680
Reviews

Hysteria 
   Lives

Slasher Trash with Panache Since 1998

Last Update:
27 May 2026

🎃 Help preserve obscure slasher history for the price of a coffee. Keep Hysteria Lives! online

LATEST REVIEWS

DEMON HUNTER (1983) review

DEMON HUNTER (1983)

A resurrected shaman seeks revenge on the family of the man who killed him, and it’s up to a priest, doctor, and police chief to end his bloody rampage. 

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INTENSIVE CARE (1991) slasher movie review

INTENSIVE CARE (1991) 

A psychotic surgeon awakens from a coma and hunts teenagers on New Year's Eve in this Dutch slasher film that either looks to the '80s or anticipates the '90s revival to come.

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THE MURDER CLINIC (1966) Giallo review

THE MURDER CLINIC (1966)

A killer in black robes stalks a sanatorium, killing the most attractive female patients with a cutthroat razor, in an attempt to blend the Italian Gothic Horror film with the Giallo.

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THE MURDER CLINIC (1966) Giallo review

POOR WHITE TRASH II (1974)

NEW ATTRACTION COMING SOON! Read before everyone else on Ko-fi and help keep Hysteria Lives! online.

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THE FUNHOUSE (1981)

Exclusive deep-dive retrospective for Tobe Hooper's Carny slasher coming soon!

Drawing on early-80s newspaper archives and on-location set visits in Florida, I have discovered details not widely seen since then that may debunk some long-held beliefs about the film. You can read a lengthy advance excerpt on my Ko-fi page for just a small contribution towards keeping Hysteria Lives! online.

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    FAQs

    What is Hysteria Lives!?
    • I launched the site in 1998 as a tribute to classic—and not-so-classic—slasher movies. I'd been a fan of the subgenre since the early 1980s, when I was a kid. But it wasn't until the release of Wes Craven's SCREAM in 1996 that it emerged from its wilderness years. With the increased accessibility of the internet, I decided to revisit the humble slasher subgenre and launch this site. I was genuinely surprised that it resonated with so many people. Whilst I may poke fun sometimes, I am first and foremost a fan. The site has expanded to cover modern slashers (it is the subgenre that never dies!) and international stalk-n-slashers, both old and new. As well as interviews with many of the people who have appeared both in front of and behind the camera to bring us the scary movies we love!
    Who runs the site, and how do I contact you?

    I’m JA Kerswell—an author, subgenre critic, podcaster and founder of Hysteria Lives! (possibly the longest-running website dedicated to the much-maligned slasher movie). I have contributed writing, criticism and commentaries to many genre releases by companies such as Vinegar Syndrome, Arrow Films, Shout Factory, 88 Films, Imprint, Indicator, Celluloid Dreams, Treasured Films & more. 

    If you would like to collaborate on a project or have any questions, you can email me at hysteriacontinues@gmail.com.

    Find out more About Me. 

    Is there a podcast?

    Since 2011, I have been a co-host on the popular The Hysteria Continues podcast, which again celebrates and critiques the slasher movie. We are still going strong and have clocked in over 300 episodes. Collectively, we have recorded over 70 commentaries for boutique and mainstream Blu-ray releases of classic slasher movies. You can see a full list here.

    What books have you written?

    I am also the author of the book Teenage Wasteland: The Slasher Movie Uncut (known in the USA as The Slasher Movie Book)—a love letter and history of the slasher movie, from the early days of cinema through the subgenre’s Golden Age to the present day. The book has been updated once with new material and has received reprints on both sides of the Atlantic (Buy US / Buy UK). My new book (tentatively titled) The Nanny Has a Knife!: The From Hell Psycho Movie (1987-1996) will be out in early 2027.

    How can I support Hysteria Lives!?

    I don't have any sponsorship and pay for hosting and other costs out of my own pocket (about $300 a year). If you value the site and want to keep writing about keeping obscure and classic slasher online for the future, please consider helping for less than the price of a coffee on Ko-fi. Anyone who supports the site gets early access to new reviews. Monthly supporters also get access to my online archives of slasher movie memorabilia and other perks. Visit my Ko-fi page.

    Do you have social media?

    Yes! I prefer Bluesky, but you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook. I also have a YouTube channel where I post periodically. 

    Do you have an email newsletter?

    Yes, I do, and it's a fantastic way to find out what's new on the website and podcast, and the latest news about my new book, The Nanny Has a Knife!: The From Hell Psycho Movie (1987-1996). I promise to limit the number of emails I send. Scroll up to sign up!

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    she is alive?"