Back to Show
Monstrum
The Unspoken Rules of Slasher Movies
Season 6
Episode 11
The 1974 movies Black Christmas and Texas Chain Saw Massacre gave rise to what would become one of cinema’s most enduring genres: the slasher film. In this special episode, we’ll talk about the origins, evolution and cultural impact of these gory popcorn films and take a close look at the key tropes—masked killers, final girls, and gore—that continue to make make slashers iconic.
Support Provided By

8:32
Of all the many terrifying monsters haunting the waters of the world the Nixie stands out.

11:52
The nocturnal entity called Nishi reflects the complex nature of good vs. evil in Bengali.

13:22
What inspired Pokémon’s Monster Mythology?

13:49
Horses have inspired countless equine folklore, but none are quite like the centaur.

11:02
Advances in technology are always met with some degree of technophobia—and villainization.

12:53
A majestic, all-white horse with a spiraled horn is just one depiction of many.

9:35
Bloody Mary is less important than the ritual that summons her.

9:32
Yuki-Onna, the icy snow maiden of Japanese lore, might steal your heart or your life.

10:41
This episode looks at how social media contributes to horror in the 21st century.

10:06
We explore Tiamat the “mother of monsters” in Mesopotamian mythology.

14:35
We find out when and why did the Mummy become the popular movie monster.

14:05
These monster faces make up a distinctive brand of horror in Hollywood.