h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: How to Survive a Slasher Horror Film - A2056141
Author: Caper Plip - "1, 2, Freddy's coming for you..." - U180841

Hi there!

Take two... I'm certain that this is ready, but more contributions would be welcome

Any comments?

Caper Plip

It reads well, and is full of useful links etc - well done.
Perhaps you could include a more precise definition of what makes a horror film a slasher and what not ("the characters, who are generally pristine at the start of the film, being murdered/tortured/chased/transfigured in the most imaginative and bloody ways." would include films such as "Cabin Fever" - would you include that as a slasher even if it is about a virus?), although I don't think that is neccessary. The style carries the article through - well done.

<BB<

it looks pretty good from scanning it. i'll read it in proper depth tonight.

what i might suggest is that you quote Scream on 3 things that you shouldn't do if you want to survive:

1. Don't have sex
2. Don't smoke drugs or drink alcohol
3. Never say anything like "I'll be right back!", cause you won't!

Also perhaps a look at numbers two and 3 for quotes for a sequal and a trilogy.

Perhaps a section on the movies guides to surviving a horror movie, or a look at certain rules in certain horror series. Maybe not, i'm just thinking of things of my head here. i'll do a thorough read-over tonight. what's there looks good though!

Hi there!

I've added a quote from Scream which encompasses the three rules

I don't think I'd add a section on guides from films, as I think that the points are covered quite fairly with what I've already garnered Though more points are welcome

Thanks!

Caper Plip

Brilliantly funny entry! Well done!

i must say i just read through the entry and it looks great! i think all the different things have been covered pretty well!

spook

ps. i've submitted an update of the Freddy entry to the update forum, so if you have a few minutes spare please read and comment on A2063251.

Hi PC,

I didn't have an actual addition, at this time; but an interesting thought did occur.

Perhaps it wouldn't be too *cute* to change the title from:
How to Survive a Slasher Horror Film

to:
How to Survive a Slasher/Horror Film

Get it? A Slasher-(slash)-Horror Film?

Please don't hit me



[not in the face, not in the face!]

But I'll think I'll keep the title as it is

Fantastic read! I like this

A couple of minor points:
In the first sentence there should be a space between the footnote and the link.
In the section on names it warns against having a name with two or more sylables, then goes on to list Rod and Glen among the examples.
In the Mind, Body and Soul section on the first item "as long" probably doesn't need italics.
I don't know if it's relevant, but later in the same section in the bit about voices, you might mention that a voice could be reproduced by witchery as well. Or not .

I enjoyed this Good work!

Hi there!

Glad you liked it

Changes made:

- added a space between the 1st footnote and the 1st link
- what I meant about the syllable thing was that you have to have more than 2 syllables in your forename to survive. The targets would include people with only 1 syllable as they don't have more than 2 syllables in their name
- de-italicised the 'as long'
- added the witchery point

Thanks for your comments!

Caper Plip

Very cool entry

Some of the links are a bit odd though - although many of them make perfect sense, others could perhaps be changed/removed e.g.

'supposedly dead maniac with a penchant for fedora hats and Christmas sweaters' linking to Freddy Krueger

'sleep is not an option' linking to Sleep Deprivation

'undead minion' linking to "Night of the Living Dead" - the film

Also, some of the links are probably unnecessary - e.g. 'door', 'skin' etc.

However, these don't hurt the entry too much - it's still a great entry!

Just thought of a possible addition:

While running away from the monster, you will trip over several times regardless of the ground's surface. Meanwhile, the monster will always catch you up even though it is simply shambling along.

Hi there!

I did some of the links to obscure things so it would hopefully cause people to click on them and read the entries that linked to them, so in the case of Freddy Krueger, instead of linking directly to him later on in the entry, I allow the link to do it so people may be more inclined to see who this maniac in a fedora hat is

I linked to 'door' and 'skin' because I was on a roll But they are good entries, so I'll leave the links in for now.

I've added your point into Mind, Body and Soul Thanks for that!

Thanks for your comments!

Caper Plip

There's nothing wrong with linking to things that don't seem related. By all means, leave them in . Following random links in entries is a fun way to meander through the guide and find out just how diverse it is!

And I clicked on the fedora hat/Christmas sweater link, even though I had a pretty good idea of who it was going to be anyway.

Cool - most of the entries I've read don't tend to link quite as much, so I assumed that it was something frowned upon.

Still, I don't think it hurts the entry at all - very good stuff.

Hiya Caper,

A Scout has recommended this for inclusion into the Edited Guide. I've just got a few comments though (yeah, I know, I can hear the groans already).

The first footnote is actually incorrect. A 'Splatter' movie is actually a different subgenre entirely. Whereas 'Slasher' flicks revolve around serial killers or murderers that involve sudden violent acts, a 'Splatter' movie is an altogether more visceral experience. The work of directors such as Frank Henenlotter and the early films of Peter Jackson are 'Splatter', which is usually about a ridiculous amount of intestinal or brain matter rather than just blood. 'Splatter' movie fans would consider many 'Slashers' as tame and predictable by comparison. (Jackson's Bad Taste is a great example of that genre, with lawn-mover-wielding zombies and lots of gore).

As some of your advice is inspired by the Evil Dead films (which is definitely more 'splatter' than 'slasher' anyway), I agree that a title change is in order. Either delete the word 'Slasher' from the title or add a slash and the word 'Splatter'. The intro then needs the footnote putting back into the body of the text.

And no link to 'Great Horror Movies'??

Really enjoyed this one. Don't know if it's an easy one to pop in somewhere but have you noticed how people with dark family secrets tend to find themselves at the centre of all the trouble? So, possibly the best advice is to come from a happy family with no skeletons in the closet. Otherwise, your secret, mad relative or the vigilante actions of your father will come back to haunt you.

Hi there!

Thanks for pointing out the difference between slasher/splatter, Jimster... I didn't know there was a difference between the two, but you learn something everyday I've altered the title and first paragraph to fit.

- added in your point into the 'People' section

There was already a link to Great Horror Movies

Thanks for your comments!

Caper Plip

So, with my nitpicking sated, are we happy for this to progress down the meatrack?

I'm happy if there're no other qualms!

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!