5 Big Mistakes Writers Make in Slasher Horror (And How to Avoid Them)
Hey horror writers – let’s talk slashers.
You know the type: A masked killer. A group of unlucky teens. A trail of bodies.
And hopefully… a final girl who lives to tell the tale.
Slasher horror can be awesome – bloody, bold, and surprisingly character-driven when done right. And, oh so easy to get wrong!
But, before we get into the top slasher horror mistakes that writers make when writing slashers (and how to avoid making them in your own writing), let’s clear one thing up:
Prefer to watch rather than read? Check out my YouTube video on this topic below!
What Is Slasher Horror?
A slasher is a story where a killer – usually mysterious or masked – picks people off one by one. They often target young adults in isolated places.
The killer might be out for revenge… or just following some creepy internal logic. Either way, people start dying. Fast.
Unlike ghost stories or monster flicks, slashers are personal. The danger is close. It’s usually human. And it usually involves something very sharp.
But here’s the thing: slashers aren’t just about gore or body counts.
The best ones make us feel something. Fear, tension, maybe even heartbreak. They explore survival, morality, trauma, and the stuff we try to bury deep.
Too many slasher stories forget that. They go all-in on the kills… and forget about the story.
So today, we’re looking at the Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make in Slasher Horror – and how you can avoid them.
I’ll also share a quick checklist at the end to help sharpen your next horror script or short story.
RELATED: How to Write a Great Horror Story| Top Themes To Include In Horror Stories
Grab some popcorn, turn off the lights (if you dare), and let’s get into it… 🔪
What Are The Worst Slasher Horror Mistakes?
Let’s get right into the top mistakes that you want to avoid making in your slasher horror!
#1: Making Characters Too Dumb to Live
We’ve all seen this.
Someone hears a creepy noise in the basement… and decides to go check it out alone… with no weapon… during a blackout… while barefoot.
Come on.
Why this ruins the scare:
Horror works best when we care about the people in danger.
But when characters act like complete idiots, the tension turns into comedy – and not the fun kind. It’s hard to feel scared when you’re yelling at the screen.
Bad Example:
Jason Goes to Hell (1993)
This one is packed with terrible decisions. People doing reckless stuff even though they know there’s a killer on the loose. It’s more frustrating than scary.
How to do it better:
Make your characters flawed, not foolish. Maybe they’re scared. Maybe they panic. Maybe they’re frozen or overwhelmed.
Their actions should feel human, not scripted. Bonus points if they fight back, set traps, or think smart. That’s where the real tension exists.
Good Example:
The Descent (2005)
Not a traditional slasher, but a perfect example. The characters are smart, resourceful, and still mess up – but their mistakes feel real.
They try to survive. That’s what makes their journey tragic and terrifying.
#2: The Killer Isn’t Scary
A slasher lives or dies by its villain. If your killer feels goofy, forgettable, or confusing… your whole story falls apart.
Why it matters:
The fear doesn’t just come from the kills – it comes from anticipation. The sense that something’s coming.
A weak or lazy villain design ruins that feeling.
Bad Example:
Urban Legends: Bloody Mary (2005)
Cool idea, but the killer? Total snoozefest. No real buildup, no rules, and no real fear factor.
She just shows up, kills, and disappears. It’s more random than scary.
How to do it better:
Build your killer like you’d build a main character.
Think about their look, weapon, backstory, and vibe. They should feel like a shadow over the entire story – even when they’re offscreen.
Use mystery. Use dread. Make the audience nervous just knowing they’re nearby.
Good Example:
Michael Myers in Halloween (1978)
He doesn’t run. He doesn’t speak. But wow — that white mask, that slow walk, that silent stare… chills. Everything about him builds fear without over-explaining. That’s horror magic.
RELATED: Why People Love Horror Movies | Why Writing Horror Is Great For Your Mental Health!
#3: Relying on Gore Instead of Tension
Blood doesn’t scare people. Suspense does.
A lot of slashers lean too hard on flashy kills and forget to build actual fear. But if there’s no suspense, it just feels like a checklist of who dies next.
Why it’s a problem:
Gore might gross people out, but without buildup, it doesn’t stick. If the audience doesn’t care who’s dying — or why — the kills stop mattering.
Bad Example:
See No Evil (2006)
Plenty of gore, but zero suspense. The kills happen fast, the characters are flat, and there’s no real build-up before things go bloody. It’s empty violence.
How to do it better:
Start with dread. Use silence. Use pacing. Use shadows.
Make us care about the characters before the violence hits. That way, when things get bloody, it actually hurts.
Good Example:
Black Christmas (1974)
This one goes light on gore but heavy on atmosphere. Creepy phone calls, eerie silences, shadows you think you saw move. It’s scary because it builds up slowly. And when the violence hits? It lands.
#4: No Theme = No Impact
A bunch of kills without meaning gets old fast. The best slashers have a deeper layer — even if it’s subtle.
Why it matters:
Great horror says something. Maybe it’s about grief, revenge, trauma, or growing up. But if your story doesn’t have any emotional core, it becomes forgettable fast.
Bad Example:
Valentine (2001)
A killer stalking women around Valentine’s Day? Sounds juicy. But the story never digs into anything deeper — not rejection, not trauma, not love or obsession. It’s all surface, no soul.
How to do it better:
Build your slasher around a central idea. It doesn’t have to be obvious, but it should shape the story.
Let your characters reflect it. Let the kills echo it. Let the ending make a statement.
Good Example:
Scream (1996)
Sure, it’s meta and clever, but it’s also about grief, trust, and desensitization. Sidney isn’t just dodging a killer — she’s dealing with real trauma. That’s what makes the story stick.
RELATED: Villain Character Backstory Ideas | The Top Subgenres of Horror
#5: Breaking the Rules Without Knowing Them
Yes, horror can break the rules. But if you don’t know what the rules are… breaking them just feels sloppy.
Why it’s a problem:
Horror is built on setup and payoff. When you break structure or flip tropes, it should feel like a twist, not a mess.
If your story becomes confusing or random, it pulls people out of the experience.
Bad Example:
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
They kill off the Final Girl in the first ten minutes. Then they toss in a weird livestream gimmick and forget everything that made Michael Myers scary. It’s all twist, no build-up.
How to do it better:
First, learn the genre. Watch the classics. Study the beats.
Know what audiences expect — then twist those things on purpose. Set up your surprises. Make them land. And most importantly, make sure they fit your theme.
Good Example:
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
This one flips the entire slasher formula on its head — but it works because it respects the genre.
It gives you all the tropes (final girl, creepy woods, masked killer)… and then turns the whole thing inside out in a way that makes sense. It’s clever and scary. A rare combo.
Final Thoughts: Slasher Horror That Sticks
At first glance, slasher horror looks simple:
Bad guy. Sharp weapon. Screaming teens.
But great slashers are about more than just who dies. They’re about why we care.
So remember these five things:
- Give us characters who act like real people
- Design a killer who’s actually scary
- Build suspense before you show the blood
- Ground your story in a deeper theme
- And know the rules before you try to twist them
If you do that, your story won’t just be scary — it’ll be unforgettable.
Until next time — stay creative, and stay alive… 👀
And, don’t forget to check out my free downloadable character development workbook and villain character workbook – they will help you create real, fleshed out main characters and villains for your next story!
