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Sit back, turn off the lights, and get ready for some fright. It’s time to look at some of those iconic slasher masterpieces throughout cinema history. We’re looking at the ones that have endured over the years, captivating generations of horror lovers with their timeless stories and memorable scares. These are the ones that define what it means to be a slasher film, and continue to have a lasting impact on the genre.
These following ten films truly deserve to be called “masterpieces.” They’re the trailblazers and juggernauts that have remained cherished in the hearts of countless horror fans. They’re not always the most perfectly made slashers, but they are beloved and continue to influence pop culture, even today. From the 1990s to the black-and-white era of the 1960s, here are ten slasher masterpieces.
10
‘Candyman’ (1992)
Directed by Bernard Rose
Starting off this list is Candyman, a 1992 supernatural mystery thriller directed by Bernard Rose. A deeply unsettling and, at times, darkly romantic tale that has also come to define the ’90s, it stars Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd in a story that follows a Chicago college student as she becomes the next target of a local supernatural boogeyman after her research into him slowly starts discrediting his legacy.
Candyman is one of the most uniquely terrifying slasher films ever. It’s a complex, thought-provoking story dealing with powerful themes about race, gentrification, and other social issues. It introduced the world to the Candyman, a role played to perfection by the late great Tony Todd, who turned what could have easily been a generic supernatural slasher into one of the most memorable and oddly sympathetic villains in horror history. Candyman is a masterpiece that stands out for how unique it is. There’s so much to appreciate when watching it that it deserves multiple viewings.

A graduate student researching urban legends discovers the terrifying tale of Candyman, a vengeful spirit with a hook for a hand. As she delves deeper into his history, she unwittingly summons him, leading to a series of gruesome murders. The line between myth and reality blurs as she fights to survive his wrath.
- Release Date
-
October 16, 1992
- Director
-
Bernard Rose
- Runtime
-
100 Minutes
9
‘Child’s Play’ (1988)
Directed by Tom Holland
We can’t talk about iconic slasher movies these days without mentioning one of the most thrilling of them all: Child’s Play, released in 1988 and directed by Tom Holland. This wild, darkly hilarious thrill ride stars the always enjoyable Brad Dourif as an unhinged serial killer, Charles Lee Ray, who, after being gunned down by police, transfers his soul into a doll and starts terrorizing a single mother and her son.
Name a horror film that has made people fear dolls more than this. It has fun with its absurd premise, towing the lines between horror and dark comedy without leaning too far into either genre. It’s full of memorable characters that have become legendary in slasher history and continue to be recognized. Child’s Play is one of the most iconic slasher films of the subgenre.

A struggling single mother unknowingly gifts her son a doll imbued with a serial killer’s consciousness.
Director
- Release Date
-
November 9, 1988
- Cast
-
Catherine Hicks
, Chris Sarandon
, Brad Dourif
, Alex Vincent
, Dinah Manoff
, Tommy Swerdlow
, Jack Colvin
, Raymond Oliver - Runtime
-
87 Minutes
8
‘Peeping Tom’ (1960)
Directed by Michael Powell
It’s argued that slashers would have existed without Peeping Tom, a 1960 proto-slasher thriller that helped pioneer the subgenre. Directed by Michael Powell and starring Karlheinz Böhm, it’s a deeply disturbing early classic that follows a photographer with a twisted obsession with fear who kills and records his victims to capture their last moments of terror.
How influential Peeping Tom was to later slasher films can’t be understated. Despite coming out in a relatively tamed era of horror filmmaking, it dared to go bold. It pushed the envelope of on-screen violence and caused so much controversy that it effectively tarnished the career of its director. It’s since become recognized for its brilliance and praised as a true masterpiece of the genre. Watching this makes one wonder what would have happened to the slasher subgenre had this dark classic not laid the groundwork for what was to come.

Mark Lewis, a disturbed cameraman, films the reactions of women as he murders them, a habit rooted in his father’s cruel psychological experiments. Mark’s obsession with capturing fear on film leads him into a relationship with his neighbor Helen, who discovers his horrifying secret. As the police close in, Mark chooses to end his life on camera, completing his macabre documentary.
- Release Date
-
May 16, 1960
- Director
-
Michael Powell
- Cast
-
Karlheinz Böhm
, Anna Massey
, Moira Shearer
, Maxine Audley
, Brenda Bruce
, Miles Malleson
, Esmond Knight
, Martin Miller - Runtime
-
101 Minutes
7
‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (1984)
Directed by Wes Craven
It’s time to look back to 1984 when one of the scariest movies in history came out: A Nightmare on Elm, the slasher classic directed by the late great Wes Craven. Truly, this is a horrifying experience that lives up to the “nightmare” part of its title. It tells the story of a group of high school friends who get picked off one by one by a vengeful, disfigured serial killer who has returned from the dead to hunt them in their dreams.
There’s no denying that A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of those first films someone can think of when they hear “slasher movies.” It’s an iconic, decade-defining masterpiece that has and continues to frighten viewers thanks to its memorable villain, the one and only Freddy Kruger (Robert Englund), who has become one of slasher history’s most recognizable figures. The scares are still impressive, the story is still haunting, and it’s a film that will always be remembered.
6
‘Black Christmas’ (1974)
Directed by Bob Clark
Of course, no discussion about holiday-themed slashers is complete without praising one of the first of the subgenre: Black Christmas, a 1974 horror thriller directed by Bob Clark, who would later direct A Christmas Story. This is truly a benchmark in horror history, an iconic film that tells the story of a group of college society girls who become terrorized by a deranged stalker lurking somewhere in their home.
Black Christmas continues to positively influence the slasher subgenre, featuring iconic kills and moments that have become legendary in cinema. Watching it today still feels powerful, as its intense suspense and shocking terror continue to make it thrilling. It’s undeniably a horror masterpiece with great moments and chilling scares that can’t be replicated.
5
‘Deep Red’ (1975)
Directed by Dario Argento
Traveling outside the US now comes from Italian cinema: Deep Red, a slasher mystery thriller directed by the king of Giallo Horror, Dario Argento. It follows a talented jazz pianist who tries to uncover the identity of an elusive killer after he witnesses them murdering a revered psychic.
Deep Red is a film that grips viewers from beginning to end, thrilling them with its shocking suspense and compelling mystery. It’s full of intense moments that have since influenced many other horror movies to come, including ones like Saw and Halloween II. It’s one of Argento’s career-defining films and one that he’ll certainly be the most remembered for.

After witnessing the murder of a psychic, jazz pianist Marcus Daly teams up with reporter Gianna Brezzi to solve the case. As they delve deeper, they uncover a web of secrets and encounter more murders. The investigation leads to a chilling revelation about the true identity of the killer.
- Release Date
-
March 7, 1975
- Director
-
Dario Argento
- Cast
-
David Hemmings
, Daria Nicolodi
, Gabriele Lavia
, Macha Méril
, Eros Pagni
, Giuliana Calandra
, Piero Mazzinghi
, Glauco Mauri - Runtime
-
127 Minutes
4
‘Scream’ (1996)
Directed by Wes Craven
Was there ever a doubt Scream wouldn’t be considered a masterpiece? Indeed, this game-changing meta-horror comedy, once again directed by Wes Craven, is one of the most highly influential slashers in cinema history. Starring Neve Campbell and David Arquette, it’s a fascinating tale about a small California town rocked by a series of murders committed by an unknown masked serial killer who’s trying to create a real-life horror movie.
Slasher movies continue to strive today because of what Scream did. Coming out during the darkest period for slashers, when popular franchises and the subgenre were losing their luster, Scream came along like a booster shot to reignite audiences’ fascination with them. It fires on all cylinders: excellently acted, competently directed, brilliantly funny, and incredibly terrifying. It’s become one of the most important horror films of all time and undeniably deserves to be called a masterpiece.

Scream
A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.
- Release Date
-
December 20, 1996
- Cast
-
Drew Barrymore
, Kevin Patrick Walls
, David Booth
, Carla Hatley
, Neve Campbell
, Skeet Ulrich - Runtime
-
111 minutes
3
‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ (1974)
Directed by Tobe Hooper
This next one is an essential masterpiece that made the slasher subgenre what it is today. Yes, Tobe Hooper‘s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the best slashers ever. It is a haunting and brutal film that continues to influence, thanks to its violent premise. It follows five friends as their trip through the Texas countryside turns into a nightmare when they encounter a deranged, chainsaw-wielding cannibal.
What started as a simple low-budget B-movie turned into one of the most influential films in history. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is perfect, a movie full of incredible scares, powerful performances, and iconic imagery. It signaled the beginning of the golden age of slasher movies and continues to have a significant impact on horror today. Truly, no better words describe this one than a masterpiece.

A group of friends traveling through rural Texas encounter a family of deranged cannibals, including the terrifying Leatherface. As they explore an old homestead, they are systematically hunted down in gruesome ways. The film culminates in a harrowing chase and a desperate escape attempt by the last survivor, Sally, who narrowly evades the murderous Leatherface.
- Release Date
-
October 11, 1974
- Cast
-
Marilyn Burns
, Allen Danziger
, Paul A. Partain
, William Vail
, Teri McMinn
, Edwin Neal - Runtime
-
83 minutes
2
‘Halloween’ (1978)
Directed by John Carpenter
Though not the first but certainly one of the best, next is Halloween, a true horror genre icon directed by the legendary John Carpenter. Wildly considered the definitive slasher flick, it’s a memorable chiller that tells the story of a small Illinois town terrorized on Halloween night by a sinister mask-wearing serial killer known as Michael Myers (Nick Castle).
Halloween is the film that launched the slasher subgenre into the spotlight, becoming a smashing box office success and creating a memorable franchise that lasted for decades. Everything from the sets, characters, and lines is iconic and remains fresh in the minds of countless horror buffs. It’s a timeless slasher masterpiece that will never be forgotten.

Halloween
Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.
- Release Date
-
October 27, 1978
- Runtime
-
91 Minutes
1
‘Psycho’ (1960)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Lastly, of all the incredible slasher movies to appear throughout history, Sir Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest achievement, Psycho, is almost universally praised as a cinematic masterpiece. A timeless black-and-white classic that continues to influence cinema, it’s a terrifying film about a Phoenix secretary who robs her boss and flees to the countryside, only to have a deadly encounter with a strange-acting motel owner at his motor inn.
It’s one of the most perfect horror films from start to finish: competently directed, superbly acted, and brilliantly paced. It’s helped make the slasher subgenre the icon it is today, featuring many memorable moments that influenced our pop culture. The performances are truly stellar, and there are hardly any flaws in its story. This is one slasher masterpiece that will forever stand the test of time.

Psycho
A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer’s client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
- Release Date
-
September 8, 1960
- Cast
-
Janet Leigh
, Martin Balsam
, Anthony Perkins
, John Gavin
, Vera Miles - Runtime
-
109 minutes

Black Christmas
During their Christmas break, a group of sorority girls are stalked by a stranger.
- Release Date
-
December 20, 1974
- Director
-
Bob Clark
- Cast
-
Olivia Hussey
, Keir Dullea
, Margot Kidder
, John Saxon
, Andrea Martin
, Marian Waldman - Runtime
-
98 Minutes
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