Answers Below – No Peeking!

Classic slasher films from the 1970s and 1980s established many of the genre’s enduring conventions through their narratives, characters and production histories. This quiz draws on verifiable details from key titles including release years, directors, cast members and plot events. Questions range from straightforward facts to more specific production and character points.

10 Trivia Questions

Question 1: Which director co-wrote and directed the 1978 film Halloween?

A. Tobe Hooper
B. John Carpenter
C. Wes Craven
D. Sean S. Cunningham

Question 2: In the original Friday the 13th from 1980, who is revealed as the killer?

A. Jason Voorhees
B. Pamela Voorhees
C. Tommy Jarvis
D. Alice Hardy

Question 3: What is the name of the town where the events of A Nightmare on Elm Street take place?

A. Haddonfield
B. Woodsboro
C. Springwood
D. Crystal Lake

Question 4: Who played the role of Laurie Strode in the 1978 film Halloween?

A. Jamie Lee Curtis
B. Heather Langenkamp
C. Adrienne King
D. Margot Kidder

Question 5: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was released in which year?

A. 1972
B. 1974
C. 1976
D. 1978

Question 6: Which actor portrayed Freddy Krueger in the 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street?

A. Robert Englund
B. Kane Hodder
C. Tony Todd
D. Doug Bradley

Question 7: In the 1980 film Friday the 13th, who directed the movie?

A. John Carpenter
B. Wes Craven
C. Sean S. Cunningham
D. Tobe Hooper

Question 8: What is the profession of Donald Pleasence’s character in Halloween?

A. Police officer
B. Psychiatrist
C. Mechanic
D. Teacher

Question 9: The 1981 film Friday the 13th Part 2 introduces which recurring character as a survivor from the first film?

A. Ginny Field
B. Alice Hardy
C. Chris Higgins
D. Trish Jarvis

Question 10: Which studio distributed the original 1978 Halloween?

A. Paramount Pictures
B. Warner Bros.
C. Compass International Pictures
D. Universal Pictures

Answers

  1. B. John Carpenter – John Carpenter directed and co-wrote Halloween with Debra Hill. Tobe Hooper directed The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Wes Craven directed A Nightmare on Elm Street and Sean S. Cunningham directed Friday the 13th.
  2. B. Pamela Voorhees – Pamela Voorhees is the killer seeking revenge for her son Jason. Jason himself does not appear as the killer until later entries in the series.
  3. C. Springwood – The events unfold in the fictional town of Springwood, Ohio. Haddonfield appears in Halloween, Woodsboro in Scream and Crystal Lake in the Friday the 13th series.
  4. A. Jamie Lee Curtis – Jamie Lee Curtis played Laurie Strode. Heather Langenkamp played Nancy in A Nightmare on Elm Street, Adrienne King played Alice in Friday the 13th and Margot Kidder appeared in other horror films.
  5. B. 1974 – The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was released in 1974. It predates the major 1980s slasher wave.
  6. A. Robert Englund – Robert Englund originated the role of Freddy Krueger. Kane Hodder played Jason in several Friday the 13th films, Tony Todd played Candyman and Doug Bradley played Pinhead.
  7. C. Sean S. Cunningham – Sean S. Cunningham directed the 1980 Friday the 13th. John Carpenter, Wes Craven and Tobe Hooper directed other landmark horror films of the era.
  8. B. Psychiatrist – Donald Pleasence played Dr. Sam Loomis, a psychiatrist. He is not a police officer, mechanic or teacher.
  9. B. Alice Hardy – Alice Hardy returns briefly at the start of Part 2 after surviving the first film. Ginny Field, Chris Higgins and Trish Jarvis appear in later sequels.
  10. C. Compass International Pictures – Compass International Pictures distributed the original Halloween. Paramount later handled some sequels and other studios distributed different franchises.

Share your score in the comments and challenge friends to match or beat it.