The Evolution of Horror: Unveiling the Next Generation of Slasher Icons

Scary movies often thrive on terrifying slasher icons. However, the question remains, which horror character will rise to become the next alongside the likes of Freddy, Jason, Michael, and Chucky?

While horror fans appreciate heroes, they undeniably adore villains. During the early days of cinema, audiences flocked to watch films centered around iconic literary monsters. Even today, Universal's movies featuring Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Mummy are still considered timeless classics.

The 1960s introduced us to a revolutionary horror character, Norman Bates, in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. This film transformed the genre by tackling adult themes and incorporating a unique approach to sex and violence. Moreover, Anthony Perkins' portrayal of Norman Bates added depth and complexity to the character.

In the 1970s, horror took a darker turn with Wes Craven's Texas Chain Saw Massacre, presenting Leatherface as an iconic and enduring boogeyman. Towards the end of the decade, John Carpenter's Halloween completely revolutionized the genre, setting the stage for the emergence of slasher icons in the 1980s. While some of these characters continue to dominate the genre, others are newcomers who aspire to haunt our nightmares just as effectively.

Who are the new horror icons?

It takes time to be considered a true horror icon, with the best-of-the-best listed – and analyzed – further down this page.

Annabelle/The Nun

However, these are the characters that have quickly captured the hearts of genre enthusiasts, resulting in the creation of memes and merchandise and igniting a devoted fan base. With more sequels and spinoffs in development, these fresh characters are only just beginning their journey...

The Conjuring universe has achieved remarkable success at the box office, grossing a staggering $2 billion, thereby establishing itself as the most prosperous horror franchise in history. While the Conjuring films themselves showcase an array of ghosts and spirits, the spinoffs have introduced two renowned horror icons.

Art the Clown

Annabelle: A Terrifying Puppet with a Trilogy of Her Own

Released in 2016, the initial installment of Terrifier introduced Art, the sinister clown who terrorizes and murders young girls on Halloween. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film proved to be a financial success, generating profits that far exceeded its modest $35k budget.

Then, in 2022, Terrifier 2 was released, and Art the Clown gained international recognition. While the overall format remained similar, the film had a significantly higher budget of $250k. The outcome exceeded expectations, as Terrifier 2 generated an astonishing $15 million in box office revenue. Once again, critics expressed their concern regarding the extreme violence depicted, as Art mercilessly took down a new group of women. However, the audience eagerly embraced the film, leading to the production of Terrifier 3, which is currently in progress and rumored to be a Christmas-themed slasher.

M3GAN

While horror enthusiasts eagerly anticipate a follow-up to Akela Cooper's Malignant, their hopes seem to be in vain. However, they can find solace in another terrifying creation penned by the horror maestro: M3GAN. This spine-chilling film hit theaters in January and mesmerized audiences with its ingenious marketing campaign. The tale revolves around a malevolent AI-powered doll that embarks on a murderous rampage. Despite its meager $12 million budget, M3GAN managed to amass a staggering $180 million in box office earnings.

Winnie-The-Pooh

The camp tone, along with M3GAN’s sassy attitude, stylish threads, and unforgettable dance moves, deeply resonated with fans. The overwhelming response paved the way for an immediate green-lighting of the sequel, M3GAN 2.0, with the entire cast returning. Audiences can eagerly anticipate the release of the film on January 17, 2025.

The Winnie-The-Pooh horror franchise has ambitious intentions for AA Milne's beloved bear. After transforming him into a crazed axe-wielder in the initial movie, Blood and Honey, the sequel, set to be released in 2024, will equip him with a chainsaw. Furthermore, they are presently envisioning a shared universe of violence.

So in the coming years, anticipate Pooh engaging in thrilling battles against the primary figures in upcoming horror spin-offs titled Bambi: The Reckoning and Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare. And rest assured, these titles are not fictitious.

Where are the classic horror icons?

Let's explore the timeless characters from the past few decades and see how they align with the current horror genre.

Our focus is on the prominent figures, which means we won't be including Pumpkinhead, the Tall Man, Maniac Cop, Pennywise, Leprechaun, and others.

But the following are nine of the best slashers, kicking off with a brief history of each character, followed by the current state of play.

Leatherface

New Line Cinema

Focused on a clan of savage cannibals, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre stands out as one of the most terrifying films ever made. Since its premiere in 1974, it has given rise to numerous sequels and prequels, with Leatherface anchoring a total of nine movies.

Michael Myers

The franchise and the infamous character Leatherface appear to have met their demise, at least for the time being, as the most recent movie, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, was released on Netflix in 2022 with little attention and mostly negative reviews.

Compass International Pictures

While Black Christmas may have been the first of its kind, John Carpenter's Halloween is widely regarded as the original slasher film and continues to be one of the finest examples in the genre. Similar to Leatherface, the iconic killer Michael Myers dons a mask, and like Texas Chain Saw Massacre, the success of the movie gave rise to a franchise comprising of sequels, comic books, and video games.

Blumhouse has recently concluded a highly profitable Halloween trilogy, with the grand finale being Halloween Ends in 2022. Although it is highly improbable that we have seen the last of Michael Myers, there are currently no intentions of his return.

Jason Voorhees

Paramount

Following the triumph of Halloween, Friday the 13th was swiftly developed and replaced the rural backdrop with a summer camp. Notably, the iconic hockey mask bore the resemblance of William Shatner's face. This marked the birth of the infamous Jason Voorhees, who went on to slay numerous children in a series of movies.

Freddy Krueger

Despite the commercial success of a 2009 reboot that faced harsh criticism, a sequel was swiftly abandoned. However, fans can rejoice as Jason Voorhees is set to make a comeback in the form of a television series named "Crystal Lake." This exciting project is being helmed by Bryan Fuller, the brilliant mind behind the acclaimed series "Hannibal."

Freddy Krueger

Warner Bros.

Freddy Kruger, who had the ability to infiltrate children's dreams, terrorized young minds throughout the 1980s. Despite his transition into a more comedic role in subsequent Nightmare on Elm Street sequels and a television spinoff, he continued to maintain his status as the most iconic figure in the horror genre.

Like Leatherface, Freddy has also appeared as the main character in nine feature films. The most recent of these films, released in 2009, was a reboot. Although it achieved commercial success by grossing nearly four times its budget, it received negative responses from both critics and fans, preventing the production of a sequel. In the years that followed, several studios attempted to bring the character back to life. However, as of now, Freddy remains deceased.

Chucky

MGM

The Chucky franchise began with the release of Child's Play in 1988, leading to a collection of sequels that span various genres. Even paying tribute to the timeless Universal monster films, Bride of Chucky proved to be an interesting addition to the series. However, the 2019 reboot received negative feedback and quickly faded from memory. Nevertheless, a resilient doll always finds a way to make its presence felt.

Hannibal Lecter

The Chucky TV show, created by Don Mancini in 2021, has been enthusiastically embraced by fans. With the freedom afforded by the television medium, the show has successfully incorporated elements of sex and violence, making Seasons 1 and 2 highly popular. Currently, Season 3 of the show is being broadcasted to the audience's delight.

Orion Pictures

Brian Cox portrayed a chilling iteration of Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter, yet the character remained relatively unknown. However, everything transformed with the release of Silence of the Lambs in 1991, catalyzed by Anthony Hopkins' Academy Award-winning portrayal. Subsequently, a series of subpar sequels and an ill-advised prequel delving into the origins of Lecter followed suit.

The character was revitalized by Bryan Fuller in the TV series Hannibal, where Mads Mikkelsen portrayed the cannibal with both sophistication and danger. Despite the show's cancellation in 2015, there have been recent hints from both the creator and star about a potential reboot.

Pinhead

Pinhead, the menacing character from the 1987 horror film Hellraiser, quickly became an iconic figure in the genre. Created by writer-director Cliver Barker, this unsettling tale of love, desire, debauchery, and sadomasochism captivated audiences. Doug Bradley delivered a standout performance as the formidable head Cenobite, reprising the role in several subsequent films, albeit with decreasing impact.

Ghostface

Bradley made the wise decision to withdraw from a franchise that ultimately led to its downfall. The 2022 glossy reboot introduced a completely different portrayal of Pinhead. If you're interested, you can read our review of the new Hellraiser; however, it remains uncertain whether the planned sequel will move forward.

Ghostface

Paramount Pictures

Wes Craven revolutionized the slasher genre during the 1980s with his groundbreaking film Nightmare on Elm Street. In the following decade, he brilliantly satirized the genre with Scream while managing to create a highly entertaining and smart horror movie. The film introduced audiences to the iconic and unforgettable villain Ghostface.

As well as effectively blending genres, the brilliance of the Scream movies lies in the fact that anyone can don that mask, transforming each slasher flick into a gripping whodunnit. Between 1996 and 2011, Wes Craven delivered four exceptional films. Building upon Craven's legacy, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett helmed two recent installments that stayed faithful to his vision while charting a fresh course for the franchise. Adding to the lineup, Chris Landon, director of Happy Death Day, took the reins for Scream VII.

Jigsaw

Lionsgate made a groundbreaking move when they released the low-budget horror film Saw in October 2004. Little did they know that it would pave the way for a string of successful movies. The enigmatic criminal mastermind, Jigsaw, brilliantly portrayed by Tobin Bell, captured the hearts of horror fans everywhere. Audiences were captivated by the increasingly ingenious traps, causing a surge in cinema attendance and resulting in the Saw franchise grossing over $1 billion at the global box office.

Set in the time period between Saw II and Saw III, Saw X – which will be discussed in this review – premiered last month with a highly successful opening weekend. This event subsequently breathed new life into the franchise, resulting in the announcement of upcoming sequels.

Who is the next horror icon?

FrightFest took place in London in August, featuring a collection of horror movies that introduced fresh slasher characters with the potential to redefine the genre.

Simultaneously, Eli Roth has been in the midst of filming a movie adaptation of an idea he conceived during his childhood. Additionally, Blumhouse has recently released a time-travel slasher film that shows promise for long-term success.

Sweet 16 Killer

The Piper

Totally Killer features a rebellious teenage girl who travels back to the 1980s in order to put an end to the notorious 'Sweet 16 Killer', the same individual who had taken the life of her mother. For our detailed review of this film, click here, or to catch Totally Killer, which has recently premiered on Prime Video, click here. Although the movie comes to a definitive conclusion, the element of time travel leaves the door open for a potential sequel.

Piper, a horror film featuring Elizabeth Hurley as the Pied Piper, defies initial expectations and turns out to be a captivating experience. Its stunning visuals, captivating mythology, and creative death scenes make it highly enjoyable. Consequently, we eagerly anticipate the possibility of more movies set within this intriguing universe.

Mr. Punch

Founding Father

Punch is a disturbing film that takes a twisted approach to the Punch & Judy tale. This chilling horror is set in the coastal town of Hastings, where the antagonist lacks true fright, yet the sinister climax paves the way for a captivating sequel, delivering a double impact.

FrightFest witnessed the premiere of Founder's Day, a captivating film that dwells in a New England town amidst a mayoral election. This intriguing flick not only possesses a political twist but also offers a dose of suspense as both voters and candidates fall victim to a cryptic mask-wearing assailant, who executes each act in a captivating and imaginative manner. With such captivating elements in place, the foundation for this franchise to enjoy long-standing success seems evident.

Thanksgiving killer

Eli Roth, a teenager at the time, initially conceived the idea for a Thanksgiving slasher. This concept later transformed into one of the standout fake trailers in the film Grindhouse. Now, it is evolving into a standalone movie set to release worldwide next month. The film revolves around the following premise:

Following a tragic Black Friday riot, a mysterious killer with a Thanksgiving-themed motive begins terrorizing Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the holiday. The killer systematically eliminates the town's residents, starting with random acts of revenge that are eventually exposed as part of a disturbing holiday scheme. Will the town succeed in identifying the killer and survive the holiday season, or will they unknowingly become victims at his deranged Thanksgiving dinner table?

Any of these candidates has the potential to become the next iconic figure in the horror genre. However, if we had to choose, we foresee the as-yet-unnamed killer in Thanksgiving as the next significant sensation.

These are our selections for past, present, and future horror icons. For additional horror-related content, visit this location or explore the links provided below: