[Editorial] The Ultimate September Slashers Back-To-School List

Slashers have always been a historic part of the horror genre, with some of the most iconic films and characters being widely recognised as horrors. Many of us grew up on the likes of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Maniac and a bloodied abundance of others. With so many options on the platter it is hard to slash through the titles to find a definitive watchlist, but do not scream, we are here to provide you with a list of some slasher films to watch this September, all which have a slight back-to-school theme about them. 

Without further ado, this is our Ghouls Magazine September Slashers watchlist as voted by the wonderful horror community!

• Slumber Party Massacre 1, 2 and 3

• This one was suggested by none other than the Editor of Fangoria, the ever wonderful Phil Nobile! The first film came out in 1982 with a PJ party being gatecrashed by a power-drill wielding psychopath, so cute. What’s even better is that it was directed by a female in Amy Holden Jones, something not popularly seen in slashers. Parts 2 and 3 were also directed by women Deborah Brock and Sally Mattinson.

• Visiting Hours 1982

  • This one isn’t quite ‘back-to-school’ but we’re letting it slide because it was suggested on multiple occasions. Set in a large city hospital, a psychotic maniac will stop at nothing to get his next victim. The hospital setting allows the film to explore creativity in the setting, with some gory kill scenes. 

• Sleepaway Camp 1983

  • What’s a slasher if not set at camp, right? If you’ve never heard much about this one - go in blind as you’ll enjoy it far more. Angela and Peter are sent to summer camp and it’s not long before they find there’s a killer on the loose who is intent on killing anyone who crosses their path. Plus, the ending is bonkers.

• Prom Night 1 & 2

  • The first film feels like it has a somewhat more wholesome plot than most slashers, with the mysterious killer looking to avenge a young girl who died after being abused by her classmates. All of the slaughtering happens on prom night, as expected, but doesn’t make the viewer completely hate the killer. Prom Night II: Hello Mary Lou follows a distinctly different direction, with a possession happening.

• Pieces 1982

  • Juan Piceur Simon’s 1982 was suggested by the director of notoriously controversial The Bunny Game and recent coming-of-age punk film Dinner in America. This gruesome film follows a detective on the hunt for a deranged serial killer - it was confiscated by the BBFC during the video nasty era.

• Cherry Falls 2000

  • This 00s slasher film was suggested by nearly the entirety of Twitter, so it has to be a good one for the list. In a small town a Sheriff looks for a murderer who is targeting virgins, which of course, has most of the town’s kids freaking out and looking to get laid before they get slayed.

• Scream 1-4

  • One of the most iconic and loved slasher films to exist is Wes Craven’s Scream from 1996 which spawned a franchise afterwards. The films went on for another three but all followed a similar plot with a meta style that made horror fans fall in love with its intelligent positioning.

• Freaky 2021

  • When thinking of slashers it’s easy to think of all the 80s films, but Freaky from 2020 decided to breathe some fresh life into the genre. Watching Vince Vaughn act like a teenage girl might be the best part of the whole film, but it’s fun and easy to watch. 

• Cutting Class 1989

  • Part dark comedy and part slasher horror film, Cutting Class follows a group of high-school kids as they get murdered one by one. This film also stars none other than Brad Pitt, which makes it feel a little more Hollywood.

• Tragedy Girls 2017

  • When a slasher is on the loose what’s the best way to stop the murders? Capture them, hold them hostage and then decide you can get more social media followers by just doing the murders yourself. That’s exactly what the girls in this film do, and it’s refreshing to see females doing the killing.

• April Fools 1986

  • What could go wrong when inviting a group of friends to a remote mansion on an island? Yes, basically everything could, which is exactly what happens in Fred Walton’s April Fools film.

• Urban Legend 1998

  • There always needs to be some form of inspiration for murders and as you can guess from the title, all the slaughters in this one are inspired by various urban legends.

• Battle Royale 2000

  • There is some debate around whether or not Kinji Fukasaku’s classifies as a slasher but as someone said on Twitter, there is a lot of high-school kids and slashing happening so it constitutes. 

• Graduation Day 1981

  • After a girl is pushed and dies as a result, her sister returns to graduation to honour her, but slaughter ensues and it’s easy to suspect one particular person. 

• Sorority House Massacre 1986

  • Mental patients are always a good shout when murders start happening because of course, they’re completely unhinged. So when a sorority sister becomes the target of a mental patient, it’s not long until blood is shed.

• The Town That Dreaded Sundown 1976 & 2014

  • A small town in Texas becomes ravaged by a masked killer that wants to murder anyone and everyone. In the 2014 version, which is just as good as the 1976 one, it takes place 65 years after the first murders with someone donning the same mask and beginning to terrorise the town again. A great double bill!

• Black Christmas 1974

  • You might want to wait until the Christmas season to watch this one with your family, however, it can be enjoyed at any time of the year. A sorority house is stalked and hunted in their own home as they wait for a different man to come down their chimney.

• The Final Girls 2015

  • The terminology of a ‘final girl’ has been a staple part of what makes a slasher film a slasher film, which is why this film drew so many people in. A group of potential ‘final girls’ go to see a slasher movie and are transported inside the film to fight the killer themselves. 

• The Dorm That Dripped Blood 1982

  • Put a group of college students in a deserted dormitory and what’s the worst that could happen? Well a crazed serial killer trying to kill them all of course. 

• Massacre at Central High 1976

  • We all know bullying is bad but so many slasher horror films just confirm that the only way to get back at bullies is to start slaughtering them. Which is exactly what happens in this horror. 

• Fear In The Night 1972

  • Rather than purely focusing on the slashing element, this film brings a touch of psychological terror as cheating spouses play mind games with one another in the hopes that death will solve the relationship complications. 

• Polaroid 2019

  • It’s good to see a little creativity when it comes to slashers as they can become repetitive, but Polaroid runs with a student who finds a camera in which anyone that has their picture taken soon is found dead.

• The Burning 1981

  • Old man Cropsy is burned alive by some college students at camp, and therefore comes back years later to terrorise the new kids at camp. There’s a lot of bad acting in here but it’s worth it for the effects alone - all by maestro Tom Savini.

• Terror Train 1980

  • Another group of shitty students (its a theme) decide to put one timid student through a hazing which ends up in them being institutionalised after the traumatic experience. They might have thought they’ve escaped from it but as they go on a party train, they soon release it’s come back to haunt them. 

• My Bloody Valentine 1981

  • One for date night with a new partner if you’re feeling brave! A legendary murderer that goes around with a gas mask and pickaxe soon reveals to a group of teens that he is very much real, and would like to help them find their hearts just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Extras to add to your list:

• Detention 2011

• Night School 1981

• Final Exam 1981

• School Spirit 1985

• Slaughter High 1986

• Seance 2021

• Evilspeak 1981

• Hatchet 2006

• You’re Next 2011

• Summer of 84 2018

• All Cheerleaders Die 2013

• I Know What You Did Last Summer 1997

• All The Boys Love Mandy Lane 2006

• Hell Night 1981

• Pledge Night 1990

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