702
Reviews

Hysteria Lives! 
– Slasher Movie Reviews and Horror Film Archive

Slasher Trash with Panache Since 1998

Last Update:
28 October 2026

Slasher Movies! Gialli! Video Nasties! Lost Horror Films!


Welcome to Hysteria Lives!, a long-running archive of slasher movie reviews, horror film criticism, and cult exploitation cinema from JA Kerswell (author of a history of the subgenre  The Slasher Movie Book and the upcoming The Nanny Has a Knife!: The From Hell Psycho Thriller (1987-1996)). Covering everything from classic 1970s proto-slashers and Gialli to the gory boom years of the 1980s and beyond—including the infamous Video Nasties—the site explores the genre’s evolution through in-depth reviews, retrospectives, interviews, and rare obscurities such as the tantalising lost slasher movies. Whether you’re looking for mainstream favourites, forgotten direct-to-video oddities, or international variations on the slasher formula or up-to-the-minute reviews, Hysteria Lives! offers an expansive guide to one of horror cinema’s most enduring and controversial subgenres.

🎃 HELP KEEP HYSTERIA LIVES! ONLINE

Hysteria Lives! has celebrated slasher movies independently since 1998. There are no sponsors or paid advertising, and the site costs around $300 a year to keep online.

If you've enjoyed the reviews, discovered a new film, or simply want to help preserve more than 28 years of slasher history, please consider making a small contribution on Ko-fi. Even $3 makes a difference.

Supporters get early access to new reviews and features, while monthly supporters can also explore The Hysteria Lives! Archive—my growing online collection of vintage slasher memorabilia, newspaper clippings, advertising and other material collected over the years.

HELP KEEP HYSTERIA LIVES! ONLINE →

LATEST REVIEWS

Review of DAY OF THE REAPER (1984)

DAY OF THE REAPER (1984)

Incomprehensible and chaotic, Tim Ritter’s first film may be little more than a home movie shot on Super 8 with high school friends, yet it has an undeniable vintage mid-‘80s charm.

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Review of TO BECOME ONE (1999)

TO BECOME ONE (1999)

Half post-SCREAM slasher and half mad doctor, psycho religious freak-out. This little-seen, shot-on-film  Australian effort is long on ambition and short on almost everything else.

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Review of HALLOWEEN (1978)

HALLOWEEN (1978)

First reviewed in 1999, John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN (1978) gets a major update. Revisiting Michael Myers and the slasher movie that changed horror.

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BOOGEYMAN II (1983)

THE COTTAGE aka DACHA (2026)

NEW ATTRACTION COMING SOON! Read before everyone else on Ko-fi and help keep Hysteria Lives! online.

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It's nearly here - the Ultimate Slasher Documentary! And if you look closely, you'll see me in the trailer; I was interviewed at length for it. The final pre-sale is now on (with special early-bird perks!). Click here to find out more! 

BLOG: The mixed critical reception to HALLOWEEN (1978)

Oct 05, 2026Comments (0)
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BLOG: Some critics get aboard the TERROR TRAIN whilst others bail ...

Aug 31, 2026Comments (0)
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BLOG: SLEEPAWAY CAMPS' Critical Mauling!

Aug 31, 2026Comments (0)
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THE FUNHOUSE (1981)

Exclusive deep-dive retrospective for Tobe Hooper's Carny slasher coming soon!

Drawing on early-80s newspaper archives and on-location set visits in Florida, I have discovered details not widely seen since then that may debunk some long-held beliefs about the film. You can read a lengthy advance excerpt on my Ko-fi page for just a small contribution towards keeping Hysteria Lives! online.

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Get the latest updates about reviews and more. Plus news about my new book THE NANNY HAS A KNIFE!: THE PSYCHO FROM HELL THRILLER (1987-1996)

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    FAQs

    What is Hysteria Lives!?
    • I launched the site in 1998 as a tribute to classic—and not-so-classic—slasher movies. I'd been a fan of the subgenre since the early 1980s, when I was a kid. But it wasn't until the release of Wes Craven's SCREAM in 1996 that it emerged from its wilderness years. With the increased accessibility of the internet, I decided to revisit the humble slasher subgenre and launch this site. I was genuinely surprised that it resonated with so many people. Whilst I may poke fun sometimes, I am first and foremost a fan. The site has expanded to cover modern slashers (it is the subgenre that never dies!) and international stalk-n-slashers, both old and new. As well as interviews with many of the people who have appeared both in front of and behind the camera to bring us the scary movies we love!
    Who runs the site, and how do I contact you?

    I’m JA Kerswell—an author, subgenre critic, podcaster and founder of Hysteria Lives! (possibly the longest-running website dedicated to the much-maligned slasher movie). I have contributed writing, criticism and commentaries to many genre releases by companies such as Vinegar Syndrome, Arrow Films, Shout Factory, 88 Films, Imprint, Indicator, Celluloid Dreams, Treasured Films & more. 

    If you would like to collaborate on a project or have any questions, you can email me at hysteriacontinues@gmail.com.

    Find out more About Me. 

    Is there a podcast?

    Since 2011, I have been a co-host on the popular The Hysteria Continues podcast, which again celebrates and critiques the slasher movie. We are still going strong and have clocked in over 300 episodes. Collectively, we have recorded over 70 commentaries for boutique and mainstream Blu-ray releases of classic slasher movies. You can see a full list here.

    What books have you written?

    I am also the author of the book Teenage Wasteland: The Slasher Movie Uncut (known in the USA as The Slasher Movie Book)—a love letter and history of the slasher movie, from the early days of cinema through the subgenre’s Golden Age to the present day. The book has been updated once with new material and has received reprints on both sides of the Atlantic (Buy US / Buy UK). My new book (tentatively titled) The Nanny Has a Knife!: The From Hell Psycho Movie (1987-1996) will be out in early 2027.

    How can I support Hysteria Lives!?

    If you value the site and want to help keep obscure and classic slasher history online for the future, please consider supporting Hysteria Lives! on Ko-fi for less than the price of a coffee. Visit my Ko-fi page.

    Do you have social media?

    Yes! I prefer Bluesky, but you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook. I also have a YouTube channel where I post periodically. 

    Do you have an email newsletter?

    Yes, I do, and it's a fantastic way to find out what's new on the website and podcast, and the latest news about my new book, The Nanny Has a Knife!: The From Hell Psycho Movie (1987-1996). I promise to limit the number of emails I send. Scroll up to sign up!

    "How do we know
    she is alive?"