O2 PLAYING CARDS
For this individual assignment, I saw an opportunity to blend creativity with a personal interest—and ran with it like a final girl sprinting through the woods. Given the open prompt to make playing cards, I knew immediately that I wanted to pay homage to the horror genre that has fascinated and thrilled me for years. I created a custom deck of playing cards inspired by classic slasher films, drawing not only on their visual aesthetics but on the themes, symbols, and atmospheres that define each one.
These cards aren’t just collectibles—they’re a love letter to the genre. Each suit represents one of my personal favorites: Scream, Friday the 13th, Halloween, and the underrated gem My Bloody Valentine. I assigned suits with care and intention, allowing the design and symbolism of each to reflect its film’s essence. From the sharp brilliance of Scream as diamonds to the blood-soaked hearts of My Bloody Valentine, every choice deepens the connection between card and film. What started as a simple task quickly evolved into one of my favorite creative projects—an artistic tribute that turned a deck of cards into a gallery of horror icons.
The prints did come off slightly off centre, and therefore cut off. It’s hard to determine if this was a document or a print issue. Either way, I think these are awesome cards for my first time.
The packaging is based off a VHS tape, because these are ‘old’ movies we’re talking about. Also, media today - moreso in video games, display creepy videos on VHS tapes. Seemed appropriate.
The Joker card being a stack of box TV’s and a camera also seemed to fit the aesthetic, considering the time and type of the media.
Inspired by Halloween—a holiday deeply rooted in American culture and typically celebrated during the autumn season—I opted for a rich, amber hue. This colour choice was heavily influenced by the warm, earthy tones of fall foliage, as well as the classic imagery associated with Halloween, like pumpkins and candlelight.
The theme itself draws from Halloween, the iconic slasher film featuring Michael Myers. It's a staple of the horror genre and one of the first titles that comes to mind when you think of classic slasher films. I wanted recognizable figures, for nostalgia and visual impact—something that fans of both horror and playing cards could appreciate.
In hindsight, I think there was room to expand on the theme further. For example, having the jack card represent another character from the film or the number cards might have worked well with stylized pumpkin motifs or Halloween-inspired patterns, blending character and iconography.
The original My Bloody Valentine, released in 1981 is a seminal entry in the slasher genre. Set in the small mining town of Valentine Bluffs, the film follows a group of young adults who decide to resurrect a long-abandoned Valentine’s Day dance—only to fall victim to a mysterious, pickaxe-wielding killer dressed in mining gear.
It’s considered a classic slasher film because it helped define and popularize many of the genre’s key conventions. Released in 1980, it followed the success of Halloween but brought a more brutal, visceral edge, with a focus on creative kills, a mysterious killer, and a body-count formula that would become standard in horror cinema. Its summer camp setting, teenage victims, and the now-iconic “final girl” trope all contributed to a blueprint that countless films would later imitate.
The film also introduced Jason Voorhees, who, while not the killer in the original, evolved into one of horror's most enduring and recognizable figures. With its eerie atmosphere, suspenseful pacing, and shocking twist ending, Friday the 13th not only shocked audiences but cemented its place as a cornerstone of the slasher genre and a staple of horror pop culture.
That being said, it would be criminal of me not to include it into my set of Slasher Deck playing cards.
While there is a large franchise of sequels and a TV adaptation, I chose the original as it stands as the most pivotal, setting the tone for a new era of horror where the characters—and audience—knew the rules.
Diamond, as the final suit, suits Scream in a fittingly ironic way. Unlike the hearts of Valentine, the earthy greens of Friday the 13th, or the blood-red horror of My Bloody Valentine, diamonds evoke sharpness, brilliance, and a certain deceptive elegance—just like the film itself. The diamond suit also suggests a sort of legacy and prestige—appropriate for Scream.
Another must have in the Slasher Deck.