Movies

15 Slasher Movies So Brutal They Will Haunt Your Dreams Forever

BBG News

Movies similar to “In A Violent Nature” deliver the intense horror that enthusiasts crave, but may be too gruesome for sensitive viewers. This chilling horror production premiered at Sundance in 2024 and hit theaters on May 31. Directed by Chris Nash, who is also the special effects supervisor, it boasts a talented cast including Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, Liam Leone, and Reece Presley. The film has garnered positive reviews, receiving a Certified Fresh score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on over 100 critic’s assessments.

The film draws heavily from numerous iconic slasher flicks, notably the Friday the 13th series, with the character Jason Voorhees serving as a significant influence for the 2024 movie’s towering, mute murderer. The film also acknowledges this inspiration by casting Lauren Taylor, who portrayed one of Jason’s initial victims in Friday the 13th Part 2, in a role. Although In a Violent Nature‘s gruesome deaths set it apart from many other horror films in terms of brutality, fans seeking more can find a similar extreme style in several earlier slashers.

15. Thanksgiving (2023)

Eli Roth’s Wild Holiday Horror Movie

The upcoming horror film, “Thanksgiving,” comes from the creative mind of Eli Roth, renowned for his dark and gruesome style as demonstrated by the “Hostel” series. Originally conceived as a mock trailer in the double-feature movie “Grindhouse,” “Thanksgiving” has since evolved into its own brutal slasher production. The story unfolds in a small town on the brink of the holiday season, still grappling with the aftermath of a tragic incident during last year’s Black Friday sales that claimed several lives. As the festivities draw near once more, a murderer dressed as a pilgrim starts picking off those connected to the event.

Thanksgiving could be perceived as a blend of comedy and horror, much like holiday-themed horror films. Yet, beneath the surface, it draws significant inspiration from the giallo horror genre, with Roth showing evident admiration for this style. Compared to the raw intensity of In a Violent Nature, it maintains a lighter tone. Nevertheless, the film doesn’t shy away from portraying its violent acts sincerely, featuring a seemingly harmless killer in a humorous costume who delivers an alarming amount of gruesome violence.

14. High Tension (2005)

An Intense Horror Chase Movie

In his initial foray into horror filmmaking, Alexandre Aja is widely acknowledged as having crafted one of the most terrifying films yet – High Tension. This chilling tale follows two friends embarking on a road trip, who unexpectedly decide to spend the night at one of their relatives’ farmhouses. However, their peaceful evening takes a dark turn when an enigmatic figure arrives under cover of darkness, committing brutal murders within the house. The women are then forced into a perilous flight, trying to outrun the relentless and bloodthirsty killer hot on their heels.

The unexpected twist at the end of “High Tension” adds depth to its connection with “In a Violent Nature,” as it delves into the psyche of the killer, creating a more immersive viewing experience. Although appreciated for its straightforward, raw, and intense horror elements, “High Tension” truly excels by offering high-stakes suspense, heart-pounding tension, and graphic depictions of violence that leave an impact.

13. Halloween II (2009)

Rob Zombie’s Bleak And Brutal Sequel

Michael Myers, a horrifying figure in the realm of horror movies, has long been known for his role as a merciless and unyielding masked murderer. However, Rob Zombie’s Halloween films reimagined this character, transforming him into a monstrous, indomitable killing machine that left some fans with mixed feelings. The original movie did reveal this contentious aspect of Michael, but Zombie’s sequel delved even deeper into the grim and dismal portrayal of this horror legend.

In the horror movie “Halloween II”, Tyler Mane’s formidable presence gives the character Michael Myers a monstrous, almost supernatural aura, resembling Johnny from “In a Violent Nature” more than other versions of Michael in the “Halloween” series. Similar to “In a Violent Nature”, “Halloween II” delves into Michael’s psyche in a way that attempts to humanize him, even as he carries out some of the most gruesome slayings within the entire “Halloween” film franchise.

12. Wolf Creek (2005)

A Grounded Australian Horror Experience

A chilling antagonist such as Johnny from the film “In a Violent Nature” is particularly unsettling because it appears there’s no possibility of dialoguing with him. As soon as he’s provoked, he embarks on an unyielding rampage, taking lives indiscriminately. However, this inability to communicate with a murderer becomes even more disconcerting when the perpetrator is not a mindless supernatural entity but instead a genuine human being who is merely propelled by their own twisted impulses for torment and homicide.

Wolf Creek” showcases an outstanding representation of this concept, as it introduces the chilling figure of Mick Taylor, a horror movie antagonist. The plot revolves around a band of backpackers journeying through the vast Australian outback, where they encounter Mick, initially appearing friendly. However, he soon reveals his sinister intentions by pursuing the unsuspecting travelers, not for any specific reason but merely for his own entertainment. This film is exceptionally distressing to watch, given the implied basis on real events surrounding Wolf Creek.

11. Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer (1986)

A Horror Movie With The Killer As The Protagonist

In a Violent Nature” presents a daring and innovative take on the slasher genre, offering viewers an unprecedented perspective – that of the horror movie antagonist. The character Johnny, who is reminiscent of Jason Voorhees in his mindless and silent nature, adds a unique twist to this approach. However, it’s important to note that “In a Violent Nature” isn’t alone in its exploration of the killer as the main character, revealing the brutal side of such characters directly to the audience.

The film “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer” was one of the first to adopt this style, featuring Michael Rooker in a nerve-wracking portrayal as a man reconnecting with an old friend while demonstrating his methods of being a relentless and remorseless serial killer. Unlike “In a Violent Nature“, “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer” isn’t overly graphic, but it is unsettling to delve into the mind of such a sinister character for an extended period.

10. A Bay Of Blood (1971)

An Influential Italian Giallo

The intense violence in Mario Bava’s film “A Bay of Blood” is perhaps most clearly demonstrated by one of its alternative titles, “Twitch of the Death Nerve.” This movie, a significant influence on Friday the 13th, set the tone for murder mysteries with its lakeside backdrop, high death toll, and murder and mayhem reminiscent of “And Then There Were None.” It paved the way for numerous future slasher films.

The film is equally famous for showcasing some of the most gruesome murders from the early ’70s, an era that saw the rise of intense horror movies such as “The Last House on the Left” and “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”. This includes a brutal decapitation, a man’s face being split in half with a billhook, and a scene where a couple is impaled together with a spear during an intimate moment, which was later replicated in “Friday the 13th Part 2”.

9. Anthropophagus: The Beast (1980)

A Violent Video Nasty

The 1980 Italian film, titled “Anthropophagus: The Beast“, was one of the 39 films that were successfully prosecuted in the UK for being against the Obscene Publications Act of 1959. This group of movies, which also includes “A Bay of Blood” and another film by Joe D’Amato called “Absurd“, gained notoriety as the infamous “video nasties”.

In this film titled “Anthropophagus,” stars George Eastman and Tisa Farrow, Mia Farrow’s sister, portray characters. The movie is exceptionally brutal and bloody, set on a secluded Greek island where a band of vacationers unwittingly encounter a ruthless cannibal killer who stalks them mercilessly. The violence and gore in the film are virtually unprecedented, as the relentless savagery of the murderer threatens to annihilate everything and everyone in his path, even himself.

8. The Prowler (1981)

An Intense Early Slasher

The significant factor that boosted the effectiveness of the ’80s slasher movie “The Prowler” is primarily due to the exceptional makeup effects by Tom Savini. A versatile artist, who has appeared in films such as “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, initially honed his skills as a master of gore on early genre movies directed by George A. Romero, including the 1978 zombie hit “Dawn of the Dead”. He then established the benchmark for ’80s slasher films by designing the gruesome deaths featured in the original “Friday the 13th”.

As a cinephile, I must say that “The Prowler,” unleashed a year post-“Friday,” offers an uncanny and gripping display of the masterful makeup effects by Savini – some of his most chilling and convincing work to date. The movie’s menacing figure in army fatigues orchestrates grisly kills, such as pitchfork impalements and a painstakingly gruesome portrayal of a character being stabbed through the skull with a bayonet. Unsurprisingly, this film was flagged as a controversial video nasty in the UK, though it managed to dodge the full brunt of prosecution.

7. The Burning (1981)

A Classic Summer Camp Slasher

In a similar fashion to movies such as “A Bay of Blood” and “Anthropophagus,” which were also labeled as video nasties, the film titled “The Burning” by Tom Savini followed suit. This horror flick, much like “Friday the 13th,” unfolds at a summer camp setting. However, it takes the terror to another level with its young characters being targeted and a chilling scene of multiple killings carried out by a man armed with hedge clippers. One particularly grizzly scene showcases an entire raft filled with campers being viciously attacked in a blood-soaked frenzy.

This film, titled “The Burning“, is distinguished by showcasing some of the earliest performances from notable actors such as Jason Alexander, Fisher Stevens, and Holly Hunter. Although it may not share the same level of recognition as a classic slasher movie like “Friday the 13th“, it has maintained a significant fanbase in cult circles and can be found on Blu-Ray and 4K UHD through Scream Factory.

6. Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

An Iconic Franchise Entry

In a row for the third time, a film titled “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter” showcases Tom Savini’s impact on the slasher genre during its golden age in the early ’80s. Originally intended as the conclusion to the “Friday the 13th” franchise, this movie showcases some of the most gruesome and startling killings ever carried out by Jason or any other “Friday the 13th” killer, a group that also includes his mother Pamela Voorhees and a subsequent imitator.

In this chilling horror flick, I must say that Jason’s methods of dispatching his victims are nothing short of gruesome. He crushes a man’s skull against a shower wall, impales a young Crispin Glover’s hand with a corkscrew, and hurls an axe through a doorway into a woman’s chest – just to name a few. But the real showstopper in this movie is when our antagonist, Jason Voorhees, experiences some brutal retaliation at the hands of young Tommy Jarvis, played by Corey Feldman. It’s a tense and thrilling moment that truly sets this film apart.

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2025-04-29 19:29

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