The splatterpunk genre originated in the 1980s in literature before being adapted for cinema. It relies heavily on gore and violence to evoke terror in the viewer, but some directors have reworked the genre to convey elements of humor. Its versatility permits it to be altered easily depending on the director's approach.
Splatterpunk was invented to combat how predictable and clichéd traditional horror movies had become. Though its methods were ruthless, the genre gained great success and has since been incorporated into an array of unexpected media forms. It is a favored genre among horror enthusiasts, but one movie utilizes the genre's effects better than the rest.
10 Saw 3D
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With Jigsaw having finally met his demise, victims of his torturous methods are coming forward to discuss how his actions affected them. One of these is Bobby Dagen, a scam artist who seeks to profit off of Jigsaw's death even though he has not been subjected to his games.
Though its Rotten Tomatoes score of 10% may steer fans of splatterpunk away, there is no denying how iconic Saw 3D's use of it has become. Discarding the plot in favor of gore, this entry proves to be one of the most blood-filled messes in the entire Saw catalog.
9 Final Destination
Upon boarding a plane with a group of his friends, Alex Browning has a vision of the events to come. This brief glimpse into the future reveals that the plane is doomed to explode, so Alex demands to leave the aircraft before it departs. Though he narrowly avoids death by doing so, he is forced to spend the remainder of the film fleeing from his now altered destiny.
Though its 35% score on Rotten Tomatoes may not entice fans of splatterpunk, the events housed within most definitely will. Final Destination refuses to shy away from ideas of gore, with each installment featuring more obscene deaths than the last.
8 Hostel
When two best friends, Josh and Paxton, decide to spend their summer vacation traveling across Europe, they discover that the world is not as carefree as it once seemed. The pair journeys to an elusive hostel in Slovakia in the hope of fulfilling their lustrous desires, but instead, uncover a sinister plot from which there is no escape.
Hostel has become something of a cult classic since its release in 2005, leading many to perceive it as one of the best movies to utilize the splatterpunk genre. It is chock-full of harrowing surgical scenes, but the aftermath is always far more shocking.
7 Martyrs
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Having escaped from their abusive captors, Anna and Lucie embark on a quest to punish those who once brought them pain. Fifteen years go by, but the two friends eventually locate the home of the Belfonds, a seemingly ordinary family who Lucie spares no sympathy for.
Armed with a shotgun, Lucie makes short work of the family before her inner demons take a hold of her and end her life. A now-alone Anna is left to clean up Lucie's mess, but before she can leave, Lucie's captors return and choose Anna to be their new test subject. What next befalls Anna is chilling, to say the least.
6 The Thing
While occupying a research facility in Antarctica, a team of scientists is interrupted by the sound of gunfire in the distance. Investigating the source of the noise, they witness a helicopter pursuing a sled dog and decide to take the victimized canine into their care.
Unfortunately for them, this canine harbors no intention of being man's best friend. The creature can adapt to the appearance of its victims, rendering it one of humanity's biggest threats if not dealt with quickly. Its methods are grotesque and blood-filled, leaving very little to the imagination.
5 Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil
When Tucker and Dale opt to partake in a short woodland getaway, they inadvertently find themselves at the mercy of a group of immature college students. Believed to be a pair of woodland serial killers, the two do their best to avoid the students to not cause any further trouble, but sadly, trouble finds them.
Tucker and Dale are always close by when something bad happens, so it is only logical that one would consider them dangerous. Whether they are fleeing a swarm of bees or tossing logs in a wood chipper, someone always ends up getting hurt in the process. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil aims to revitalize the splatterpunk genre through the use of comedy and executes it exceptionally well.
4 Raw
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Heading off to college to pursue a career as a veterinary surgeon, Justine discovers that a ruthless world of desire and debauchery awaits her. She is forced to consume meat for the first time in her life upon arriving at her new home, awakening something terrifying inside of her.
Her obsession with the taste of meat leads her down a dark path from which she has no intention of diverting. Jam-packed with questionable acts and ideals, Raw marks one of the more subtle implementations of the splatterpunk genre, but this never diminishes its shock value.
3 X
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After securing a small cabin to stay in, a group of young filmmakers set off to a remote farm in rural Texas to shoot a movie. During introductions, they learn that their host does not want them disturbing his wife, but Maxine does so anyway.
The true intentions of the hosts come to light towards the climax of the movie, but the protagonists are mostly left unaware. They are mercilessly attacked by the unlikely old couple until Maxine decides to take a stand. The plot burns slowly, but the ending relies heavily on gore to make up for it.
2 Evil Dead 2
Evil Dead 2 sees Ash Williams, alongside his girlfriend Linda, venturing to a remote cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway. Sadly, evil lurks in the confines of these woods, so this once exciting escape from reality is swiftly derailed by the frightening forces of the underworld.
Ash summons a hoard of powerful demons by listening to an excerpt from the Book of the Dead. Unbeknownst to him, his girlfriend becomes its first victim before it turns its attention to Ash. To prevent further onslaught, Ash chops off his possessed hand and replaces it with a chainsaw, leading to some of the most comical portrayals of splatterpunk in cinema.
1 A Nightmare On Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street documents the tale of a group of young teenagers who find themselves plagued by a ruthless killer. Unlike most victims of the horror genre, the protagonists are only pursued by this blade-wielding maniac in their dreams.
Freddy Krueger spends most of his screen time brutally torturing the protagonists. His abilities are otherworldly, leading to some hauntingly visceral deaths. Though his powers are confined to the world of sleep, the trail of blood he leaves in the real world is unforgettable.