The Dark Hall Top 25 Slashers of All Time: #25–21

#25 — The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) — Tobe Hooper

When it comes to the world of slashers—and what this movie ultimately helped create—seeing The Texas Chain Saw Massacre all the way down at number 25 may be a little jarring. But remember: this is still a Top 25 finish out of the thousands of slashers that have been made.

There’s no denying what Tobe Hooper accomplished here. The gritty realism, the surreal and desolate atmosphere, and the almost guerrilla-style filmmaking give the movie a quality that still feels disturbingly authentic more than 50 years later.

But is it actually that scary today? Partially.

Maybe some of that comes from the endless sequels, remakes, reboots, and attempts to expand the mythology surrounding Leatherface and his family. Over time, all that added lore has arguably nerfed some of the mystery and menace that made Leatherface so unsettling in the first place.

Is the movie innovative? Absolutely. Did its raw production style help make it brilliant—not just for its time, but even today? Without question.

But strictly in terms of scares, chills, and the overall experience compared with the other films on this list, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre lands in the Top 25—but just barely.

#24 — Wrong Turn (2003) — Rob Schmidt

The fact that Wrong Turn is ranked higher than the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre will probably get under a lot of people’s skin—especially Leatherface’s.

First and foremost, it’s clearly indebted to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. But where Wrong Turn separates itself is in how dangerous its antagonists feel. These mountain men aren’t just violent—they’re completely adapted to their environment.

That home-field advantage makes the movie’s cat-and-mouse element much more effective. Whether they’re firing arrows with frightening accuracy, tracking people through the woods, or burning the protagonists out of hiding, the forest itself becomes part of their arsenal.

Is Wrong Turn particularly scary? Not really. But as a tense, nasty little slasher with villains who know exactly how to use their surroundings, it earns #24.

#23 — The Burning (1981) — Tony Maylam

The Burning is a seriously underseen gem.

Because it was released after Friday the 13th, it will probably always carry the label of being another early-’80s summer-camp slasher trying to cash in on Jason’s success. The funny part? The project was already being developed before Friday the 13th was released.

There’s no mystery surrounding the killer. It’s good ol’ Cropsy—and he is pissed off.

Believe it or not, one of the strongest things The Burning has going for it is its cast: Jason Alexander, Ned Eisenberg, Fisher Stevens, and Holly Hunter.

Is The Burning scary? It has its moments. Will it keep you awake at night? Probably not. But #23 is still a pretty damn high honor for Cropsy.

#22 — Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) — Tom McLoughlin

Jason Lives is a surprisingly groundbreaking entry in the slasher genre.

Director Tom McLoughlin clearly wanted to take Jason Voorhees in a different direction, and the Frankenstein influence is impossible to miss. Jason isn’t simply a deranged killer anymore. He’s essentially an unstoppable reanimated monster.

He absorbs shotgun blasts, takes pistol fire, and just keeps coming like Rocky Balboa.

The movie also has some genuinely great humor. There’s meta humor, sexual humor, and even comedy that comes naturally from the ridiculous circumstances the characters find themselves in.

Yet with all those noteworthy beats of excellence, Jason Lives forgets one fairly important ingredient: the horror.

Is this movie scary? No. Not at all. It is an extremely entertaining slasher. It just isn’t an especially frightening one.

#21 — Pinocchio’s Revenge (1996) — Kevin S. Tenney

Yes. But hear The Monitor out.

Is Pinocchio’s Revenge a little hokey? Absolutely. The budget shows, some of the performances are uneven, and the title alone probably guarantees that plenty of horror fans will never give it a serious chance.

But the facts are the facts: this movie does a surprising amount right.

From beginning to end, Pinocchio’s Revenge has a genuinely dark atmosphere. The strongest element is the uncertainty.

Is the doll genuinely alive? Or is Jennifer, injured and terrified, seeing her own daughter as Pinocchio during a violent psychological break?

The movie never completely tells us—and that ambiguity is a Grade-A decision.

With stronger performances and a larger budget, Pinocchio’s Revenge could have landed much higher.

Embrace the darkness. Just never get caught wandering The Dark Hall alone. — The Monitor