The Teenage Slasher Movie Book: 2nd Revised and Expanded Edition

by J.A. Kerswell

A detailed look at the surprising beginnings of the slasher movie - a genre that brought a new high in cinematic violence and suspense to mainstream cinema - this grisly guidebook revels in its glory days of the late 1970s and early 1980s and discusses its recent resurgence. Packed with reviews of the best (and worst) slasher movies and illustrated with an extensive collection of distinctive and often graphic color poster artwork from around the world, this book also looks at the political, cultural, and social influences on the slasher movie and its own effect on other film genres. A list of the top-10 body count films, trivia on famous actors who made their big-screen debuts in slasher films, a glossy of need-to-know terms, and lists of additional reading and websites to head to for additional macabre movies is also included.

Genres: Horror, Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In, Collections

223 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of slasher movies, this book is for you. If you like the gore, and the history of the genre, you're going to learn some new facts and trivia. If you're expecting a Wes Craven level analysis of the genre, you may be disappointed. Much of the book is devoted to the history of the genre, which, while enjoyable to read, doesn't exactly give you a Scream level breakdown of the genre (unless, of course, you're looking for quotes from the movie, and in which case, this book has plenty). It's a bit stilted, and massive amounts of pictures, movie posters, and stills from the movies discussed are the only reason the book is as long as it is. It's a bit of a dry read, and I was hoping for something as juicy and blood filled as the corpse of a summer camper, with enough depth to really delve into the genre. The best way to describe this is, I think, a "summer read nonfiction" - you're not going to need a whole lot of brainpower to get through it, and if it gets a bit of beach sand in it in the process, you're really not going to mind.

[DonJohn80 · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a primer than an in depth look. The author seemed quite enamoured with box office numbers, but his interpretation of these numbers is occasionally coloured by his own opinions so a movie making fifteen million is a sign of greatness, but movies making sixty million are terrible and everyone secretly hated them and it’s a sign the genre is in decline. At points he’s obviously just quickly checking the wiki page for slashers to get some titles that are never elaborated on. There’s not really much of a thread here beyond a mostly chronological listing of movies and the information presented is more suited to a set of Topps trading cards. It does have a great gallery of foreign posters, so it’s not a total waste.

[Andy Pearson · Rating 1 out of 5]

While there are some cool things here, the writing isn’t that interesting and the content is quite shallow. More often than not this book reads as a list of one slasher movie after another followed by some cliched phrase before finally stating the box office gross. Worth a cursory look if you can grab it from your library, but not worth a purchase.

[Rebecca Elson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on The Magical Buffet website on 10/11/2018.

I don’t know if you’ll find this surprising or not, but I do not watch horror movies. I just can’t handle it, they stick with me way too long. That said, I love reading about horror movies. I go online and read plot summaries, analysis, and reviews for tons of horror movies. Weird, right? I just feel the genre has a lot to offer. That’s why I agreed to read and review the 2nd revised and expanded edition of “The Teenage Slasher Movie Book” by J.A. Kerswell. I will admit that I don’t normally look into the slasher subgenre, but just like the rest of the horror genre, the author showed me there are surprises to be found there.

Have you heard of the gory, Italian, thrillers known as giallos? I hadn’t, but it turns out they played a huge role in the eventual teenage slasher film. I had no idea that many popular slasher movies came from Canada! Sure, now it seems all movies come from Canada, but the late 70’s, I had no clue. Also, I didn’t realize that Britain had previewed and censored all videos being released in the country. This delayed the release of many slasher movies in the country.

Kerswell does an excellent job condensing the history and works of the genre into a fast paced read. He succeeds in striking the balance of treating the subject matter seriously while acknowledging how silly it can all be.

With Kerswell’s authoritative writing and a dizzying amount of full color photos from films and movie posters, I can safely say “The Teenage Slasher Movie Book” is a great resource for anyone interested in horror films.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who wonder how the evolution of the slasher film came about this is a great reference of its rise and fall at the box offices and (like its highlight killers) its resurrection to new audiences. I really enjoyed learning about more of the German Krimi and the Italian Gialli films that helped guide the slasher formula. It goes into the Slasher Golden Age of 1978-1984 and hits the ground running talking about all of the good, the bad, and ugly slashers that came out before MPAA and Video Nasties really cracked down hard on them. Afterward many of these went to the cheaper direct to video route. Interesting to see this subgenre of films that is not based off of the idea of critical acclaim or strong leaden plot, but what would sell at the box office. My only two things is that if they do come up with a new revised edition in the future that they maybe talk about the unusual unicorn that is the "final boy", and also further on the "Psycho-Biddy" element. Lauren Bacall and Joan Crawford are briefly mentioned as being part of the early slashers, but there are more of the psycho-biddy types that grew out of that tradition along with new ones like A24's X (AKA grande dame guignol or hags-ploitation). And that aforementioned unicorn of the final boy I feel like it could have its own little sub section with characters like The Burning's Alfred, Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker's Billy, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 2's Jesse. I count the latter encounter with him fighting off the possession of Freddy with Lisa's encouragement. I don't count the dream or reality last minute pastiche on the bus with the possessed friend ending.😅

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not as funny or humorous as, let's say, Hendrix's Paperbacks From Hell, J.A. Kerswell's The Teenage Slasher Movie Book is just as encyclopedic.

The amount of films listed in these pages is mindboggling, as is the dedication to research that Kerswell displays throughout all the various, and ever-evolving, subgenres in this little corner of horror.

I was happy to see that I only owned roughly 200 of the almost 500 films named herein, so at least I have some stuff to look forward to and to hunt down.

The book does read a little text-booky, so if that's not your thing then tread accordingly. But there is tons of info here, a handful of cool anecdotes, behind-the-scenes tidbits, and plenty of box office numbers if the money is your thing.

I wish there was more personality here, a peek at Kerswell's life and love of horror. Or just something to make this just slightly more engaging. The poster art, lobby cards, and film stills make up for that a bit, though.

I was hoping the book would contain the body counter that is prevalent on Kerswell's website, hysterialives.co.uk, and was pretty disappointed to see that was missing (except for ten of the classic 80s slashers). To be honest, the lack of the body count compendium is probably the only real reason this isn't getting five stars from me. I can read a horror textbook all day long, I just know it should be mentioned to other, less dedicated, horror readers. But take away my kill count? Well, that I just can't abide.

[Wyrd Witch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of all horror subgenres, the slasher remains one of the most well-known and infamous. To this day, many people think of slasher films when describing a horror movie. Much like exploitation films and so-called torture porn movies, slashers also often end up on the chopping block, the pinnacle example of why horror films are considered trash or low-brow.

But many horror fans love slashers. To the slasher aficionado, the unchanging formulas and plots, the return of tropes and character archetypes, and those gory, unrepentant kills signal nostalgia, comfort, and spectacle. Some look at slashers and find a conservative paradigm reinforcing gender roles, heterosexuality, and purity culture. Others find an empowering fantasy, especially through the lens of the Final Girl.

In this huge cultural conversation spanning several decades, J.A. Kerswell’s The Teenage Slasher Movie Book seeks to provide a primer and resource for the genre’s continued evolution. Despite some dated language, in many respects, the book does a great job in providing that resource.

Read the rest of my review here.

[Kevin Gentilcore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Turns out this book isn’t just a list of notable slasher movies, but a deep dive into the genre, where it came from and it’s supposed heyday. I was more interested in the roots and origins, even as a slasher movie fan I wasn’t hip to some of the influences the author cites.

The book is based around the idea that the genre peaked between 1978 - 1984 and yeah, sure, a lot of cool slasher movies came out then but the author seems to have a lot of contempt of the endless sequels and movies that post date his bubble of excellence, and that sort of rigid adherence and dismal of everything else for the sake of nostalgia sticks in my craw.

[Sean Kottke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up a copy of this at Deadtime Stories in REO Town last October on a shopping spree. It’s not a scholarly treatment of the genre (like Bill Paul’s sublime “Laughing, Screaming, which is shamefully not cited in the bibliography**), but it’s a fine walk through a dark and gory memory lane, amply and garishly illustrated as it should be. The international perspective on films that influenced the genre is a great addition.

**As an undergraduate research assistant, I did fact-checking and indexing on this sublime book. It’s also the single most cited item on my Google Scholar alerts, so go read it.

[Maarten Van Krimpen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool. Maybe it could have been a bit more analytical, the information could have gone a little bit more in depth, but the lay-out of the book is BEAUTIFUL and the guy has a really fun way of writing. Loved every page of this book!

P.S.: He forgot to mention the really cool Dutch slasher Intensive Care from 1991 :)

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun look at the under appreciated sub-genre that is the “Slasher Film”. Though many of these gems were familiar to me (“My Bloody Valentine” is one of my very favorite horror films) I found plenty more more worth looking into. I guess I have my next few months of Netflix watching.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this on the trip out of state to my new apartment. It was full of so many movies I have heard of but never knew the story of, and how it shaped that era. Great find :)

[Maryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love the slasher genre, you will enjoy this one.

[Giulia Renzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely historic introduction to the genre, which is exactly what I was looking for.

[Matthew Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

He knows his stuff! Some excellent recommendations here too that I can't wait to check out!

[BluMoon Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly informative book on the horror movie classics in cinema. Movie buffs will love this one. Spans from 1920s until today.