Slasher: Ripper (2023) spoiler free review
Created by Aaron Martin Slasher is an anthology slasher horror television series that premiered on the American television network Chiller on March 4, 2016. Each season focuses on a masked killer with unknown motives for killing their victims. The first three seasons (The Executioner, Guilty Party, Solstice) are currently available in Netflix and the last two seasons (Flesh & Blood, Ripper) in Shudder.
Slasher: Ripper takes place in the late 19th century – where there is a killer stalking the streets, but instead of targeting the poor and downtrodden like Jack the Ripper, the Widow is meting out justice against the rich and powerful. The only person standing in the way of this killer is a newly promoted detective, Kenneth Rijkers, whose ironclad belief in justice may wind up being yet another victim.
Season synopsis
Slasher: Ripper’s cast includes Thom Allison as Georges Rondeau, Salvatore Antonio as Salomé, Lisa Berry as Dr. Melanda Israel, Paula Brancati as Viviana Botticelli, Jefferson Brown as Horatio Dixon, Steve Byers as Andrew May Jr, Gabriel Darku as Detective Kenneth Rijkers, Sabrina Grdevich as Venetia Botticelli, Christopher Jacot as Terrence Crenshaw, Daniel Kash as Superintendent Isaac Kashtinsky, Sadie Laflamme-Snow as Verdi Botticelli, Clare McConnell as Regina Simcoe, Mercedes Morris as Shanika, Brandon Oakes as Eddie Jacobs, Jo Vannicola as Enid Jenkins, and Eric McCormack as Basil Garvey.
My opinion
Taking inspiration from one of the most known serial killers, Jack The Ripper, this season takes us to the 19th century Toronto where a masked killer called The Widow is killing the rich members of society. While at first they can look as random victims soon we’re going to realize that they have something linking them together. With a average running time of 45 minutes the eight episodes will lead the viewers throughout the alleys between the past and the present.
The fast paced narrative turns into a engaging and interesting story. Each episode leaves you wanting more with a brutal and merciless killer adding at least one victim per episode to the list. Finding out who is The Widow is a difficult task, the suspects list will change more than once making the reveal in the last episode even more shocking. With strong motives and justifications, The Widow turns into the type of villain that you root for. While the acting is not outstanding, it did exceeded my expectations and made the watching experience enjoyable.
The story had a proper closure leaving a feeling of satisfaction that proves that a short story can have consistency, good writing, and doesn’t need to kill characters in unjustified way to be able to finish the story without explanations. Yes, I’m talking about American Horror Story who served as inspiration for the creation of this series. Enjoy this eight episodes slasher story now available in Shudder.