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 a ‘slasher summer” for the vibe they were hoping for. 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.
This is the second part of this series. To read the first part, click here: https://realwomenofgaming.com/2023/06/30/slasher-summer-part-one/(opens in a new tab)
Reminder, 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.
And as before, 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!
Just as the first list, my recommendations had rules they had to pass. 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 all love them. I will be making some exceptions for killers who, for some reason, seem to be powered by the supernatural.
I am so glad you have all made it to the sequel of this little writing series! Now since we are on the second installment you know what that means; big body counts and stories with lots of twists. As we are in the thick of summer here are some films that take place during the hottest time of the year.
Friday the 13th. Listen, I could not have this series without this movie and the franchise it created. Friday the 13th is probably THE summer slasher. A group of new councilors are coming together to reopen a summer camp. Ignoring multiple warnings from locals they find themselves being picked off one by one. This will make you rethink summer camp. In all honesty though we would not have so many other films if not for this one.
The Final Girls. This is one of those gloriously campy camp films. Paying homage to the slasher genre in an almost fanfic manner. Max has just lost her mother. When she goes to a screening of a popular slasher movie her mother was in, a series of wacky events take place and our protagonists are transported into the movie! Will they be able to follow the rules and make it to the end of the film alive? Be prepared to laugh, and also to have some surprising big feelings with this one. A funny favorite to add to your collection.
Fear Street: Part Two- 1978. The whole three part series is an absolute gem for the horror community but I really loved this part. A curse has been running rampant for generations. Will a look into the past help? This brings us to 1978, two sisters and a doomed summer camp. If you want a supernatural summer slasher then check this one out! Well check out the whole series really but this is my favorite part.
So there you have it! Some slasher films to fill your summer with. Stay tuned for part three, because just because the summer has come to an end doesn’t mean that our fun does.
I hope I will see you all in the sequel! So go on and enjoy slasher summer.
ALWAYS KEEP SPARKLING!!!
Real Women of Gaming 
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