[abbycomix]

I am apathetic towards the slashers because I feel they don't have enough personality for me. I am a fan of camp and over-the-top humorous gore. I like the first Hellraiser movie, I like Evil Dead series, zombie movies, and Peter Jackson's earlier works. I like pinhead over the other slashers because he talks, I like his concept. A 'silent killer' may be more scary but I watch these movies more to be entertained than scared really. I also like it when there are original ideas or good execution. ie: I liked Martin for the characterization.
I do think some slasher movies prolong the women's torture to give the male audience some kind of titillation. I feel uncomfortable seeing women (and men) brutalized, if there is no plot movement and if there is no substance to the character and she's obviously there just to be killed. I like to look at cute guys, but I wasn't titillated by Derry's fear in Jeeper's creepers. I just liked to see him on-screen. Most guys like to look at cute topless girls, so throw some in there and get more viewers. Easy enough formula, so they do it. It is creepy to think all these guys are out there turned on by watching violence towards women, but I don't think that's really how most men react to it. There's some kind of connection, but I doubt it's as clear-cut as that. Anyway I hope not!
It's much harder to come up with good ideas than gratuitous nudity as 'fan service'. Also in slashers, more often than not, the 'final girl' emerges as the heroine and beats the monster. They just have to make some more where she's not a virgin because it really does seem to put this message across that sexually active women (and men) are somehow being punished brutally. There have been quite a few books on the subject of the 'final girl'.