Slash and Grab: Horror of the 1980s

by Adam Jortner, The Great Courses

We can learn a lot about American history and culture by looking at the horror films of the 1980s. The horror boom that began in 1978 coincided with an era of global nuclear fears, urban decay, and recession as well as the collapse of the Hollywood studio system and the decline of censorship laws that had held sway for nearly 50 years. This volatile mix of circumstances gave rise to the gory, violent, over-the-top—and very successful—genre of horror that we now know as the “slasher” or “splatter” film.

In the 10 lectures of Slash and Horror of the 1980s, you’ll follow Professor Adam Jortner as he examines how these films were created, why they were made, and what kind of reaction they sparked in American audiences. You’ll explore movies that have become classics of the genre, including A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and Halloween, as well as the lesser-known productions such as The House on Sorority Row and The Stuff. Along the way, you’ll consider how culture shaped the films, as well as how the films shaped the culture in everything from their subtle subversion of gender expectations to the role they played in stoking the era’s so-called “Satanic panic.”

While the slasher film may have been at its most popular in the 1980s, that doesn’t mean the genre has been laid to rest. Changes in American culture, technology, and filmmaking have transformed horror movies to reflect the anxieties of a different generation. However, much like the killers that made the splatter movies of the 1980s so distinctive, the power of horror to reveal our deepest fears never truly dies.

Genres: Horror, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Film

Audible Audio

Published October 2, 2025

About the author

Adam Jortner studies the transformation of religious and political life in the early United States. His book, The Gods of Prophetstown: The Battle of Tippecanoe and the Holy War for the American Frontier, examines the rise of the Shawnee Prophet Tenskwatawa and his new religion on the Indiana frontier in the 1800s. Jortner argues that Tenskwatawa’s religious vision created a new definition of community and power that ultimately coalesced into a viable political alternative for Native Americans in the Old Northwest. The book follows the creation of this movement and its fraught relationship with the new United States and Indiana’s ambitious territorial governor, William Henry Harrison. The relationship between the two men ultimately shaped the War of 1812 and the fate of the American frontier. Gods won the 2013 James Broussard Best First Book Prize from the Society of Historians of the Early American Republic (SHEAR).

His current research interests include new religions in the early republic, deism, witchcraft, the decline of magic, and Native American prophets; he currently teaches classes on American religion, politics, and the Age of Jefferson. He is working on a manuscript on the politics of miracles in the early republic.

Dr. Jortner has received fellowships from the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation, the McNeil Center for Early American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Kentucky Historical Society, and the Redd Center for Western Studies.

Reviews

[Hunter Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was familiar with some of the movies, but not others. I enjoyed this stroll through this uniquely 80's genre. It is interesting and honestly I listened to it sequentially at once. I was surprised when he said last lecture. So, holds your attention and very interesting take on these movies and the times they sprouted from. Not particularly academic but I don't suppose anyone looking for that would see this title and mistake it for one.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and well narrated Great Course for October - talks about the trends and big movies of the 80's and gets into some side things like Siskel and Ebert. Free right on Audible Plus.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and highly recommend!
I barely saw these actual movies (too many to list), heard of all the movies (I think) and didn't know much of the trivia or commentary about the genre; like how the genre developed, the movie rating system establishment, and so much more. Heavy on the pop psychology of movies from culture, religion, gender, sexuality, and race.

Best of all observation, these films did well before the widespread use of cellphones and the internet. Market started flooding with horror movies in 1978, and the genre dried up by 1992. Then the 2000's and an onslaught (pun intended) of parody movies started..


Lecture 1 - Fun & Fear in the 80s horror. all about the tropes, breakdown of the genre. The final girl, abandoned locations, no authority/parents, death by sex, etc...and all low budget with bad special effects.
Lecture 2 - Freaks, Psychos and Grindhouses.1934's establishment of the Hollywood movie rules of decency & censorship, tropes, genre, and how it became mainstream. From the first Frankenstein movie making people puke to Halloween & Friday the 13th set it off again!

"Hollywood movies didn't show us as a more innocent time, it showed a censored slice of life reported to be an innocent time"

Because of the 1934 Decency code, movies between 1934-1967 were made in accordance to these strict guidelines, so movies are a projected illusion of life based on the code

After the 30's code went into effect, "the exploitation circuit" emerged aka grindhouses.

80s horror films are less about 'who done it' but 'why was it done'

Lecture 3 - the Goriest Decade. Collapse of the film code in 1968 ushered in the gore & violence of the 70's & 80's. The Godfather, Night of the Living Dead, Leatherface and Texas chainsaws, of course
Lecture 4 - The Golden Age of the Slashers.Establishing the tropes; teens coming of age in middle class America only to be killed...Halloween, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street...and the start of movies series (I, II, IV) and blockbusters and FINAL GIRL.
Lecture 5 - Making America Safe from Slashers.Hollywood, religion, and politics of making movies, and when the "rules" relaxed. Establishment of movie rating system: PG13, NC-17, R and X ratings.
Lecture 6 - Sex, Gender, and the Final Girl.Pop psychology of the horror movies
Lecture 7 - Rubber Reality.The point of view is always the killer who gets into our dreams - Freddy Krueger. New level of horror unlocked, reality is rubber. And weirdness - Demon Seed, a computer that tries to impregnate a woman.
Lecture 8 - Satanic Panic. A decade of American paranoia that helped keep horror & slasher movies in business
Lecture 9 - It Came from the Video Store.How VCRs, videos, and Blockbuster helped the business of horror and slashers. And when a slasher won an Oscar, "Silence of the Lambs"
Lecture 10 - Slicker Slasher about the revival of slashers in the 2000's but of the parody of slashers aka Scream franchise

[Tomer Gev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably give this lecture series 3.5 stars.

I am more of a fan of it today because I have been watching more horror movies over the past year so I am more into learning about the history of horror films. The lecturer was amazing. He was fun to listen to. I personally enjoyed the beginning and middle more the end. This tends to be a trend with Great Courses lectures that I have listened to in the past. The beginning is the best and after that, the lectures get way into the nitty gritty. However, because this lecture series was only around 5 hours long, I avoided that lecture fatigue that has happened with me with other Great Courses lecture series in the past.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it, as I do with most nonfiction books about horror. I love learning about the genre’s history and influence. That said, because I’ve read so much horror nonfiction, there wasn’t a ton here that felt brand new to me. It didn’t really offer behind-the-scenes insight or a fresh spin compared to similar books.

I didn’t know horror had a hand in bringing about the PG-13 rating because of Gremlins And I always appreciate when a horror nonfiction book mentions movies I haven’t seen, and need to add to my watch immediately.

Overall nothing new if you read a book about horror history especially doing 80s. This one makes it more concise.

[Stephanie Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
As someone with a film degree and an autistic special interest of horror films, this was basically mandatory reading. If you’re new to the history/the genre, some chapters do a great job at condensing the maggot theories/talking points/academic discussions/etc. but if you’re well versed on this subject matter (like me) there are still new and interesting things to learn. There were a few points I disagreed with as I don’t think they hold up in today horror climate (I was surprised to see that this was published in 2025) but other than that, this was a binge worthy read.

[Robert Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often fascinating history of the slasher film in American history. sometimes the lecturer will make attempts at humor in his lessons and they don't always work. It could have used some time devoted to the giallo films that were being made in Italy at the time too that did sex and horror just as graphically as their American counterparts.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good insights make this worth it. I am leaning toward slashers are probably not good for society, but they are a a good time capsule. The standouts are worth a watch. Unfortunately, this repeats the inaccuracy that Psycho shower scene does not show the knife stabbing. True except for that in one shot where it does, don't repeat the misinformation.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was free on Audible, and I am a horror girl, so i wanted to give it a shot.

I liked it! Really interesting to learn how horror evolved throughout the years - and loved the throwback to movie stores (I basically lived at Family Video as a child).

3.5 rounding down.

[Georgiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm never going to watch any of the movies mentioned (I think I've seen a grand total of one). Having grown up in the 80s, though, it's fascinating to hear what they say about that time without having to!

[Litter Bug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid and engaging survey of the field of 1980s horror movies. I think like a lot of these great courses there was some repetitiveness, but overall it held my interest and I learned some new and interesting things so I can't complain too much!

[John Geddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun mini-read, a lot of information about how movies were marketed and distributed in the 60s through the 80s and how those changes led to a window of opportunity for horror and Indy movies (of various quality).

[Nicole Geub · Rating 5 out of 5]

very insightful

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and educational on a genre that I am middling familiar with.

D

[Cora Wildflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Ryan Hake · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a previous Hollywood Video employee, I particularly enjoyed the chapter on video rental/stores.

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun survey of horror films of the 1980s.

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of 80’s slasher history.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to see how slasher films grew and changed the movie industry as a whole.

[Adri G.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and nostalgic.

[Gina Mastrogiovanni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know if it’s the authors voice or narration but this was torture to listen to.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for any film aficionado, especially those who like to see how movies fit into current affairs.