What is a Slasher Genre?

[ironmike]

I have written a Horror script about a serial killer. He brutally murders his victims, but I only show the chase and aftermath(the mutilated corpse.) Is this a Slasher/Horror script or a Suspense/Horror script.

Thanks!
Iron Mike

[dpaterso]

Iron, it sounds more like a thriller than a slasher or a horror.

Just asking, if you're not going to show the gory killings then why show the gory mutilated corpses? Seems like you're aiming for an adult rating, i.e. limited audience, less revenue, less financial appeal to producers, but holding back on the real horror scenes that should earn the rating and would attract a horror-loving audience. I'd maybe think about going one way or another instead of hovering in between. Big shrug, random writerly thoughts, I'm not an industry insider.

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)

[Joe Calabrese]

IMDB list Seven and Silence of the Lambs as a thriller/mystery/horror.
I wouldn't call your type of film a horror per se. If it involves a police investigation after a serial killer, I would call it a police thriller or serial killer thriller.

[maestrowork]

Sounds like Se7en, which is considered suspense/thriller and not horror.

[Trey]

If it helps, when I think of Slasher flicks, I think more of the Jason, Freddy, Michael Myers, type movies where you see people getting slashed. Depending on how you portray the "slasher" in your film (like is he going to be this big character that will live on forever, or is he more of the sedated type like Spacy in Seven) will deteremine whether or not it's a slasher film. I think because you don't actually have anyone being killed shown in your movie that it would be more of a thriller, mystery, horror, movie.

[fedorable1]

Yeah, it's pretty straight-forward. If the villain literally slashes people, hacking off limps and mutilating people on camera, then it's a Slasher. If the point is just for suspense or to scare people, it's a Thriller/Horror.

[ironmike]

IMDB list Seven and Silence of the Lambs as a thriller/mystery/horror.
I wouldn't call your type of film a horror per se. If it involves a police investigation after a serial killer, I would call it a police thriller or serial killer thriller.

I have a producer interested in my script, but only if it's not a slasher. She wants a scarry suspense/horror with body counts but not a slasher. By not showing the actual murders, does that free my script up from being a slasher?

Thanks to all
Iron Mike

[MadScientistMatt]

Well, besides blood and gore and showing actual murders, the slasher flicks usually seem to have quite a few things in common:

1. Extra violent deaths - a sniper killing at long range doesn't cut it.
2. Killer is something other than a normal rational human. At the very least, an escaped psychopath. Best is a vengeful person with some sort of demonic assistance.
3. Completely gratuitous naked women.
4. Extra points if the victims are teenagers in an isolated location.

If it seems to fit that formula, even without showing the murders, it's probably a slasher.

[nganok]

that Freddie/Jason/Candyman = Slasher - we know who the killer is and what they are about. They are the main attraction.

Suspense thriller = Se7en ---killer unknown - ie suspense (who done it)

[Boo_Radley]

The opinion of a lifelong horror fanatic, here...not necessarily of slasher flicks, but I've seen more than my share and here's what I would say would make for a successful one:

Slasher movies are about four things; chicks, body count, grue and the killer.

Chicks - lots of 'em, the more nudity the better.

Body Count - the higher, the better. No time for characterization here, no sir! Parade lots of morons across the screen (especially obnoxious ones) because you can't wait to see them get what's coming to them and the slasher fan will clap and chirp like a monkey playing happily with a wad of his own poo when the obnoxious morons are obliterated onscreen.

Grue - the more creative the manner of death, the better. Slasher fans get bored when their slasher heroes stick to just a machete, or just an axe...we're talking weed-eaters, hacksaws, bandsaws, chainsaws, lawn mowers, cork screws, head-crushing, decapitations, disembowelments, and everything in between. Also, if you want your slasher flick to be successful...DO NOT just show "aftermath." If the slasher fan doesn't see the murder happen onscreen, plain as day, no last-moment cut-aways and no "cleverly hidden in the shadows" mayhem, then you'll have yourself a successful slasher flick.

The Killer - has to be big. Has to be intimidating. Has to be an unstoppable juggernaut with more lives than a cat. Must be masked. However, must not appear oafish or clumsy during his kills. Must prove handy with a variety of murder weapons (see: grue), and during the big finale, he can't just fold like a wet noodle when the heroine puts up a fight. He's "the killer" for a reason, y'know.

The only slasher flick which proves to be an exception to most of these rules - and which immediately comes to my mind - is the original Halloween, which is pretty much minimalistic horror at its nigh-finest.

*Note: none of my comments above are intended to offend fans of slasher flicks...though for my money, there's a bit more to horror than a hockey mask or a razor glove.
:D