Top ten 80's slasher flicks

[brain hammer]

After much careful consideration, I present my list of the top ten 80's slasher flicks.

01. Friday The 13th (1980) - the king of the 80's slashers
02. Maniac (1980) - the most grim and brutal slasher flick of all time
03. Sleepaway Camp (1983) - most fun and the best twist ending
04. My Bloody Valentine (1981) - best atmosphere, great kills
05. The Burning (1981) - has the best death scene ever: the raft slaughter
06. The Prowler (1981) - some of Tom Savini's best work, violent deaths aplenty
07. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) - controversial and well made, classic slasher
08. Madman (1981) - great premise and setting, awesome kills
09. Nightmare (1981) - the sleaziest slasher flick ever made, a real puker
10. Intruder (1988) - has some of the most spectacular death scenes ever filmed

Just a few notes...I didn't include A Nightmare On Elm Street because I don't really consider it to be a pure slasher flick. I'm not big on supernatural elements in slashers. I also didn't include any slasher sequels, which explains the lack of Friday The 13th Parts II & IV and Halloween II.

I made this list based on factors like the brutality of the kills, originality, and overall impact on the audience. Obviously this list is representative of my personal tastes, but I still feel this list represents the very best of the genre.

A few flicks that I came very close to including on this list were Happy Birthday To Me, Prom Night, Terror Train, Slaughter High, and The Mutilator. At one point or another all of those flicks could have been on my list, but I thought the final ten flicks I chose were better.

How many of these have YOU seen? Favorites? Least favorites? Rate, debate, etc.

[Andrew]

I think that list might be spot on.  Well done, Sir.

[Larry]

Its a good list, but I definitely would have included The Mutilator and Pieces on there instead of Sleepaway Camp and Madman...I enjoy both flicks, but I like these 2 better.

[Andrew]

FUCK.  Where's Pieces?

[WIL]

I have seen all of them except Nightmare I think. Not sure if I have seen that one, what is it?

[brain hammer]

I love Pieces, but I can't put it before the ten flicks I listed. Same thing with The Mutilator and Slaughter High. Those are all great flicks, but I think the flicks are my list are better.

Nightmare (aka Nightmares In A Damaged Brain) is a sleazy slasher flick about a psychopath who goes on a killing spree while stalking after a family in Florida. It's notable for incredibly gory kills, and the fact that the producers hyped the fact that Tom Savini worked on it - something that Savini denies despite the fact that there are photos of him on the set.

The reality is, Tom Savini only worked on one scene (the scene where a little kid decapitates a chick that is riding his daddy) and he didn't want his name on the film. He got pissed off when they used his name on the posters. You can't watch the decapitation in Nightmare and say it's not Savini's work. It's almost identical to the decapitation in Friday The 13th. Same framing, twitching hands, etc.

Nightmare is a fucking classic. Code Red is supposedly working on an uncut special edition dvd release.
 

[WIL]

Oh yeah we talked about this Lord Infernus thinks I'm an asshole for never seeing it but its not an easy one to find if I remember correctly.

[brain hammer]

It never had a proper dvd release in the states. You have to track down a dvd-r copy, but it's worth the effort. 

[snk429]

There's a dvd release. I have a copy! 
Once I find it I'll check what country it's from.. it's PAL I know

Not a big deal, Brain, just thought I'd say that all retail dvds are DVD-R's.

[NightmareManiac]

Nightmare sucks major ass, even uncut the film is snoozable at best.  Literally one of the worst "slasher" films I've ever seen.  I would've put The Mutilator or Pieces in for that one.

I haven't seen Silent Night, Deadly Night, Intruder, or Maniac, but I have watched clips from all of them and based on those alone I'd say they deserve to be up there (more than Nightmare).

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET will always be the shit.  Even if it's not good enough for this list.



NightmareManiac

[brain hammer]

We can agree to disagree, but I think Nightmare is a great flick. There's something about that flick I really like, I love the scene where he sticks the hammer in that chick's back and then sucks the blood off his fingers afterwards. So awesome. I love the music when he does it. I can agree with you about the pacing though, it's a little slack. I think the same thing about The Mutilator though. The Mutilator is not exactly riveting.

Hell, I love all of the flicks mentioned in this topic, so no worries. 

[NightmareManiac]

You're right, The Mutilator does chug pretty slowly, but the gaff hook is legendary in my book.

Good topic regarless of differences.  I never tire of talking about "slashers."

I still think Pieces should be on there .



NightmareManiac

[Andrew]

I'm just happy Halloween wasn't on there. 

[Larry]

Nightmare in a Damaged Brain is a great film.  Infernus and I always talk about how it really captures the essence of a deranged psychopath.  Nightmare, Maniac, and Don't Go In the House are all films that let you see a little bit of hell from the psychopath's point of view.  I HIGHLY recommend each of these movies!  Watch or go on living as an uneducated slasher fan hahahahaha!

*Now don't get your panties in a bunch, just go out and watch all 3 of these flicks, or I'll give you an atomic wedgie!

[NightmareManiac]

I'm just happy Halloween wasn't on there.

Halloween is 79 anyway .

Nightmare in a Damaged Brain is a great film.  Infernus and I always talk about how it really captures the essence of a deranged psychopath.  Nightmare, Maniac, and Don't Go In the House are all films that let you see a little bit of hell from the psychopath's point of view.  I HIGHLY recommend each of these movies!  Watch or go on living as an uneducated slasher fan hahahahaha!

I've seen Nightmare and Don't Go in the House, neither of them impressed me, in the slightest.

I do want to see Maniac, real bad.  Sadly, I'm broke as hell and no video store within a 100 mile radius would have a copy I could rent, so it'll have to wait.



NightmareManiac