Teenage Wasteland - The Slasher Movie Uncut (further reading)

Author: J.A Kerswell
Book Available: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teenage-Wasteland-Slasher-Movie-Uncut/dp/1847734529
Some references and quotes used from the book.

Timeline of the Slasher subgenre:

• "The golden age began in 1978 when John Carpenter created what is argueably the 'perfect horror movie'. Halloween scured John Carpenters future, as well as launching the career of its young star, Jamie Lee Curtis"
• "Although many slashers went into production in 1979, they only really saw the light of day in 1980"
• "1980 was the year that the slasher movie really exploded into public conciousness, with the incredible financial success of Friday 13th"
• By 1981 the subgenre was showing signs that its audiences were approaching saturation point. Films such as My Bloody Valentine all but bombed at the box office despite heavy advertising"
• "The slasher movie peaked by 1982 and began its slow descent towards straight-to-video hell. However, the supernatural began to feature more heavily and a certain physco put on his hockey mask for the first time"
• "By 1983 the golden age of the slasher mvoie was fast coming to a close. What had been cutting edge terror only a few years previiously was now looking old"
• "By 1985, the slasher genre was almost in its doldrums but didnt curl up and die, the video revolution was around the corner. Bar successful franchises and the magpie nature of mainstream thrillers, the subgenre seemed condemned to straight-to-video hell"
• "By 1996, the subgenre was pretty much dead int he water. Therefore, its surprising resurrection with the Scream (1996) was proof that this really is the subgenre that just wont stay dead"
• CONCLUSION: "The slasher subgenre is sure to survive. There will always be nostalgia for these movies and todays teenagers will look back fondly on the slasher films of today".