10 best slasher horror films, according to critics

Horror is one of the most popular genres in cinema, and one of its most commercially successful subgenres is the slasher. But what exactly characterizes a slasher film? This is an aspect of terror in which a killer, usually masked, chases and kills his victims in a brutal way.

This subgenre has its roots in the 70s, influenced by Italian giallo and psychological horror films such as “Peeping Tom” (1960) and “Psycho” (1960). Despite their popularity, the vast majority of slasher films received negative reviews from critics, being considered of a low artistic level.

However, with this in mind, we have compiled a list of the 10 best slasher films, based on review aggregators and specialized websites. Check it out below!

Check out the 10 best slasher films, according to critics, below. For this selection, we chose to choose only works that genuinely fit the genre, excluding influences such as “Psycho”, in addition to giallo films.

10th – Friday the 13th – Part 6: Jason Lives (1986)

• Where to watch: Mercado Play (free with ads), Pluto TV (free with ads)

When you think of slasher, it's likely that the image of Jason, one of the most famous killers in this subgenre, comes to mind. However, the “Friday the 13th” franchise, despite its popularity, is not well-liked by critics. In fact, quite the opposite.

However, the sixth part of the saga, “Jason Vive”, stands out among the others. It is the only film in the series that has received consistent praise from critics. Furthermore, it is considered by many fans of the franchise to be the best title, by far.

In the plot, Tommy, who killed Jason years ago, visits the killer's grave to cremate his body and put an end to his nightmares once and for all. However, he ends up accidentally resurrecting Jason.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 53%
• Metacritic: 30/100
• IMDb: 6.0/10
• Letterboxd: 3.2/5

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9th – Flames of Death / Cropsy's Revenge (The Burning, 1981)

• Where to watch: not available on streams

The slasher “The Burning”, known in Brazil as “Chamas da Morte” or “Cropsy's Revenge”, was harshly criticized at the time of its release.

However, over the years, the film was reevaluated and became a cult classic, being recognized as one of the best slashers ever made.

In the plot, an abusive camp caretaker is disfigured by burns after a prank played by campers goes wrong. Years later, he seeks revenge at a nearby camp.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
• Metacritic: 42/100
• IMDb: 6.3/10
• Letterboxd: 3.1/5

8th – Terrifier 2 (2022)

• Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

The second film in the “Terrifier” franchise received generally positive critical reception and was a great commercial success.

In the plot, the killer clown Art the Clown resurfaces and chases a teenager on Halloween night.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
• Metacritic: 59/100
• IMDb: 6.1/10
• Letterboxd: 2.7/5

7th – Child’s Play (1988)

• Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

The Chucky doll is one of the most famous killers in slashers, and his beginnings took place in 1988 in the well-received “Child's Play”. The story follows a mother who gives her son a Good Guy doll as a gift, a brand he wanted so much.

However, the toy is possessed by the soul of a murderer. The film is directed by Tom Holland, based on a story by Don Mancini.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 74%
• Metacritic: 58/100
• IMDb: 6.7/10
• Letterboxd: 3.3/5

6th – The New Nightmare: The Return of Freddy Krueger (1994)

Before “Scream” revitalized the slasher in the 90s, director Wes Craven had already hinted at his plans in “The New Nightmare: The Return of Freddy Krueger”.

Bringing a new approach to the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise and the slasher, the film presents metalinguistic and self-aware elements of clichés.

The plot of “The New Nightmare” takes place in a reality where the other titles in the series are just films. Actress Heather Langenkamp, ​​who played “final girl” Nancy in the previous films, plays herself. Even Robert Englund, the actor behind Freddy, plays himself.

In the plot, Heather is forced to make a new sequel to “A Nightmare on Elm Street”, but the fictional Freddy Krueger invades the real world.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
• Metacritic: 64/100
• IMDb: 6.4/10
• Letterboxd: 3.3/5

5th – Night of Terror (Black Christmas, 1974)

• Where to watch: not available on streams

The Canadian “Night of Terror” is recognized by film historians as one of the first slasher films. Despite its mixed reception at the time of release, the film has gained cult status over the years. Directed by Bob Clark.

The plot follows girls from a sorority who receive threatening phone calls and are chased by a killer during Christmas.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
• Metacritic: 65/100
• IMDb: 7.1/10
• Letterboxd: 3.8/5

4th – Scream (1996)

• Where to watch: Netflix, Paramount+, Mercado Play (free with ads), Pluto TV (free with ads)

The peak of slashers occurred in the 80s. However, with the arrival of the 90s, the subgenre became saturated and went into decline. However, this scenario changed in 1996 with the release of “Pânico”.

Bringing a self-critical and metalinguistic approach that plays with slasher clichés, “Scream” renewed the subgenre for a new context and a new generation.

Directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, the film follows students who become targets of a costumed killer known as Ghostface.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
• Metacritic: 66/100
• IMDb: 7.4/10
• Letterboxd: 4.0/5

3rd – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

• Where to watch: Max, Oldflix

A critical and commercial success, “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is considered one of the best horror films in American cinema. To attest to its importance, in 2001, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry (NFR).

The NFR is a list maintained by the US Library of Congress. It was created to preserve films considered culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.

Furthermore, this film is even more revered for featuring one of the slasher's most iconic killers: Freddy Krueger (played by Robert Englund).

In the film, teenagers are targets of Freddy, a killer who kills through dreams. The film was written and directed by slasher specialist Wes Craven.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
• Metacritic: 76/100
• IMDb: 7.4/10
• Letterboxd: 3.7/5

2nd – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

• Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Mubi, Mercado Play (free with ads)

A horror masterpiece, the influential “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is recognized for originating several common elements in the slasher genre. The figure of the masked killer is the main example.

Directed by Tobe Hooper, the film is a very low-budget production. In the plot, young people traveling through the Texas countryside come across a family of murderous cannibals, including Leatherface and his chainsaw.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
• Metacritic: 91/100
• IMDb: 7.4/10
• Letterboxd: 3.8/5

1st – Halloween – The Night of Terror (1978)

• Where to watch: Telecine, Looke, Netmovies (free with ads)

Directed by master John Carpenter, “Halloween” is a horror classic. The film helped define slasher conventions as we know them.

For example, the trope of the “final girl” (the last woman who faces the killer and survives) was popularized in this film.

In the plot, mental patient Michael Myers escapes from the sanatorium and returns to his hometown in the middle of Halloween to kill.

In 2006, “Halloween” was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

• Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
• Metacritic: 90/100
• IMDb: 7.7/10
• Letterboxd: 3.8/5