Slashers — that gloriously grubby, stabby subsection of horror — were first unsheathed in the early 1970s, 😆 when Mario Bava stalked his cavorting, frequently disrobed victims around in A Bay of Blood. The movie set up mood 😆 of the slasher: Sexually charged, with a degree of mystery, where the ample cast of characters one-by-one take a sharp 😆 turn into doom. Slashers can be stylish (Opera, Dressed to Kill), carnal (Torso, Friday the 13th), grimly violent (The Prowler, 😆 The Burning), trashy (Pieces, The Slumber Party Massacre) and even supernatural (Halloween, Child’s Play). We’re studying all sides of the 😆 blade as we assemble movies that best represent this killer genre in the 25 Essential Slasher Movies. —Alex Vo

#24 Switchblade 😆 Romance (2003) 41% #24 Adjusted Score: 45205% Critics Consensus: There is indeed a good amount of tension in this French 😆 slasher, but the dubbing is bad and the end twist unbelievable. Synopsis: A beautiful young Frenchwoman, Alex (Maïwenn Le Besco), 😆 travels out to the country to visit her family and brings along... A beautiful young Frenchwoman, Alex (Maïwenn Le Besco), 😆 travels out to the country to visit her family and brings along... [More] Starring: Cécile De France, Maïwenn, Philippe Nahon, 😆 Franck Khalfoun Directed By: Alexandre Aja

#17 Candyman (1992) 79% #17 Adjusted Score: 86269% Critics Consensus: Though it ultimately sacrifices some 😆 mystery in the name of gory thrills, Candyman is a nuanced, effectively chilling tale that benefits from an interesting premise 😆 and some fine performances. Synopsis: Skeptical graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) befriends Anne-Marie McCoy (Vanessa Williams) while researching superstitions 😆 in a housing project on... Skeptical graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) befriends Anne-Marie McCoy (Vanessa Williams) while researching superstitions 😆 in a housing project on... [More] Starring: Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, Xander Berkeley, Kasi Lemmons Directed By: Bernard Rose

#13 Child's 😆 Play (1988) 74% #13 Adjusted Score: 78331% Critics Consensus: Child's Play occasionally stumbles across its tonal tightrope of comedy and 😆 horror, but its genuinely creepy monster and some deft direction by Tom Holland makes this chiller stand out on the 😆 shelf. Synopsis: Gunned down by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), dying murderer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) uses black magic 😆 to put... Gunned down by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), dying murderer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) uses black magic 😆 to put... [More] Starring: Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Alex Vincent, Brad Dourif Directed By: Tom Holland