Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film

Every Evil, Every Nightmare, Together in One Film

A scholarly documentary that traces the rise, decline, and resurgence of slasher cinema through archival clips and industry insider perspectives.

This historical and critical look at slasher films, which includes dozens of clips, begins with Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Prom Night. The films' directors, writers, producers, and special effects creators comment on the films' making and success. During the Reagan years, the films get gorier, budgets get smaller, and their appeal wanes. Then, Nightmare on Elm Street revives the genre. Jump to the late 90s, when Scream brings humor and TV stars into the mix.