Slashers 1981, Part II: The Burning, Happy Birthday to Me, The Prowler & Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker

Jason from Binge Movies (the B-movie appreciator), Megan from Spoilerpiece Theatre (the beautifully balanced critic), and Paul from The Countdown (the show’s own Scrooge) return to close out one of the bloodiest years in horror history — 1981.

The Blood Pool for this round includes:

• The Burning (May 8, 1981) – Campfire tales come to life in this legendary summer-camp massacre featuring early work from Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax and makeup FX master Tom Savini.

• Happy Birthday to Me (May 15, 1981) – A prep-school mystery packed with bizarre deaths, psychological twists, and one unforgettable birthday party.

• The Prowler (Nov 6, 1981) – A WWII-themed slasher where vengeance and Savini’s most brutal gore collide.

• Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (Nov 20, 1981) – A disturbing mix of domestic madness and queer-coded psychological horror that defies the slasher label entirely.

From this Pool, the hosts pick their winners for:

• Best Poster/Box Art

• Best Cult Classic

• Best Final “Girl”

• Best Kill

• Best Overall Film

Continue the conversation on

Letterboxd: @slasherspodcast Email: [e-mail]

Series theme: Shattered by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

This episode originally aired as part of The Slashers limited series — now resurrected for the true believers.

And remember… DON’T let them catch you.