10 Awesome Slasher Films You've Probably Never Seen
6. Peeping Tom
Peeping Tom is often heralded as the original slasher, and was evidently very influential on the genre. Made in the 1960s, and set in simpler times where a shag only costs £2, Peeping Tom generated a huge amount of controversy and was banned in several countries. Its director, Michael Powell, had his reputation ripped to shreds and his career ruined by the fairly hyperbolically negative criticism. Of course, with hindsight its now considered a masterpiece and one of the best horror films to come out of Britain. The eponymous Peeping Tom is mild-mannered Mark, a shy cameraman who moonlights as a serial killer. He tells people that hes working on a documentary, so evidently hadnt listened much at film school as hes definitely making a snuff film, training his camera on each of his victims faces when killing them. Peeping Toms creepiness is very effective, and its quite understandable why it caused such a ruckus at the time. Like many early horrors, it doesnt rely on squirting blood, or other visceral and tangible effects, but is much more psychologically disturbing in its content.
