The horror genre might have evolved with the times, changing from black-and-white creature features to art house films that dive into the tortured realms of the human psyche, but one thing that will never go out of style is a scary individual in a mask chasing a group of victims in a secluded place with a sharp object. A classic slasher movie still has relevance in today’s modern era.
The likes of Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface will always be the titans of terror, but there have been some modern alternatives that could give the past masters some fair competition. While the classics will always be classic, there’s always room for experimentation and new monsters and madmen to pick up the blade.
There’s Someone Inside Your House (2021)
In There’s Someone Inside Your House, a horror film about masks and murder, a town full of secrets is stalked by a slasher who wears 3D-printed versions of his victims’ faces. It’s a twisted tale of lies, deception, and false identities that pulls just as much from the murder mystery genre as it does from horror.
The clever use of the specially-made masks is certainly a unique twist on the formula. It definitely makes the body count head closer to home for the characters and students surrounding the high schooler victim list.
Into The Dark: Pilgrim (2019)
Holiday-themed horror films are not something particularly new, just look at films like Halloween, Black Christmas, Krampus, and Holidays, but one set around Thanksgiving is certainly peculiar and nearly unheard of. However, Into the Dark provides viewers with an unsettling feast of fear with Pilgrim.
When a family invites pilgrim reenactors to spend Thanksgiving with them, they are given a new lesson in what thankfulness truly means, as well as a grizzly and gory dinner scene that would rival The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s. It’s certainly a stomach-turning slasher film by the time the credits roll.
Haunt (2019)
Haunt is a hybrid horror film that blends the genres of traditional slasher with Eli Roth’s brand of splatter film. Halloween has always been a fertile ground of inspiration for horror movies, but the use of a roadside attraction with killers wearing vintage Halloween costumes is a nice touch.
When a group of victims stumbles upon a homemade haunted house, they fall into a trap set by a team of rather unsavory trick-or-treaters. They find out much too late that the scares and the deaths in the attraction are all too real. It is almost unquestionably more intense than the average John Carpenter film.
Upgrade (2018)
Movies like The Terminator showed that slasher motives can translate into any time period, including a cyberpunk future. Although no scary mask and knife are required, there’s something scarier about the protagonist becoming the slasher villain themselves.
The film is a techno-horror/action hybrid that puts a different spin on the rogue A.I. motif. By putting the killer in the body of a human host, a new type of terror is created and the threat becomes nearly uncontrollable. Sometimes the scariest characters can be only skin deep.
Trick R’ Treat (2007)
While it’s not that recent, a special mention has to be given to Trick r’ Treat. Not only is the film an anthology of horror stories with three solid slasher entries, but it’s a love letter to all things Halloween that would make Michael Myers’ head spin. It’s a fitting scary movie tribute to the spookiest season of the year.
Not only does the film contain slasher-movie-worthy elements, but it also has several other classic horror themes that are sure to draw viewers in. Vampires, zombies, werewolves, and more are all par for the course in this festive favorite.
Hush (2016)
This movie is what would happen if Halloween took a more practical and sensory approach. Wyatt checks a lot of boxes for the typical slasher movie fair, such as a victim in a secluded place being stalked by a masked assailant, but Mike Flanagan gives the formula a unique twist by having the film’s heroine be deaf and reflecting that fact in his film’s audio.
The way the movie plays with the audience in a sensory fashion is what makes it stand out. In a sense, they become just as vulnerable as the movie’s “final girl.” A touch more subtle than most slashers, but one no fan of the genre should skip.
Hell Fest (2018)
Hell Fest is what many would consider a return to form for the slasher genre, a simple premise with a stand-out setting and a tried and true approach to its masked villain. In an age where horror movies are growing more and more complex, sometimes it’s nice to get back to basics.
Much like films like Halloween, and Friday the 13th, the film features a silent stalker who picks off a set of teenage victims one by one. By using the setting of a horror-themed theme park, he’s able to hide in plain sight and rack up his body count. Compared to some other horror movies on the market, it’s a breath of fresh air.
The Invisible Man (2020)
The body count may be low, but this is certainly an intense horror experience. Similar to Hush, The Invisible Man is turned from a classic science-fiction novel into a sensory-focused tale of terror with a touch of techno-horror as well. Trading the potion for a stealth suit, the titular Invisible Man goes from creep to killer almost instantly.
It’s a film that truly plays with the audience’s sense of perspective. Any vacant space on the set could be inhabited by the film’s killer. Much like the protagonist’s predicament, they too are kept guessing where he is and when he will strike again.
Candyman (2021)
2021’s Candyman isn’t a remake, it’s a reimagining. The film completely retells the story of Candyman’s mythos, breathing in a more urban legend feel to the sympathetic slasher villain. Along with exploring sensitive topics such as race issues and gentrification, Nia Decosta creates a new Candyman for a new generation.
Although it’s definitely a horror movie designed to make a statement, it still maintains its slasher roots. A hook-handed killer will always be slasher material, but Decosta’s vision gives it much more substance and artistic delivery.
Fear Street Series (2021)
Inspired by the works of R.L. Stine, the Fear Street series on Netflix is arguably one of the most impressive modern slashers in recent years. Mixing elements of traditional horror movies with supernatural and meta themes, the series creates a modern classic with traditional tropes and themes.
Each entry in the series has something that suits a variety of horror tastes. The first film is a Scream-like and straight-forward slasher, the second is a summer camp slaughter with a touch of the supernatural, and the third goes full Blair Witch with its spells and demonic entities. In short, it’s a culmination of the best the genre has to offer.
