The Slumber Party Massacre is the feminist slasher that laid the groundwork for everything Scream would later get praised for. Written by feminist author Rita Mae Brown, it takes the typical slasher formula—a half-naked woman, a deranged killer with a power drill—and flips it on its head. The phallic drill and gratuitous nudity are there, but in such an exaggerated manner that it becomes a brilliant satire on the male gaze. This isn't your average damsel-in-distress flick; it's a bloody middle finger to the male-dominated horror machine, with women banding together to fight back. The film's influence on later works is a testament to its enduring legacy and the knowledge it imparts to film enthusiasts.
