Slasher icons, such as Scream‘s Ghostface, join hands as the “Family Slashers” in a wholesome ’80s-style sitcom intro video. With franchise costumes available during the spooky season, many are dressing up as their favorite horror movie villains. Ghostface, Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th, Freddy Krueger from Nightmare on Elm Street, Leatherface from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Pennywise from It, and Michael Myers from Halloweenare iconic slashers and many to-go choices for Halloween.
Recently, Instagram user THE MERKINS posted a concept video that shows all the iconic slashers together in an 80s-style sitcom intro. The intro starts with the title “Family Slashers,” which plays on the title style of Full House, and each scene shows several iconic villains committing their mischievous routines while in a family sitcom. These include Ghostface strangling a young girl on the phone and Leatherface smiling at the camera while cleaning his chainsaw. The video ends with the slashers chasing each other down and coming together at the end of the day. Watch the full video below:
They Are Versatile.
Part of Halloween’s fun is dressing up and re-imagining oneself as another, and this certainly isn’t the first time slasher icons have been spotted in a completely different genre. They have previously dressed up as characters in Baywatch. While the iconic slashers are known for their unforgettable looks and their killer signatures, “Family Slashers” reminds viewers of their comedic side in horror films. Even Ghostface in Scream has a funny moment or two in his own movies.
Related
15 Best ’80s Slasher Movies, Ranked
The ’80s is largely associated with the Golden Age of slasher films, introducing some of the most memorable and iconic stories within the genre.
Even though horror movie villains are mostly terrifying and lethal, fun videos like the “Family Slashers” show that they are very versatile. They have no trouble being in a sitcom, and it’s only time until someone spots them on Grey’s Anatomy. “Family Slashers” not only pokes fun at their comedic nature but also explores the potential of these characters. These have happened in parodies like the Scary Movie franchise, where characters like Ghostface and Jigsaw are featured.
Our Take On Slashers
They Can Be Funny
The horror genre often incorporates supernatural elements and features antagonists that are less human but monstrous. However, in nearly every case, the slashers are defeated or exposed. The heroes have to figure out their weaknesses, which are then used against them. Pennywise is teased to death. The heroes on Friday the 13th use Jason’s size against him. In the process, the slashers become less terrifying but more “silly” in nature. Even slashers in movies like Scream have flaws, which makes them more relatable.
Source: THE MERKINS/Instagram
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Scream
Created by Kevin Williamson and originally helmed by Wes Craven, the Scream franchise takes a meta approach to the slasher horror franchise, centering on teenagers well-versed in the genre who find themselves hunted and killed by figures donning the Ghostface mask. The first four movies revolved around Neve Campbell’s Sydney Prescott as she frequently found herself the target of different Ghostface killers, while the fifth and sixth installments introduced new protagonists, sisters Tara and Sam, with their own dark past connected to the original Ghostface killer.
- Cast
- Neve Campbell , David Arquette , Courteney Cox , Skeet Ulrich , Jamie Kennedy , Liev Schreiber , Heather Matarazzo , Hayden Panettiere , Marley Shelton , Melissa Barrera , Jenna Ortega , Jack Quaid , Mason Gooding , Jasmin Savoy Brown , Roger Jackson
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IT
IT is a horror franchise based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the same name. The story centers on the town of Derry, Maine, where a group of children, known as the Losers’ Club, encounters a shape-shifting entity that primarily takes the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. IT exploits the fears of its victims and returns every 27 years to feed on the town’s children. The franchise has become iconic in horror, blending psychological terror with supernatural elements. It includes a highly regarded miniseries, two feature films, and various adaptations in other media.
- Cast
- Tim Curry , Bill Skarsgard , Jaeden Martell , Sophia Lillis , Finn Wolfhard , Jeremy Ray Taylor , Jack Dylan Grazer , Chosen Jacobs , Wyatt Oleff , James McAvoy , Jessica Chastain , Bill Hader
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A Nightmare on Elm Street
The Nightmare on Elm Street is a horror franchise that began with the 1984 film directed by Wes Craven. The series centers on Freddy Krueger, a former child killer who, after being burned alive by the parents of his victims, returns as a vengeful spirit who kills teenagers in their dreams. The franchise became a cornerstone of the horror genre, spawning nine films, a television series, novels, comics, video games, and more. Freddy Krueger, portrayed by Robert Englund in most of the films, is one of the most iconic characters in horror history. The series is known for its imaginative and terrifying dream sequences, blending slasher elements with supernatural horror.
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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a multimedia franchise that began with Tobe Hooper’s 1974 horror film, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. After the film’s initial release, there were a total of eight additional films added to the franchise, as well as comic books from various publishers, including Avatar Press and Wildstorm Comics. In 2023, the video game The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was released on PlayStation 4/5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox X/S.
- Cast
- Marilyn Burns , Gunnar Hansen , Paul A. Partain , Edwin Neal , Jim Siedow , Dennis Hopper , Caroline Williams , Bill Moseley , Bill Johnson , Viggo Mortensen , William Butler , Renée Zellweger , Matthew McConaughey , Jessica Biel , Jonathan Tucker , Jordana Brewster , Taylor Handley , Alexandra Daddario , Dan Yeager , Stephen Dorff , Lili Taylor , Olwen Fouéré , Sarah Yarkin , Elsie Fisher , Mark Burnham
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Friday the 13th
The Friday the 13th film franchise is a chilling saga centered around the cursed Camp Crystal Lake and the supernatural serial killer Jason Voorhees. Known for his iconic hockey mask and relentless brutality, Jason is a nigh-indestructible force driven by vengeance. The series follows different groups of teenagers who encounter Jason, leading to gruesome fates. Spanning several decades and various settings, from Camp Crystal Lake to the bustling streets of Manhattan, the franchise combines supernatural elements with slasher horror,
- First Film
- Friday the 13th (1980)
- Cast
- Betsy Palmer , Adrienne King , Kevin Bacon , Ari Lehman , Derek Mears , Kane Hodder , Thom Mathews , Corey Feldman , Jennifer Cooke , Amy Steel , John D. LeMay , Jensen Daggett , Kimberly Beck
