Looking for good slasher movies from late '70s and early 80's

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Energy Crisis

I would argue that NOES isn't a slasher film. I agree that American slasher films are direct descendants of Italian gialli, but Elm Street was influenced by European arthouse films. It owes far more to Bergman and Bunuel than Argento and Bava.

It's an interesting point.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by AlexIlDottore

TGTBTU is a spag western.

That's included on the vast majority of the lists of greatest westerns ever made.

...usually in the top ten.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Val Lewton

With due respect, many things have been said on the internet that have become accepted truths despite having no basis in fact.

I notice Argento's Wiki has no source on that statement. It simply says:


I can't tell you how may books, interviews, magazines, commentaries, etc. I've seen with Carpenter about Halloween, and I've never heard him say that. I have however, read that online like you have.

Carpenter is fond of Argento, and I've seen him talk about his admiration of his work many times. But whether Deep Red directly inspired Halloween is a different story. It seems dubious at best.

As far as the theme goes, here is 5-4 time on bongos, I think you'll immediately recognize it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBqMGBSZtn4

You make it hard to disagree with you.

[The Great Owl]

Oh, and I consider Tourist Trap to be one of the absolute best. I own the old DVD, though, because it has the movie as intended with all scenes intact and in order.

[Energy Crisis]

Originally Posted by Val Lewton

With due respect, many things have been said on the internet that have become accepted truths despite having no basis in fact.

I notice Argento's Wiki has no source on that statement. It simply says:


I can't tell you how may books, interviews, magazines, commentaries, etc. I've seen with Carpenter about Halloween, and I've never heard him say that. I have however, read that online like you have.

Carpenter is fond of Argento, and I've seen him talk about his admiration of his work many times. But whether Deep Red directly inspired Halloween is a different story. It seems dubious at best.

As far as the theme goes, here is 5-4 time on bongos, I think you'll immediately recognize it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBqMGBSZtn4

I can confirm Carpenter and Debra Hill have both credited Argento as a major influence on Halloween. Off the top of my head, Hill brought up Deep Red specifically on the old Criterion LD commentary and Carpenter himself named Argento as his influence on twitter a couple years back (while correcting a fan who assumed he was inspired by Black Christmas).

[Val Lewton]

Originally Posted by Energy Crisis

I can confirm Carpenter and Debra Hill have both credited Argento as a major influence on Halloween. Off the top of my head, Hill brought up Deep Red specifically on the old Criterion LD commentary and Carpenter himself named Argento as his influence on twitter a couple years back (while correcting a fan who assumed he was inspired by Black Christmas).

The Carpenter/Hill commentary recorded for the Criterion LD is the same on the old Anchor Bay DVD's and is also included in the Halloween box put out by Shout/Anchor Bay. I've heard that commentary a few times and don't recall that.

I never denied that Argento was an influence on Carpenter. The two of them have been friends for decades. I've also heard Argento say that Carpenter has had an influence on him. I'm sure many of the greats from that decade - Argento, Carpenter, Romero, etc all were inspired by each others work.

But as to whether or not Deep Red was the inspiration for Halloween, that is another story. I've yet to hear Carpenter say that, and I don't personally see it.

[Ray Jackson]

You guys are all making some very interesting points, regardless of who agrees or disagrees on what.

I would hope that the one thing we can all agree on is the fact that OP should take the opportunity to see Deep Red as soon as possible.

...I really think he'll enjoy it.

[Val Lewton]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

You guys are all making some very interesting points, regardless of who agrees or disagrees on what.

I would hope that the one thing we can all agree on is the fact that OP should take the opportunity to see Deep Red as soon as possible.

...I really think he'll enjoy it.

Yes, everyone should see Deep Red at least once in their life for sure.

I have to say though, I was disturbed to read that you haven't seen Black Christmas yet. That's something you should rectify as soon as possible. A slasher from the guy who brought you both Porky's and A Christmas Story is just as good as it sounds.

[Val Lewton]

Originally Posted by Energy Crisis

I can confirm Carpenter and Debra Hill have both credited Argento as a major influence on Halloween. Off the top of my head, Hill brought up Deep Red specifically on the old Criterion LD commentary

You're actually right, Energy Crisis. I was wrong. I put in the commentary because I hadn't heard it in a while and Debra Hill says:

"Some of the films that were inspirational to us around the time that we did this picture were things like Dario Argento's Deep Red..."

Unfortunately the commentary is one where Carpenter, Hill, and JLC are all recording separately and they would switch back-and-forth throughout the movie. I would've liked to hear the other movies she mentioned, but they cut back to Carpenter.

I still maintain my main point though, that Halloween is nothing like Deep Red, and I don't consider Deep Red a slasher...

[Energy Crisis]

Originally Posted by Val Lewton

I still maintain my main point though, that Halloween is nothing like Deep Red, and I don't consider Deep Red a slasher...

Agreed on both counts, definitely.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Val Lewton

Yes, everyone should see Deep Red at least once in their life for sure.

I have to say though, I was disturbed to read that you haven't seen Black Christmas yet. That's something you should rectify as soon as possible. A slasher from the guy who brought you both Porky's and A Christmas Story is just as good as it sounds.

I'm not gonna lie to you...I'm INTRIGUED.

But I just checked and it's not on Netflix.

...so this could take a while.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I don't consider 1960 to be all that modern when it comes to cinema, so that excludes Psycho and Peeping Tom.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre doesn't have one mysterious killer running around killing a series of victims, so doesn't fall under the slasher genre for me personally.

Haven't seen Bay of Blood or Black Christmas.

...so you may have a point there.

Except for Leatherface.

And since Peeping Tom and Psycho basically started the "modern" wave of these types of films, I count them as modern myself. As modern as something that came out 10 years later (in the 70s, which isn't that much newer).

[Val Lewton]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I'm not gonna lie to you...I'm INTRIGUED.

But I just checked and it's not on Netflix.

...so this could take a while.

It's worth a blind buy, and it's pretty inexpensive:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Black...-Blu-ray/1164/

It's very well done, creepy, and suspenseful. It's the kind of movie that's easy to recommend. I've yet to run into someone that hasn't liked it.