Best in Show: Slasher Films (Part I of II)

It's easy to judge horror movies for their plethora of flaws and problematic storylines, but when taken at face value, these easy-to-watch movies can provide a simple escape from life. The slasher film subgenre dates almost as far back as the horror genre itself. From classics like Psycho (which I have not included in this list because it is largely considered one of the very originals making it somewhat impossible to include in a personal ranking system without a ton of backlash) to 2016's Hush, slashers continue to permeate our culture. Below, I've listed the first five of 10 movies I'll be acknowledging as part of my "Best In Show: Slasher Films" list. You'll notice a lot of more modern movies, and will also acknowledge that this is my opinion, not yours (but, you can definitely include yours in the comment below with ones YOU believe are great! #positivity).  

(Subscene.com)

10. Sorority Row (2009)
Based on the original The House on Sorority Row, this 2009 slasher taking place in a sorority house may not offer much in the form of originality or tact, but the resulting film is ardently entertaining. Offering a few of the best kills in modern horror, a cast of characters you can love to hate (including the amazing Carrie Fisher as House Mother, Mrs. Crenshaw) and moments that are simultaneously quotable and hilarious, Sorority Row is that guilty pleasure you can't be without.

9. Kristy (2014)

(TheHorrorClub.com)

Despite its under-the-radar release (look out for an entire "Overlook" article on it), the 2015 Lifetime premiere of Kristy and later addition to Netflix should not go unnoticed. Like Sorority Row, the film doesn't necessarily offer much in terms of groundbreaking moments but it's plot and intensity certainly make up for any inefficiencies. Kristy follows a college student who stays behind in her dorm during Thanksgiving break and is then attacked by a cult of videotaping murderers. Haley Bennett is stunning as protagonist Justine and Ashley Green is effective as the off-center leader of the cult.

(Wikipedia.org)

8. Cry Wolf (2005)
Cry Wolf screams of the mid-2000s. Padded with harsh lighting and sometimes questionable directing, Cry Wolf tells a thrilling story. Featuring the all of the characteristics of a mid-2000s slasher, Cry Wolf showcases a group of friends playing a game similar to "mafia," when all of a sudden, things become a little too real. Coming upon the movie in high school when games like the one played in the film were popular, made Cry Wolf hit very close to home. The killer whose sole identifier is a ski mask, felt realistic and dark, and throughout the film's runtime, all of us viewing were engrossed by the possibility of this plausible occurrence. Cry Wolf has its fair share of flaws, but overall it's a worthwhile whodunit.

(Wikipedia.org)

7. Hush (2016)
One of Netflix’s first feature film distributions in the horror genre also happens to be one of the best horror films of 2016. Starring Kate Siegel (The Curse of The Black Dahlia) as Maddie, a deaf woman living alone in the woods, Hush throws viewers into a frightening game of cat-and-mouse with a masked killer chasing after Maddie.  Hush wins points for being an extremely effective and original tale with plenty of intense moments.

(Rottentomatoes.com)

6. You're Next (2011)
You're Next is about a woman who attends her boyfriend's family reunion at a secluded home. Soon after arrival strange things begin to happen and a couple animal masked killers go to town on the family. This clever and thrilling film is an absolute trip. Successfully juggling moments of satire with intensity, while difficult, is a task You're Next makes look easy.  It's a darkly comedic look at a family of unlovable and out-of-touch aristocrats battling against their dislike for one another and very real problems just out the window.