Horror films in the 1920s featured monsters and supernatural creatures, but by the 1950s audiences had grown desensitized to these classics. Psychological thrillers like Psycho and Frenzy began to focus fear closer to home by featuring ordinary human villains. In the 1970s, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre shifted the genre again by making teenagers the victims of brutal attacks, establishing the slasher film template that continued with movies like Halloween. Also in the 1970s, the "final girl" character was introduced as a strong female subversion of stereotypes that has become a staple of slasher films, represented by characters in Scream and The Cabin in the Woods.

1. History of Slasher Horror
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2. In The Beginning…
Horror films began around about the
1920’s with the likes of Nosferatu
1922, London after midnight 1927
and the man who laughs 1928.
However, during the 1950’s horror
took a drastic turn. This is because
the audience had become
desensitised to the classics as they
became predictable and boring.

3. By The 1950’s…
By the 1950’s there was a shift from
films about werewolves, monsters and
vampires, now horror films had
expanded as horror films were about
people you were familiar with for
example Psycho, the Trouble with
Harry, Frenzy. By doing this fear was
put into the audience as what they
feared was a lot more closer to home-
it became personal. There was no
longer a focus on external bodies as
people were now the threat.

4. The Shift…
In the 1970’s the idea of slasher horror
had changed. This is down to the slasher
horror Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It
changed the view of the audience, this is
because not only was there the typical
protagonist running away from the
antagonist but now teenagers were
involved which is the first time in horror
where teenagers are the victims of brutal
attacks. This created a foundation for
decades worth of slasher horror to come,
for example, Alice sweet Alice, Halloween
and the last house on the left.

5. Lastly…
One finally addition was made to the sub
genre of slasher horror. This was the
introduction of the final girl in the 1970’s. She
has become a staple in slasher horror films
today. She subverts the stereotypes of female
being vulnerable and weak, the final girl
symbolises strength and she has been
masculinized. The is down to the historical
events of feminism and women
empowerment. The films include, Scream and
The Cabin in the woods.