The slasher genre found a strong home in Canadian cinema in the ’80s — cheap, creative, and wild. Here are six North-of-the-Border slashers that are a fun watch:

Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987)

From our review: “I know I said that this was a slasher, but Prom Night II is as much a supernatural revenge tale and teen drama film. This isn’t just a series of clever murders (I mean, it is in parts) but also an exploration of vengeance and lingering guilt.”

Ghostkeeper (1981)

From our review: “As imperfect as this is, Ghostkeeper develops a genuinely creepy vibe that sticks with you. Seeing characters move through pitch-black hallways with nothing but a dim lantern illuminating their faces is arresting to the imagination.”

The Burning (1981)

From our review: “The Burning is unabashedly a rip-off of all summer camp slasher movies, but it’s pretty much the first one I’ve seen that actually delivers a functioning summer camp as the basis and locale.”

Happy Birthday to Me (1981)

From our review: “I saw potential; it would be a refreshing break from slasher flicks with ironically predictable twist endings. But apparently the producers wanted a twist, so they decided to force one in when they should have left well enough alone.”

Terror Train (1980) 

From our review: “Terror Train certainly shares some cinematic DNA with Halloween, but it would be a disservice to call it nothing more than a clone of Carpenter’s film. In fact, Terror Train has some nifty twists and turns that make it stand out, even from the large pack of slasher flicks that were pouring into the theaters in the early ‘80s.”

Scanners (1981)

From our review: “It’s such a solid premise that it’s only somewhat held back by Cronenberg’s wonky storytelling techniques. I know the guy’s a cult legend and all that, but I find that his movies are usually as flawed as they come.”