Chainsaws and bombshells: Brutality and victim sexualization in slasher films, 1960–2019.

This study analyzes the evolution of slasher films from the 1960s through the 2010s, focusing on the portrayal of female victimization through sexualization and brutalization, and situates these trends within broader societal and victimological contexts. Findings indicate that the 1980s featured the highest levels of sexualization of female characters, often linking sexuality with victimhood amid a cultural backlash against feminism, while the 2000s and 2010s exhibited significantly increased brutality and graphic violence, reflecting societal desensitization to violence and anxieties post-9/11. The research highlights how slasher films both mirror and potentially reinforce cultural attitudes toward gendered violence, victimhood, and power dynamics, with shifts in portrayal corresponding to changing social movements such as the #MeToo era. The study's sample includes 48 top-ranked slasher films selected from multiple authoritative lists, analyzed through a systematic content analysis measuring variables like sexualization, brutalization, and character traits. Limitations include the focus on mainstream films and the inability to determine causality between societal attitudes and cinematic portrayals, suggesting avenues for future research on diverse victim identities and recent developments beyond 2019.