This documentary into the history of slasher films provides an interesting introduction to the genre from Psycho in the sixties, their heyday in the seventies and eighties with films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street, how they went downhill with excessive sequels where the villains become the real stars of the films and there are more cheap laughs than scares and final finishes with the rise of the self-aware slashers like Scream and their parodies. Since this was made in 2000 it doesn't get as far as the more recent trend of remaking the early horror classics. Mark Kermode is a good presenter but the real treat is getting to see interviews with so many of the people involved in making these films Including the likes of Wes Craven, Robert Englund and Tobe Hooper.
While slasher films are far from my favourite genre this was an interesting film where those interviewed had something worthwhile to say rather than just go on about how great their films are. One thing we learn for sure is that every time the genre is declared dead it returns much like the villain returning in the next sequel.
