Hey there! Thia the Bard here. I am just one of the many horror fanatics here at Real Women of Gaming. Horror is my favorite genre of film and I have a very special place in my heart for the subgenre of slasher. I was scrolling on TikTok recently and saw that a bunch of people were posting about “slasher summer” being the vibe they were hoping for this year. Music, clothing and just an overall tongue in cheek feel for what they want to make their summer a little bit more fun. I was immediately drawn to it and thought it would be funny to give some recommendations for movies to help inspire.
I hate to have to type this but here we go. No, none of the persons using this tag are advocating physical violence against others. It is mostly just an 1980s camp vibe that has been inspired by those movies. This is all meant with fun in mind.
First of all, let’s lay down some ground rules for what constitutes a slasher film. As it is a part of a subgenre, this should be easy. There are some of the tropes or criteria to look for:
- an effective killer
- some sort of a weapon that is typically not a firearm
- a high body count
- a “final girl”
- the killer is usually masked
- a small town/isolated area for the setting
- the main characters are often teenagers.
Other tropes are leftovers from the Reagan era of filmmaking where characters who drink, do drugs, or have sex will meet an untimely demise while a “virginal” final girl will make it out. Thankfully, some of those more problematic tropes have been thrown away in more recent movies. So with that out of the way let’s get into some recommendations!
Here are the rules I applied to this list. I must have watched the movie all the way through. It is only right that I don’t recommend something to you that I can’t stand. For the purpose of simplicity these will not include movies that I consider “creature features,” though the two sub genres often blend together. So no vampires, werewolves or killer alien clowns in this series. Sorry y’all, I know we love them. I will be making some exceptions for killers who, for some reason, seem to be powered by the supernatural.
With that out of the way it is the very start of summer so let’s start off with some slashers set early in the season. As we get further into the summer and reach the end of it I will highlight some more!
A Nightmare on Elm Street. This is one of the first films that many fans will think of when they hear the phrase “slasher film.” A small town with a dark secret. A secret that they are keeping even from their own children. As town secrets often do, this backfires with horrible consequences. This movie has always had a “end of the school year” feel to me. It also boosts an amazing cast and an iconic killer.
Tucker and Dale vs Evil. A newer film that also is full of laughs you cannot sleep on Tucker and Dale vs Evil. Two groups converge in the woods, each with their own plans for a good time. Misunderstandings and prejudice lead to a slasher film that is also a comedy of errors. If you want a more horror light movie I could not recommend this one enough.
I Know What You Did Last Summer. This was my very first horror movie and it holds a special place in my heart. When a group of seniors go to celebrate graduation disaster happens. All of them are forced to reunite one year later, all of them changed and not for the better. Will they be able to face their past before it is too late? If you are looking for a small town slasher with a stacked cast then this is one for you. This movie boasts a killer soundtrack and is shot beautifully.
So there you have it! Some slasher films to start your summer with. Stay tuned for part two where we will be visiting that most apt of settings for killing sprees, summer camp!
I hope I will see you all in the sequel! Until them go on and enjoy slasher summer.
ALWAYS KEEP SPARKLING!!!
Real Women of Gaming 
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