The Story Of The '80s Slasher Craze

Between 1980 and 1989, the horror genre gave us well over 200 slasher flicks; most of them were cheap, and very few of them had much of a lasting impact on audiences (aside from rabid horror fans like us, that is). Flaws and all though, we loved most of these horrific endeavors. Taking the format of ‘70s classics such as Black Christmas, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and, of course, the quintessential slasher movie, John Carpenter’s Halloween, studios realized they could make a lot of money chopping up teens. So much so that the genre would collapse in on itself like a dying star before the decade was done.

Directed by —, The Story Of The '80s Slasher Craze leans on a strong ensemble — Sean S. Cunningham, Victor Miller, Harry Manfredini — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2020.