For our birthday celebrations I thought I'd take a look at some of my favourite entries into the Slasher category of cinema! There really are an obscene amount of options to choose from in this subcategory, but since it's not my personal favourite so I'm very selective about what I'm including here. Some of my favourites are in the crossover Horror-Comedy and have extremely campy vibes, but that's my preferred method of consumption of Slashers! I like it when the blood spurts a little too far and the knife has some ooky squelch noises that are a bit over the top. And chances are even if it's not done on purpose, I'm gonna laugh at it regardless and make it my own comedy sooooo...there's that.

This list is purely opinion based and I'm going to avoid summarizing the plots if possible, and just give you my two cents on why I like to watch them. Why, you ask? Because I can. Anyway, don't come for me if I've left your fave off the list. (ou're perfectly welcome to write your own, but this one is mine. SO THERE.

Happy Death Day and Happy Death Day 2 U

I cannot get enough of these movies. They're so engaging, witty, and intelligent! Whoever thought of melding Groundhogs Day with something akin to Scream was an absolute genius. They're a riotous good time, and even my partner who cannot stand horror movies had some good laughs about it. I'm gunning for a third installment for a Happy Death Day Trilogy, so please let the makers of this series find my post and cast a vote on my behalf with the studio.

Sleepaway Camp

I first saw this movie in my teens with a bf at the time who worked in a video store (yes indeed I certainly was living my best life, with the movies that is...not necessarily the kid...sorry if you're reading this my dude! I digress...) It was one of his faves from childhood and he was convinced it was peak terror and masterclass cinema (it is, but not for the reasons he thought it was LOL) and I found it to be delightfully over the top (it definitely is!) And of course, we gotta love it for the recent reclaiming of our Queer Heroine <3 #TransRights!!!

From Hell

I'm not much one for true crime or serial killers, but I have always been fascinated by the fact that the true identity of Jack the Ripper was shrouded in mystery for such a long time. I loved wading through the murky waters of theories, and when I got my hands on the hefty Alan Moore graphic novel I found the fringe theory most enticing, however tenuous the evidence might have been. The book-to-movie swap isn't particularly good, as is the case with most Alan Moore adaptations, but I loved the way it looked and was a big fan of the costumes.

Sweeney Todd

Fuck y'all, it counts and I love it. I can't get over the fact that someone sold Broadway/Theatre execs the idea of an on stage slasher musical with buckets and buckets and buckets of blood. My mom's bestie ran a dinner theatre and said they couldn't add enough showings of this to their Senior Citizen lineup, and that always struck me as absolutely hilarious. The Olds love buckets of blood, turns out! And so do I. And extra much so if you're going to sing about it. I love the Angela Lansbury broadway recording, but Tim Burton really has reimagined the musical numbers in a fantastic way. My favourite is the fantasy sequence in "By the Sea."

Freaky

This one made me laugh so incredibly hard that I almost peed my pants, and also I laughed so loudly for so long that my significant other could hear me over max volume and even the usual noise cancelation wasn't strong enough to drown me out. I'm so sorry but this is top tier comedy gold. These brilliant writers smashed my all time fave Freaky Friday with a slasher and put two fantastic actors in it who have absolutely impeccable comedic timing and delivery. Sold sold sold. I'd absolutely choose it as my desert island movie.

Haunt

Part Escape Room and Part Theme Park Haunted House. I enjoyed this one, but I think it would be even better to watch with friends. Not a huge fan of clowns, but I loved the exasperating experience of being annoyed with the character decisions and wanting to scream "JUST TurN AROUND AND GO HOME YOU JERKHOLES WHAT IS U DOING." You know it won't end well for anyone, but since they're clearly inept at making good life choices, you may as well enjoy watching them all drop like flies! This is that movie for me.

Candyman 2021

This movie is flawless. It's got enough reference to the previous entries in the franchise, but is original enough to reinvigorate the legend and become its own entity. I love the choice to set it against a backdrop of high art and the stuffy "arts and culture" social scene. Nia DaCosta has an incredible eye for detail and ability to pull out such strengths in her cast and foster an impeccable chemistry between them. Plus, the art gallery kills are fantastic. I have zero complaints and only praises, but instead of elaborating I'll encourage you to just go watch and experience to the fullest.

Black Christmas (original)

This is one of my fave holiday movies. It's ridiculous. It's pervy. I'm here for it. Bring on the murder and pretty ladies. (The remake was trash and removed all the fun by adding douchey white boy frat. Skip it.)

The Ranger

Y'all, this movie is out of its mind. It has a fantastically shmucky evil villain. It's got a great soundtrack that works with its overall chaotic energy. It's not great writing or story, but it is great fun to watch. The evil villain is ridiculous. The motivations are weird. But it looks cool and it's got good hype energy and I had a good time. Isn't that what movie watching is all about?

Hush

A home invasion/slasher concept with a clever premise, but perhaps relies a little too much on the audience's inherent ableism thanks in part to the use of a hearing-abled actress. I thought this was very clever, well made, and engaging, but it is most certainly flawed and we shouldn't ignore it. I enjoyed the experience, but wish the starring role had been given to one of the many hearing-impaired actors out there instead. Had an actually disabled person been cast in the film, the performance would have been more convincing, and the audience more afraid of the villain than the terror of not being able to hear. It would have been off the charts fantastic and changed the vibe of the narrative completely, and a more authentic and creative fear generator. Still, it's filmed well and the concept is clever! So here's to attempts being made at representation, and hopes that we can do even better by casting better and more authentic representation.

Hellfest

I watched this by myself and then suggested it for Rainbow Reel Revival movie night, and I will say it's much better when you watch it with friends! I will definitely say that writing a slasher flick set on Halloween which takes place in a theme park with irritating teenagers is a great recipe for success. The movie has great neon lighting, leans into over the top Halloween Theme Park scare camp, and honestly lends itself to a group watch so you can all feed off the energy of the character's friend group too. Something about a killer loose in a crowd of people too just always adds some fun flavor to the recipe. There's plenty of hate-worthy characters in here, too, and you'll be rewarded with plenty of their deaths.

Tourist Trap (1979)

It's ridiculous late 70s/early 80s energy and absolutely foolish choices to cast the most "adult looking youths" I've ever seen. Really I just like the mask. I laughed a lot. It's really not good, but somehow so bad that it actually is good? Make it make sense hahaha!

Identity

I like John Cusack in Thriller/Horror narratives. This might not be the most politically correct or original plot line, but I really, really love how it's all carried out. I think the limited setting of a motel is a fantastic choice. Seedy motels really just lend themselves to crime and murder movies so well as a setting. And it's so well-acted and well-written that I wanted to include it here. There's a lot of ableism and it's very tropey but we all have problematic faves and this is one of mine.

The Editor (2014)

I'm so sorry but I love Giallo movies and raunchy comedy and meta movies about making movies and this is literally all three of those in one. It's hideously inappropriate and comedically sexist and over the top and I had a lot of laughs. Black Comedy is the perfect vehicle for blood and murder and mayhem. If you're one of the folks who don't enjoy your horror or comedy with a large helping of sexual innuendo, nudity, or related, then you'll want to skip it.

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane

I know, I know. We're supposed to be canceling Amber Heard, but also I still like this movie and I liked it before she sucked, so there's my justification? Meh. She's trash but this ridiculous teen slasher entertains me to no end.

Wolf Creek

Good lord this movie is really brutal and full of hideous torture and an absolutely vile, abhorrent and menacing male villain. It's insanely violent and probably worth skipping if you don't enjoy bleak torture porn, but I personally found that it just has something so captivating about its ability to leverage disgust and discomfort. It's awful and terrible and yet I couldn't look away (most of the time...) It pulls some inspiration from true crime, and I think it's really scariest because of its potential to exist within the real world. It's got a sequel as well as a series, and both of those things are equally disquieting and disturbing. It's really, really, really well cast.

Slumber Party Massacre

There's 1970s/1980s pizza delivery, and boobies. You're welcome.

The House of the Devil

This one combines the best of late 70s early 80s slasher and home invasion murder with a touch of Suspiria 2018 energy. I love love love love love this movie and it's always my go-to for recommendations when folks want an interesting and creative horror movie! It's just really, really, really fun retro horror and I adore the way our lead actress owns her character role. Just watch it. It's good!!!

Listicle by Ellen Avigliano

Twitter: @imaginariumcs
Website: www.imaginariumarts.com