5 Friday Fright Night Recommendations: The Best Slasher Flicks [Friday Sept 1st]

Before we dive into this curated list of films, I want to say that I am not sure what qualifies as a slasher anymore. And I don’t think anyone else does either. A slasher used to mean an unknown person amassing a large body count, usually involving teenagers or 20 somethings. If that were still the case, we would call Jigsaw a slasher, but we don’t.

No, now a slasher film is more of a vibe than anything else. And I love that about horror movies. They just keep evolving into new things with each generation. Now with that out of the way, let’s dive into this list of the top slasher films available to watch this weekend.

Terrifier

This little indie project has made huge waves in the horror community over the past few years. So much so, that the hype for the third entry into the franchise is reaching critical levels. will it be able to match the pure chaos of the previous two films? I sincerely hope so.

Terrifier has made a name for itself as one of the best modern slashers around by ignoring all of the rules. Hell, I don’t think Michael Myers ever thought about just pulling out a gun and shooting his victims.

This one isn’t for everybody; some people can’t stand the non-plot of the films. If you are one of the lucky souls who hasn’t stumbled upon this amazing slasher, go give it a try this weekend.

Sleepaway Camp

I have mentioned before my love for Felissa Rose (Wolf Hollow), and my willingness to see anything she stars in. For those unaware, Sleepaway Camp is the film that started the horror world’s obsession with Felissa Rose.

This is another film that is both loved and hated within the community. Nobody would deny its cult status within the genre. But some of its ideas are very outdated, and possibly terribly offensive depending on who you ask. Regardless of how people may feel about the film’s messaging, it is still one of the best slasher films of its time and should be seen at least once.

 A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

I am such a sucker for Freddy Krueger. He isn’t the scariest slasher out there, and many of the films are terrible. But his quips and kill scenes are to die for. And Dream Warriors shows us the very best of what A Nightmare on Elm Street can be.

That hand made of syringes will be burnt into my brain until the day I die. For good reason too, Freddy Krueger is nothing if not iconic. Even if this will be your hundredth rewatch, I still recommend you watch Dream Warriors this weekend.

X

Ti West (Pearl) has been on a roll as of late. This slasher trilogy is talked about nonstop in the horror community. His second entry Pearl was a psychodelic, sex laden version of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, and fans loved it.

In my opinion, X is his best film so far. Mia Goth (Infinity Pool) is the new face of horror as far as I’m concerned and her presence in this film elevated it to something mythical. If you want to see what direction the slasher film is headed go watch X.

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

I have touched on meta films in the past, they remain my favorite sub-genre of horror. And for good reason, what other genre appreciated horror as much as the one willing to deconstruct it?

Behind the Mask is the pinnacle of what a meta slasher film is all about. It not only breaks down the slasher tropes but is also filled with cameos of famous slasher villains and winks to the audience. This one is absolutely worth adding to your slasher viewing party this weekend.