10 One-Off Slasher Horror Movie Villains Who Must Return

A lot of ‘80s slashers covered their gore and violence with a sheen of unreality, outre death sequences that were scary but never realistic. The Prowler, a 1981 sidenote whose acclaim seems to be rising over the years, took a drastically different approach.

Its antagonist is lowkey one of the most frightening in horror history. Farley Granger stars as Sheriff George Fraser, a killer with a genuinely bold backstory. Fraser is a World War II vet, traumatised from what he experienced overseas and feeling unrecognised ever since. The “prowl” of the title is all too apt; the killer flits in and out of the shadows here, popping up to deliver sick revenge in a straightforward, brutal fashion.

The film’s impact is aided immeasurably by special effects maestro Tom Savini. The George A. Romero collaborator is more restrained than usual, opting for hard boiled rather than grand guignol, and it works to great effect.

For his edge of reality as well as the gruesome but grounded actions, George Fraser is a shocking enough killer to carry a franchise.