Summer Slashers for the Season (Because Horror Films Aren’t Only for October)
I promise you all I’ve tried so hard to be normal about Halloween being the next major holiday on the calendar… buuuuut, I can’t.
The second those Fourth of July fireworks are extinguished and the barbecue grill cools down, I have one thing on my mind — it’s spooky SZN, y’all.
I know, I know — isn’t it a little early for all that? Well, quite obviously, yes. But again, I don’t care!
So, if you’re like me (and you enjoy the spookier side of cinema all-year-round), you’ll likely appreciate this little list I’ve compiled: Summer Slashers for the Season (whiiiich includes some non-slasher horror titles as well, because I make the rules, and there are none!) — so sit back, relax (?), and enjoy.
Summer slashers to watch all season
If we’re going to start this list with actual slashers, there are a wealth of 1980’s Wes Craven-era camp classics (as well as some notable late 90’s and early 2000’s entries) out there that just make sense, and likely don’t need any introducing, including (but certainly not limited to!) the following —
Friday the 13th — Jason (well, Jason’s mom) is about to give you kids the summer camp experience of your life… so come down to Camp Crystal Lake and, uh, see for yourselves, I suppose?
A Nightmare on Elm Street — Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep. Because after all, “1, 2, Freddy’s coming for you…”
Scream — This film should be put in a museum. Maybe the Library of Congress? Whichever — but Scream forever changed the slasher genre with its meta and quite cynical approach to its “slashing,” and with THAT plot twist at the end? ~Chef’s kiss~
American Psycho — You’re either normal, or you find Patrick Bateman ridiculously attractive. Sorry, I don’t make the rules. But I digress; watch this film if you like a good horror with comedic elements that’s so clearly a condemnation of ‘yuppie’ society it’ll make your head spin!
SAW — Do I even have to say anything? Once you hear those eerie, distorted words (“Let’s play a game”), you know you’re cooked, pal.
Not-quite-slashers that are also worth a summer screening
If you’re looking for something a little more ~ ephemeral ~ (some of my favorite horror films are the more vague, sinister and ‘creepy’ kinds, after all), try these on for size:
The Love Witch — Oh, Elaine. We feel you, girl. This clever 2016 independent film blends humor, retro-patische realness, social commentary and unnerving emotional (and physical !) torture scenes seamlessly, and leaves you feeling like saying, “She was RIGHT!” (even if the “she” in question is a mass-murdering “love witch”).
Hellraiser — My all-time fave, Hellraiser is so much more than eerie shots of one of horror’s most iconic villains (dubbed ‘Pinhead’ by most, affectionately); it’s also a grim meditation on pain, pleasure, and what it means to follow your carnal desires. Cheers!
Pearl — Another entry in the “she’s so real for that” category, Pearl is the second film in the X/Pearl/MaXXXine trilogy, and it’s a doozie. A rural-poor girl with big dreams of silver-screen stardom is thwarted by her ultra-conservative parents (and a string of disappointing male encounters), and she… well, she loses it. It’s splashy, fun, and definitely one of my favorite horror films made in the last decade.
Saint Maud — Annnd in the category of “films that made me feel super uneasy but were extremely visually interesting,” Saint Maud is a meditation on religious fanaticism and… well, you’ll see for yourself. TW, this one is a trip, IMO.
It Follows — Another film I’d lump into the “best horror film of the last decade or so” category, this A24 sleeper hit will have you watching your back (literally) and feeling paranoia through the ROOF. You’ve been warned.
So, what are your favorite horror classics? Remember, it’s never too early to give ‘em a whirl, besties.
Xoxo,
MM.