At PBS’ Monstrum, Dr. Emily Zarka gets deep into the slasher lore. “The 1974 movies Black Christmas and Texas Chain Saw Massacre gave rise to what would become one of cinema’s most enduring genres: the slasher film. In this special episode, we’ll talk about the origins, evolution and cultural impact of these gory popcorn films and take a close look at the key tropes—masked killers, final girls, and gore—that continue to make make slashers iconic. Here’s why slashers—from Halloween to Dead By Daylight—are here to stay.”

Watch here.