History SoYouWantTo / WriteASlasherHorrorStory

* Is your killer human, like ''{{Scream}}'''s killers, or is he or she something more supernatural, such as [[ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]], [[Film/{{Friday The Thirteenth}} Jason Voorhees]] or [[{{Halloween}} The Shape]]? In the case of the more famous slasher horror franchises, it is not uncommon for a killer to start off more or less human, but to become supernatural as the series goes on, if only to explain how he or she [[JokerImmunity keeps coming back]] [[NotQuiteDead for the sequels]].

* Many slasher movies tend to be [[HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday set around a 'themed' or notable calendar holiday]] (for example Christmas, New Year's and, of course, {{Halloween}} and FridayTheThirteenth). This obviously enables the movie to present a subverted or darkened twist on 'safe' holiday trappings -- for example, a slasher killer might decide to dress up as Santa Claus if committing their crimes during the Christmas season. This is such a common motif, however, that it lends itself easily to a potential for subversion -- a movie in which the killer decides to strike on days which have no particular calendar significance (except, maybe, for the killer and victims).

* Is your killer human, like ''{{Scream}}'''s killers, or is he or she something more supernatural, such as [[ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]], [[{{Friday The Thirteenth}} Jason Voorhees]] or [[{{Halloween}} The Shape]]? In the case of the more famous slasher horror franchises, it is not uncommon for a killer to start off more or less human, but to become supernatural as the series goes on, if only to explain how he or she [[JokerImmunity keeps coming back]] [[NotQuiteDead for the sequels]].

* There are two common and popular alternatives for slasher movie settings; either an isolated, creepy out-of-the-way place (often some kind of shack or collection of shacks; see the {{summer camp|y}} setting of ''{{Friday the 13th}}'', or the out-of-the-way hovel in ''TheTexasChainsawMassacre'') surrounded by forests and scrub land, or an urban location that the audience would be expected to be familiar with presented in a creepy, sinister fashion ({{suburbia}} in ''Halloween''; the high school prom in ''PromNight''). The former generally allows you to stress the isolation of the characters -- if anyone is coming to the rescue, it's going to be a while before they get there, meaning the characters have to survive as long as possible before help arrives. It also generally allows you to present as the bad guys (or at least antagonists) the kind of [[HillbillyHorrors grotesque, in-bred, physically repellent and psychotic hillbillies and hicks]] that this genre seems to adore. The latter allows you to spook the audience out by presenting something that they'd recognise and be comfortable with as a horrifying place of terrors. Of course, the latter is usually less isolated, presenting something of a pitfall in that the audience may question why the characters don't just call the police and let them handle it; this is usually resolved (not entirely satisfactorily at times) by making the police [[PoliceAreUseless useless and incompetent blunderers]] who are usually [[RedshirtArmy way outmatched by one killer]] and thus end up as blade fodder.

* ''{{Friday the 13th}}'' is the other TropeCodifier for the genre, spawning a long list of sequels of varying quality. The first, fourth and sixth movies are often held up as series highlights, ''Jason X'' is usually viewed as SoBadItsGood, and the eighth and ninth movies are usually treated as a DorkAge for the franchise. Introduced the second of the "Big Three" slasher icons: Jason Voorhees. Was [[TheRemake remade]] in 2009.

* [[ChzoMythos 5 Days a Stranger]]

* The amount of survivors: How many main characters will survive it to the end? This can vary from all of them plus the killer ending up dead to just one or two meeting their demise. Notre that the survivors don't necessarily have to come out unharmed.

* The amount of survivors: How many main characters will survive it to the end? This can vary from all of them plus the killer ending up dead to just one or two meeting their demise.

* [[FinalGirl The Survivor]]: Usually the protagonist, often female; usually engages the killer in a final climactic struggle. If it's a happy ending, the Survivor will triumph; in a DownerEnding, the killer claims a final scalp. More bittersweet endings will have the Survivor win the day, but be heavily traumatised by their experiences. Traditionally, in contrast to the depraved killer (and many of the victims), the "FinalGirl," as this character is known, is often [[IncorruptiblePurePureness virginal, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and "innocent"]]. More recently, however, this characterization has been downplayed, if not outright subverted. The amount of survivors at the end can also vary.

* [[FinalGirl The Survivor]]: Usually the protagonist, often female; usually engages the killer in a final climactic struggle. If it's a happy ending, the Survivor will triumph; in a DownerEnding, the killer claims a final scalp. More bittersweet endings will have the Survivor win the day, but be heavily traumatised by their experiences. Traditionally, in contrast to the depraved killer (and many of the victims), the "FinalGirl", as this character is known, is often [[IncorruptiblePurePureness virginal, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and "innocent"]]. More recently, however, this characterisation has been downplayed, if not outright subverted. The amount of survivors at the end can also vary.

* Potential victims: How much should the audience like them getting killed be alive at the end.

* Many slasher stories also end with the killer being disposed of in a seeming final confrontation with the [[FinalGirl final survivor]], only for the movie to close on a note of OrIsIt with regard to the killer, with the implication that (s)he is NotQuiteDead. Whilst it can be an easy SequelHook, it's also been over-used to the point of trite cliche; audiences often ''expect'' the killer to survive the final confrontation and threaten a return.

* The killer might represent a facet of modern society GoneHorriblyWrong. Usually it works to use one of the SevenDeadlySins. For example, a spurned teen outcast, target of [[strike:Kids]] [[KidsAreCruel Teens Are Cruel]], could grow into a hateful monster, killing his tormentors and/or even ''their'' children (Wrath). An ugly woman might see the most beautiful parts of everyone she meets... and then kill them to cut off those parts for her collection (Envy). The killer might be [[StalkerWithACrush obsessively in love]] with one of his 'targets' and has decided to [[MurderTheHypotenuse get rid of the competition]] (Lust). A person of authority might be shamed, and take out their issues on those they think did the wronging (Pride). And so on. And if they're dead? Well, then they have all of eternity to let these hungers fester.

* The killers in these movies are usually distinguished by a particular appearance and manner of dress that makes them easily identifiable - think Jason Voorhees' hockey mask, Freddy Krueger's hideous scars, fedora and green-and-red striped pullover, and such. They also generally have a particular method of killing people that acts as their CallingCard (usually involving knives and other stabby-slashy weapons -- hence the name of the genre); again, Freddy's scythe-like fingers and Jason's {{machete|Mayhem}} are good examples of this.

* [[FinalGirl The Survivor]]: Usually the protagonist, often female; usually engages the killer in a final climactic struggle. If it's a happy ending, the Survivor will triumph; in a DownerEnding, the killer claims a final scalp. More bittersweet endings will have the Survivor win the day, but be heavily traumatised by their experiences. Traditionally, in contrast to the depraved killer (and many of the victims), the "FinalGirl", as this character is known, is often [[IncorruptiblePurePureness virginal, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and "innocent"]]. More recently, however, this characterisation has been downplayed, if not outright subverted.

* [[FinalGirl The Survivor]]: Usually the protagonist, often female; usually engages the killer in a final climactic struggle. If it's a happy ending, the Survivor will triumph; in a DownerEnding, the killer claims a final scalp. More bittersweet endings will have the Survivor win the day, but be heavily traumatised by their experiences. Traditionally, in contrast to the depraved killer (and many of the victims), the 'FinalGirl' is often virginal, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and 'innocent'; more recently, this characterisation has been downplayed.

* Is your killer human, like {{Scream}}'s killers, or is he or she something more supernatural, such as [[ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]] or [[{{Friday The Thirteenth}} Jason Voorhees]] or [[{{Halloween}} The Shape]]? In the case of the more famous slasher horror franchises, it is not uncommon for a killer to start off more or less human, but to become supernatural as the series goes on, if only to explain how he or she [[JokerImmunity keeps coming back for the sequels]].

* Lots of slasher horror stories seem to use DeathBySex; the victims are often killed shortly after or even during an act of sexual intercourse, with the survivor at the end often being a virgin (or at the least, someone who avoided 'temptation' throughout the film); the perception is that the characters are being 'punished' for having sex. These days, this is usually seen as being a bit outdated and formulaic, and may also be accused of having UnfortunateImplications, particularly if the victims are women.

* When a killer has the theme of [[RubeGoldbergHatesYourGuts Rube Goldberg deathtraps]], or generally killing each victim in a unique way, they run the risk of breaking the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief if it gets too cartoony or ridiculous. At least, this should be avoided if you want realism[[hottip:* :(In the "this could potentially happen to you" sense)]], though a few films knowingly turn the above UpToEleven and draw audiences by promising creative kill showcases.
* Most slasher stories use the same old character archetypes from past stories: TheLibby, JerkJock, the TokenMinority, extc. This makes it very obvious as to who is going to die and who is going to live. Try to make some new character archetypes, or expand off the old ones. Also, try to make at least some of the characters likeable, or you may have your readers RootingForTheEmpire.
* Related to the above, TwentyMinutesWithJerks is a common problem with this genre; you have to establish ''some'' connection with the characters before you have your serial killer start butchering them, and a bit of teasing and tension is always good to get your audience in the mood -- however, if you wait too long to start the action, or if you make your characters too hard-to-like or cliched / formulaic, then the audience is going to spend this time not caught up in the character dramas and interplays between these characters but instead anxiously (and, depending on just how insufferable they are, possibly eagerly) awaiting the arrival of the killer and start of the killing spree. You don't want to bore or frustrate your audience.

* Retribution (or rather in plenty of cases, DisproportionateRetribution) tends to form the backdrop of these stories; in many of these stories, the victims are being hunted and killed as revenge for some perceived wrong, either directly against the killer (or someone related to the killer). In others, the killer is presented as being TheScourgeOfGod (or {{Satan}} in some cases), on a quest to avenge more oblique wrongs committed not so much against the killer as much as against society or God in general. This is usually more pronounced in later entries in a series, mainly because the killer's already gone through everyone who he reasonably has a grievance against in earlier installments.
* The killer might represent a facet of modern society GoneHorriblyWrong. Usually it works to use one of the SevenDeadlySins. For example, a spurned teen outcast, target of [[strike:Kids]] [[KidsAreCruel Teens Are Cruel]] could grow into a hateful monster, killing his tormentors and / or even ''their'' children (Wrath). An ugly woman might see the most beautiful parts of everyone she meets... and then kill them to cut off those parts for her collection (Envy). The killer might be [[StalkerWithACrush obsessively in love]] with one of his 'targets' and has decided to [[MurderTheHypotenuse get rid of the competition]] (Lust). A person of authority might be shamed, and take out their issues on those they think did the wronging (Pride). And so on. And if they're dead? Well, then they have all of eternity to let these hungers fester.

* The killers in these movies are usually distinguished by a particular appearance and manner of dress that makes them easily identifiable - think Jason Voorhees' hockey mask, Freddy Krueger's hideous scars, fedora and green-and-red striped pullover, and such. They also generally have a particular method of killing people that acts as their CallingCard (usually involving knives and other stabby-slashy weapons -- hence the name of the genre); again, Freddy's scythe-like fingers are a good example of this.
* The killers in these movies are frequently depicted as being a {{Determinator}} who if he's not quite MadeOfIron might as well be -- even if they aren't explicitly supernatural, they're usually curiously resilient, able to withstand a large amount of punishment and keep going. Later installments of a series in particular tend to stress the supernatural manner of the killer. Whereas earlier instalments may have depicted the killer as being just a very insane guy going around killing people, later appearances usually tend to see the killer gradually developed into an explicitly supernatural creation, to the point where they're practically the right hand of {{Satan}} himself. This is usually something of a necessity in order to explain how a returning killer manages to perform so many NotQuiteDead moments and still retain some level of plausibility.

* Many slasher movies tend to be [[HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday set around a 'themed' or notable calendar holiday]] (for example Christmas, New Year and, of course, {{Halloween}} and FridayTheThirteenth). This obviously enables the movie to present a subverted or darkened twist on 'safe' holiday trappings -- for example, a slasher killer might decide to dress up as Santa Claus if commiting their crimes during the Christmas season. This is such a common motif, however, that it lends itself easily to a potential for subversion -- a movie in which the killer decides to strike on days which have no particular calendar significance (except, maybe, for the killer and victims).

* There are two common and popular alternatives for slasher movie settings; either an isolated, creepy out-of-the-way place (often some kind of shack or collection of shacks; see the summer camp setting of ''{{Friday the 13th}}'', or the out-of-the-way hovel in ''Texas Chainsaw Massacre'') surrounded by forests and scrub land, or an urban location that the audience would be expected to be familiar with presented in a creepy, sinister fashion (suburbia in ''Halloween''; the high school prom in ''PromNight''). The former generally allows you to stress the isolation of the characters -- if anyone is coming to the rescue, it's going to be a while before they get there, meaning the characters have to survive as long as possible before help arrives. It also generally allows you to present as the bad guys (or at least antagonists) the kind of grotesque, in-bred, physically repellent and psychotic hillbillies and hicks that this genre seems to adore. The latter allows you to spook the audience out by presenting something that they'd recognise and be comfortable with as a horrifying place of terrors. Of course, the latter is usually less isolated, presenting something of a pitfall in that the audience may question why the characters don't just call the police and let them handle it; this is usually resolved (not entirely satisfactorily at times) by making the police [[PoliceAreUseless useless and incompetent]] blunderers who are usually [[RedshirtArmy way outmatched by one killer]] and thus end up as blade fodder.

* The killer should have two modes of dress: Stealth and On the Job. Stealth is their civilian clothes, which should reflect their personality. True Serial Killers will dress as inconspicuously as possible, often being a little ''too'' neat and clean. If they're deranged, out of style and unkempt clothes are the norm. When on the job, they can either for a stealth look (all black, with a [[MalevolentMaskedMen menacing mask]]), or for over-the-top psycho killer gear. This should reflect their theme and origins, and whether they sneak kill victims or overwhelm through terror and brute force.

* ''{{Friday the 13th}}'' is the other TropeCodifier for the genre, spawning a long list of sequels of varying quality. The first, fourth and sixth movies are often held up as series highlights, ''Jason X'' is usually viewed as [=~So Bad It's Good~=], and the eighth and ninth movies are usually treated as a DorkAge for the franchise. Introduced the second of the "Big Three" slasher icons: Jason Voorhees. Was [[TheRemake remade]] in 2009.

* ''{{Scream}}'' (made by ''Nightmare'' director Wes Craven) takes the GenreSavvy approach to slasher horror, with plenty of LampshadeHanging, and turns several of the more common tropes on their heads, as well as featuring ''two'' killers rather than just one. It is actually quite genuinely scary at times, particularly in the opening scene. Its success wound up [[PopularityPolynomial reviving the slasher genre]] after years of being viewed as [[DeaderThanDisco trite and cliche]], as well as starting a [[PostModernism Post Modernist]] wave in horror.

* As a genre, {{slasher movies}} are heavily susceptible to falling on the wrong end of [=~Sturgeon's Law~=]. They are a popular choice of film for aspiring student or indie filmmakers, thanks to the fact that a cheap-'n'-dirty slasher flick can easily be made on practically {{no budget}} -- all you need is [[KensingtonGore fake blood and gore]] (which can easily be made with common household and cooking materials), cast and crew (recruit from your friends and family), and an assortment of killing implements (hello, Walmart). Unfortunately, in the cluttered world of the slasher genre, it takes a lot to stand out, and most of these amateur efforts wind up paling in comparison.

* ''IKnowWhatYouDidLastSummer'' is probably the most famous film to come from the post-''Scream'' wave of slasher flicks. While a decent enough movie, it is perhaps most famous for having Jennifer Love Hewitt [[{{Fanservice}} running around in a tight tank top]] for the last third of the film, and for killing [[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]. It had two sequels, the second of which went [=~Direct-to-Video~=].

* The killer might represent a facet of modern society GoneHorriblyWrong. Usually it works to use one of the SevenDeadlySins. A spurned teen outcast, target of [[strike:Kids]] [[KidsAreCruel Teens Are Cruel]] could grow into a hateful monster, killing his tormentors and / or even ''their'' children (Wrath). An ugly woman might see the most beautiful parts of everyone she meets... and then kill them to cut off those parts for her collection (Envy). A person of authority might be shamed, and take out their issues on those they think did the wronging (Pride). And if they're dead? Well, then they have all of eternity to let these hungers fester.

* The killer might represent a facet of modern society GoneHorriblyWrong. Usually it works to use one of the SevenDeadlySins. A spurned teen outcast, target of [[strike:Kids]] [[KidsAreCruel Teens Are Cruel]] could grow into a hateful monster, killing his tormentors children (Wrath). An ugly woman might see the most beautiful parts of everyone she meets... and then kill them to cut off those parts for her collection (Envy). A person of authority might be shamed, and take out their issues on those they think did the wronging (Pride). And if they're dead? Well, then they have all of eternity to let these hungers fester.

* [[FinalGirl The Survivor]]: Usually the protagonist, often female; usually engages the killer in a final climactic struggle. If it's a happy ending, the Survivor will triumph; a DownerEnding, the killer claims a final scalp. More bittersweet endings will have the Survivor win the day, but be heavily traumatised by their experiences. Traditionally, in contrast to the depraved killer (and many of the victims), the 'FinalGirl' is often virginal, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and 'innocent'; more recently, this characterisation has been downplayed.

* ''BlackChristmas'', released in the same year as ''TCM'', is also considered a TropeMaker for the genre, although time has caused it to become more obscure than its cousin. The fact that it was made and released around the same time as ''TCM'', independently of that film, means that it too has a reasonable claim to being the "first slasher flick." (Most horror fans just split the difference and give both movies credit.) It jump-started the tradition of [[HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday holiday-themed horror films]], and remains very effective as a straight-up scarefest. Clearly, enough people remembered it for it to be remade in 2006, although many people [[SoBadItsHorrible probably wish that they hadn't]].

* Is your killer human, like {{Scream}}'s killers, or is he or she something more supernatural, such as [[ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]] or [[{{Friday The Thirteenth}} Jason Voorhees]] or [[{{Halloween}} The Shape]]. In the case of the more famous slasher horror franchises, it is not uncommon for a killer to start off more or less human, but to become supernatural as the series goes on, if only to explain how he or she [[JokerImmunity keeps coming back for the sequels]].

* The killers in these movies are usually distinguished by a particular appearance and manner of dress that makes them easily identifiable - think Jason Voorhees' hockey mask, Freddy Krueger's hideous scars, fedora and black-and-red striped pullover, and such. They also generally have a particular method of killing people that acts as their CallingCard (usually involving knives and other stabby-slashy weapons -- hence the name of the genre); again, Freddy's scythe-like fingers are a good example of this.

* There are two common and popular alternatives for slasher movie settings; either an isolated, creepy out-of-the-way place (often some kind of shack or collection of shacks; see the summer camp setting of ''{{Friday the 13th}}'', or the out-of-the-way hovel in ''Texas Chainsaw Massacre'') surrounded by forests and scrub land, or an urban location that the audience would be expected to be familiar with presented in a creepy, sinister fashion (suburbia in ''Halloween''; the high school prom in ''Prom Night''). The former generally allows you to stress the isolation of the characters -- if anyone is coming to the rescue, it's going to be a while before they get there, meaning the characters have to survive as long as possible before help arrives. It also generally allows you to present as the bad guys (or at least antagonists) the kind of grotesque, in-bred, physically repellent and psychotic hillbillies and hicks that this genre seems to adore. The latter allows you to spook the audience out by presenting something that they'd recognise and be comfortable with as a horrifying place of terrors. Of course, the latter is usually less isolated, presenting something of a pitfall in that the audience may question why the characters don't just call the police and let them handle it; this is usually resolved (not entirely satisfactorily at times) by making the police [[PoliceAreUseless useless and incompetent]] blunderers who are usually [[RedshirtArmy way outmatched by one killer]] and thus end up as blade fodder.

* For the role of the killer, first figure out what type of figure you are going for. If it's somebody who stalks victims from the shadows and then kills them silently, then it's okay to cast a smaller person in the role. If, however, the killer is an unrelenting ImplacableMan, or is otherwise implied to have a lot of physical strength (i.e. moving and hiding bodies so that the FinalGirl can conveniently stumble upon them in the last ten minutes), then you should cast a big guy who looks like he could pull these things off.

* Is your killer human (albeit MadeOfIron), like {{Scream}}'s killers, or is he or she something more supernatural, such as [[ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]] or [[{{Friday The Thirteenth}} Jason Voorhees]] or [[{{Halloween}} The Shape]]. In the case of the more famous slasher horror franchises, it is not uncommon for a killer to start off more or less human, but to become supernatural as the series goes on, if only to explain how he or she [[JokerImmunity keeps coming back for the sequels]].

* Most Slasher Movies tend to revolve around the ''TenLittleIndians'' plot -- a cast of characters gradually being whittled down until there's only one (or a small group, at least) left.

* Is your killer human (albeit MadeOfIron), like {{Scream}}'s killers, or is he or she something more supernatural, such as [[ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]] or [[{{Friday The Thirteenth}} Jason Voorhees]] or [[{{Film/Halloween}} The Shape]]. In the case of the more famous slasher horror franchises, it is not uncommon for a killer to start off more or less human, but to become supernatural as the series goes on, if only to explain how he or she [[JokerImmunity keeps coming back for the sequels]].

You love to watch SlasherMovies (GuiltyPleasure notwithstanding), so you've decided to take the audience's PrimalFear of being hunted and twist it into NightmareFuelUnleaded. Specifically, you want to follow the tried and true method that has haunted audiences for generations: a single murderer is picking off his victims one... by... one. Until the bloody end.

** Notwithstanding the name "slasher movies", there are a lot of potential variations on the way to kill the victims. The killer might drown the victims... sometimes in impossible situations like in the middle of a parking lot to stress the "inescapable death" vibe... or in simple yet unique ways. For example, if the killer were to always slash his victims to death, he might cut numbers on them (counting up or down) or cut off appendages to [[LivingDollCollector create a doll out of the victims.]]

* ''{{Scream}}'' (made by ''Nightmare'' director Wes Craven) takes the GenreSavvy approach to slasher horror, with plenty of LampshadeHanging, and turns several of the more common tropes on their heads. It is actually quite genuinely scary at times, particularly in the opening scene. Its success wound up [[PopularityPolynomial reviving the slasher genre]] after years of being viewed as [[DeaderThanDisco trite and cliche]], as well as starting a PostModernism wave in horror.

* ''BlackChristmas'', released in the same year as ''TCM'', is also considered a TropeMaker for the genre, although time has caused it to become more obscure than its cousin. The fact that it was made and released around the same time as ''TCM'', independently of that film, means that it too has a reasonable claim to being the "first slasher flick." It jump-started the tradition of [[HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday holiday-themed horror films]], and remains very effective as a straight-up scarefest. Clearly, enough people remembered it for it to be remade in 2006, although many people [[SoBadItsHorrible probably wish that they hadn't]].

* ''ANightmareOnElmStreet'' put a supernatural twist on the genre. The killer is a former child predator named Freddy Krueger (the last of the "Big Three" slashers) who was [[PaedoHunt murdered by local parents]] in an act of vigilante justice, and now stalks his teenage victims through their dreams as [[SinsOfOurFathers revenge against their parents]]. The original and ''New Nightmare'' are usually regarded as the scariest in the series, with most of the other movies turning Freddy into [[EvillyAffable a more comedic character]]. That is, with the exception of the second movie, ''Freddy's Revenge'', which is known primarily for having [[ReadingsAreOffTheScale off-the-charts]] levels of [[HoYay gay subtext]] that would make [[{{Supernatural}} Sam and Dean Winchester]] blush. The original was remade in 2010, to the disappointment of many.

* ''BlackChristmas'', released in the same year as ''TCM'', is also considered a TropeMaker for the genre, although time has caused it to become more obscure than its cousin. It jump-started the tradition of [[HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday holiday-themed horror films]], and remains very effective as a straight-up scarefest. Clearly, enough people remembered it for it to be remade in 2006, although many people [[SoBadItsHorrible probably wish that they hadn't]].

* ''ANightmareOnElmStreet'' put a supernatural twist on the genre. The killer is a former child predator named Freddy Krueger (the last of the "Big Three" slashers) who was [[PaedoHunt murdered by local parents]] in an act of vigilante justice, and now stalks his teenage victims through their dreams as [[SinsOfOurFathers revenge against their parents]]. The original and ''New Nightmare'' are usually regarded as the scariest in the series, with most of the other movies turning Freddy into a more comedic character. That is, with the exception of the second movie, ''Freddy's Revenge'', which is known primarily for having [[ReadingsAreOffTheScale off-the-charts]] levels of [[HoYay gay subtext]] that would make [[{{Supernatural}} Sam and Dean Winchester]] blush. The original was remade in 2010, to the disappointment of many.

* ''ANightmareOnElmStreet'' put a supernatural twist on the genre. The killer is a former child predator named Freddy Krueger (the last of the "Big Three" slashers) who was murdered by local parents in an act of vigilante justice, and now stalks his teenage victims through their dreams as [[SinsOfOurFathers revenge against their parents]]. The original and ''New Nightmare'' are usually regarded as the scariest in the series, with most of the other movies turning Freddy into a more comedic character. That is, with the exception of the second movie, ''Freddy's Revenge'', which is known primarily for having [[ReadingsAreOffTheScale off-the-charts]] levels of [[HoYay gay subtext]] that would make [[{{Supernatural}} Sam and Dean Winchester]] blush. The original was remade in 2010, to the disappointment of many.

* ''{{Friday the 13th}}'' is the other TropeCodifier for the genre, spawning a long list of sequels of varying quality. The fourth and sixth movies are often held up as series highlights, ''Jason X'' is usually viewed as [=~So Bad It's Good~=], and the eighth and ninth movies are usually treated as a DorkAge for the franchise. Introduced the second of the "Big Three" slasher icons: Jason Voorhees. Was [[TheRemake remade]] in 2009.

* Most slasher stories use the same old character archetypes from past stories: TheLibby, TheJerkJock, the TokenMinority, extc. This makes it very obvious as to who is going to die and who is going to live. Try to make some new character archetypes, or expand off the old ones. Also, try to make at least some of the characters likeable, or you may have your readers RootingForTheEmpire.