through a darkened suburban neighborhood. The tension and fear were effectively translated from screen to interactive entertainment, marking an important shift.
• Many found the 'My Bloody Valentine' remake to be a more graphic, albeit uninspired, addition to the slasher canon. It maintains the core elements of the genre, with a masked killer using a pickaxe and a setting involving a holiday of some kind to raise the stakes of the victims' actions, and increasing the brutality. Critics generally found it to be overly reliant on gore.
• Although the slasher genre declined in popularity for a time, the recent 'X' film has revitalized the slasher subgenre by returning to the roots of the slasher genre. The masked killer, set in a secluded, threatening setting of a Texan farm, has been commended for its stylish cinematography and genuinely unsettling atmosphere. The plot twists are original and clever with the themes of the characters.