The Prowler (1980)

[bruce]

The Prowler is an American slasher movie released in 1981, directed by Joseph Zito.

PlotIn 1945, a World War II veteran returns home to Avalon Bay, New Jersey to find a "Dear John letter" left by his girlfriend. He then murders her and her new boyfriend at the graduation dance. Thirty-five years later, at the first dance since the killings, the murderer is back, decked out in battledress and with an assortment of weapons, to kill again.

[vermn]

The Prowler has always been a particular favorite of mine. It's well paced, well shot, and features some pretty gory death scenes courtesy of The Master Tom Savini.
If there was a listing in the dictionary for slasher film, this is one of the movies that would be mentioned.

[bruce]

Agreed, it stands out as the perfect example of a Slasher film. Has one of greatest "head blown off by a shotgun" effects.

[FireStar]

Another example of what a slasher film can and should be. This film has memorable kills and a great and pretty well-developed backstory, especially for a early slasher film. Also the look of the killer is particularly original and creepy with the dark solider look. The swimming pool death is particulary memorable as it the final shotgun kill.