Slasher Movies

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. Slasher movies took horror to new heights of graphic violence while, in some cases, simultaneously plumbing new depths of camp self-referentiality. They have nonetheless had a lasting impact—from "respectable" studio pictures such as The Silence of the Lambs and Single White Female, to the new breed of teen movies such as the Scream franchise, which play knowingly with the conventions of the slasher. In this Pocket Essential guide you'll find an introductory essay, an in-depth discussion of all the major films, a consideration of the influences on the genre, and a checklist of the stars who got their big break being slashed.