Films have formulas and rules, but how well do films follow those formulas?
Although I'm calling these Slasher Film Rules, they can apply to a range of horror sub-genres.
Ten films were tested:
The previous 20 films looked at were:
Of course, these films say nothing about the genre as a whole. Certainly things can be said about the films, though. They are usually bigger name films, smaller low-budget or less successful films may rely on the rules more. One is a post-modern film in which the characters know the rules. About half may not be purely "slasher" films and may not need to follow the rules.
- Black Christmas (1974)
- My Bloody Valentine (1981)
- Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)
- April Fool's Day (1986)
- Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI (1986)
- Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
- Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
- Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
- Leprechaun 2 (1994)
- Leprechaun 3 (1995)
The previous 20 films looked at were:
- And Then There Were None (1945)
- Peeping Tom (1960)
- Psycho (1960)
- Night of the Living Dead (1963)
- Jaws (1975)
- Halloween (1978)
- Alien (1979)
- Friday the 13th (1980)
- Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
- Halloween II (1981)
- Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
- Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
- Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
- Leprechaun (1993)
- Scream (1997)
- Saw (2004)
- Wolf Creek (2004)
- Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
Of course, these films say nothing about the genre as a whole. Certainly things can be said about the films, though. They are usually bigger name films, smaller low-budget or less successful films may rely on the rules more. One is a post-modern film in which the characters know the rules. About half may not be purely "slasher" films and may not need to follow the rules.
