Horror trends ebb and flow, but slashers never truly go out of style.
Take the recently debuted trailer for the upcoming A24 horror movie MaXXXine, for example. There’s something oddly comforting about the slasher subgenre, beholden to its rules and its commitment to racking up an impressive body count, that we just can’t get enough of. So, this week’s streaming picks belong to one of the most beloved subgenres of horror.
Only this time, because the slasher subgenre is vast and endless with no shortage of hidden gems, we’re highlighting five underseen slashers you may not have watched yet.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.
Death Spa – AMC+, Plex, Shudder, Tubi, Vudu
Also known as Witch Bitch in Europe, this wacky ‘80s slasher movie takes aim at the decade’s fitness craze in the most entertaining way. Michael Evans (William Bumiller) owns and runs a high-tech health club, but it soon becomes plagued by a series of freak accidents and bizarre deaths. It turns out his deceased wife holds a massive grudge and has taken to possessing the facility and gym equipment to torment Michael from beyond the grave. A ghost that kills out of jealousy through gym equipment is every bit as silly and and entertaining as it sounds.
Dr. Giggles – freevee, Plex, the Roku Channel, Shout TV, Tubi
There’s an urban legend feel to writer/director Manny Coto’s slasher comedy. The plot introduces Larry Drake (Dark Night of the Scarecrow, Darkman) as the eponymous character, a murderous madman who escapes from a mental institution and fixates on a teen with a heart condition. It’s the type of slasher that isn’t afraid to let its characters get silly, as evidenced by Dr. Giggles’ penchant for deranged giggle fits when committing murder. It’s matched by fun kills with some great gore. The real reason to check out this zany ’90s slasher, though, is star Larry Drake. The horror stalwart ensures his manic killer stands out among the crowded pantheon of slashers.
Evil Dead Trap – AMC+, Fandor, freevee, Night Flight, Plex, Prime Video, SCREAMBOX, Shudder
This Japanese giallo-style slasher is for fans that love over-the-top plot reveals and an extra helping of sleazy gore and inventive, gruesome kills. The plot follows a late-night talk show host, Nami (Miyuki Ono), and her crew as they investigate the origins of a snuff film shot at a nearby facility. The atmospheric setup eventually goes off the rails most unpredictably, but director Toshiharu Ikeda wastes no time acclimating viewers with a gnarly burst of ocular trauma straightaway. It signals precisely the type of bloody madness in store. That the killer employs elaborate traps to commit murder means that someone beat Saw to the punch by over a decade. Fans of Malignant will want to check this one out.
Grave Robbers – AMC+, Shudder
Filmmaker Rubén Galindo Jr. delivered a trio of solid horror movies in the ’80s worth checking out. The first was the supernatural Halloween gem Cemetery of Terror, followed by Nightmare on Elm Street riff Don’t Panic. Galindo Jr.’s third horror feature, Grave Robbers, offers a Satanic slasher with an imposing Jason Voorhees-like killer. Teens embarking on a camping getaway wind up unleashing the spirit of an evil Inquisition executioner when they come upon his recently robbed tomb. It begins a supernatural induced bloodbath. Grave Robbers closes out Galindo Jr.’s ’80s horror trilogy with a bang, delivering plenty of fun kills and a wild plot to usher in the Antichrist.
Trick or Treat – SCREAMBOX
The pinnacle of heavy metal horror, Trick or Treat, is finally available on streaming. Considering it’s halfway-to-Halloween month, that makes now the perfect time to watch. Following the death of his heavy metal idol, a bullied teenage boy inadvertently discovers a way to resurrect the rocker. After hearing the news of his hero’s death, Eddie Weinbauer (Marc Price) finds himself in possession of a one-of-a-kind item, the final recording of Sammi Curr (Tony Fields). When Eddie plays the record backward, unwittingly unleashing his idol’s demonic side. Sammi Curr delivers retribution upon Eddie’s bullies in his unholy bid for heavy metal dominion. With an earworm score and Halloween heavy metal mayhem, throw up some devil horns and enjoy the ride.
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