The first ten minutes of a film establish a tone that plays a role in ensuring the work makes a lasting impression (Chrissie Watkins being sucked under water by an unseen predator in Jaws is forever seared into the minds of horror fans). Good openings produce emotional connections between the audience and the characters in the story. They compel onlookers to substitutionally endure the trials and tribulations of the protagonists on screen. If done well, the first ten minutes of a picture have the power to propel it toward success.
Consequently, the final moments of a movie carry even more weight than those that open the film. Brody and Hooper paddling back to shore after obliterating the great white in Jaws has given satisfaction to generations of audiences. After accompanying the hero through turbulent realms and observing their rises and falls of fortune with breathless rapture, audiences are either rewarded for their time or left feeling disappointed. Even if a movie has all the other essential elements of a good story, the impression it leaves is at the mercy of its ending.
This is especially true of slasher films, most of which employ the same blueprint, the same narrative structure, and a similar cast of characters. Identifying the motivation of the killer, exonerating red herrings, and navigating the handiwork of the murderous madman alongside the resilient final girl are all part of the fun of watching a “dead teenager” movie. The most exhilarating aspect of the experience often comes during the film’s tail end when the psychotic killer gets his comeuppance via the business end of a sharp-edged instrument.
After stalking and killing his way through the supporting players, the vile maniac is offed in a moment of gleefully bloody violence. Occasionally, films in the slasher cannon transcend the expectations of fans, presenting finishing blows that cause the audience to howl in shock and awe. While many have provided viewers with laughs and chills, the following are a few that stand head and shoulders above the rest.
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Celebrating Slashers Coup-De-Grace
