splatter film: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

They are closely related and overlap significantly. However, a 'slasher film' (e.g., Halloween) has a specific structure involving a killer stalking victims. A 'splatter film' is defined by its aesthetic of gore, which can be present in slashers, but also in zombie films, war horrors, etc. Not all slashers are intensely gory enough to be called splatter films.

Yes, analogously. You might see 'splatterpunk' used for a similar sub-genre in horror literature, or a video game described as having 'splatter' elements if it features exaggerated blood and gore effects.

It is widely credited to film critic and screenwriter George A. Romero, who used it in the late 1970s/early 1980s to describe his own film 'Dawn of the Dead' (1978) and the emerging, more graphically violent wave of horror it inspired.

This is a central debate. Many are dismissed as lowbrow exploitation. However, some academics and critics argue that, at their best, they can be transgressive art, social satire, or masterclasses in practical special effects, pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable to depict.

A horror film genre characterised by graphic, extreme, and explicit violence and gore, where the graphic depiction of bloodshed is the central focus.

Splatter film is usually specialist / colloquial. used primarily in film criticism, genre discussion, and informal conversation among horror film fans. in register.

Splatter film: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsplætə ˌfɪlm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsplæt̬ɚ ˌfɪlm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.