The anatomy of the slasher film : a theoretical analysis

The term "slasher film" was common parlance by the mid-1980s but the horror subgenre it describes was at least a decade old by then—formerly referred to as "stalker," "psycho" or "slice-'em-up." Examining 74 movies—from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) to Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)—the author identifies the characteristic elements of the subgenre while tracing changes in narrative patterns over the decades. The slasher canon is divided into three eras: the classical (1974-1993), the self-referential (1994-2000) and the neoslasher cycle (2000-2013). Acknowledgments Introduction 1. A Theoretical and Historical Approach to Slasher Films Slasher Films: A Horror Subgenre The Semantic/Syntactic Elements of Slasher Films The Cycles of the Slasher Film Subgenre An Epilog to the Theoretical and Historical Approach 2. The Classical Cycle of Slasher Films The Normality of the Classical Cycle The Other of the Classical Cycle The Final Survivors of the Classical Cycle The Victims of the Classical Cycle An Epilog on the Classical Cycle 3. The Self-Referential Cycle of Slasher Films The Normality of the Self-Referential Cycle The Other of the Self-Referential Cycle The Final Survivors of the Self-Referential Cycle The Victims of the Self-Referential Cycle An Epilog on the Self-Referential Cycle 4. The Neoslasher Cycle of Slasher Films The Normality of the Neoslasher Cycle The Other of the Neoslasher Cycle The Final Survivors of the Neoslasher Cycle The Victims of the Neoslasher Cycle An Epilog on the Neoslasher Cycle Conclusions Appendix A: Films Referenced Appendix B: Semantic Elements Chapter Notes Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Filmography Bibliography List of Names and Terms "Examining 74 movies--from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) to Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)--the author identifies the characteristic elements of the subgenre while tracing changes in narrative patterns over the decades. The slasher canon is divided into three eras: the classical (1974-1993), the self-referential (1994-2000) and the neoslasher cycle (2000-2013)"-- Provided by publisher