10 Movies Like The Toolbox Murders (1978)

Description: A brutal and unflinching revenge horror film that explores extreme violence and moral ambiguity, with a focus on the terror inflicted by sadistic criminals.

Fact: The film was heavily censored upon release due to its graphic content. It was inspired by Ingmar Bergman's 'The Virgin Spring,' transposing its medieval revenge tale into a modern horror setting.

Description: A pioneering slasher film that uses a confined setting (a sorority house) and unseen killer to build suspense, with a focus on psychological terror and disturbing phone calls.

Fact: It is considered one of the earliest slasher films, predating 'Halloween.' The killer's eerie breathing and obscene phone calls were improvised by the actor playing the villain.

Description: A gritty, low-budget horror film that emphasizes raw terror and psychological dread, featuring a group of victims hunted by a deranged family in an isolated setting.

Fact: The film was marketed as based on true events to heighten its terrifying appeal, though its connections to real crimes are minimal. It was shot in sweltering Texas heat, adding to the actors' genuine discomfort.

Description: A survival horror film where a family is terrorized by cannibalistic mutants in a desolate desert, emphasizing primal fear and the breakdown of civilization.

Fact: The film's mutants were inspired by the legend of Sawney Bean, a Scottish cannibal. It was shot in the Mojave Desert, with the harsh environment adding to the film's oppressive atmosphere.

Description: A psychological horror film about a disturbed man who burns his victims alive, exploring themes of religious guilt and childhood trauma.

Fact: The film was inspired by real-life serial killer Ed Gein. Its low-budget, gritty aesthetic adds to its disturbing tone.

Description: A deeply unsettling horror film told from the perspective of a mentally unstable killer, featuring graphic violence and a grim, urban atmosphere.

Fact: The film's special effects were created by Tom Savini, who also played a minor role. Its controversial first-person perspective was groundbreaking for the genre.

Description: A summer camp slasher with a disfigured killer seeking revenge, notable for its creative kills and tense chase sequences in a wooded setting.

Fact: The film features early work by Hollywood figures like Harvey Weinstein and Brad Grey. Its infamous raft scene is one of the most memorable kills in slasher history.

Description: A carnival-set horror film that blends suspense with grotesque imagery, focusing on teens trapped in a nightmarish funhouse with a deformed killer.

Fact: The film's elaborate funhouse set was built inside an abandoned airplane hangar. It was initially criticized for its slow buildup but later gained a cult following.

Description: A slasher film with a mysterious, uniformed killer stalking victims in a small town, featuring elaborate murder set-pieces and a post-war trauma subtext.

Fact: Tom Savini's special effects work in this film is considered some of his best. The killer's military uniform was chosen to evoke a sense of authority and menace.

Description: A self-aware slasher film with a drill-wielding killer targeting a group of teens, blending horror with dark humor and feminist undertones.

Fact: It was written as a parody but filmed as a straight horror movie. The director, Amy Holden Jones, was one of the few women directing horror films at the time.