Horror films of the 1980s are all about repression. Whether it’s the repression of identity, primal urges, or anything else that polite society wants to hide,‘80s horror filmsshow repression’s brutal consequences.
Or, sometimes the ‘80s were about the Cold War. Or absurdist humor. Orbody horror. Really, it just depends on which horror director you’re dealing with.
There’s no doubt that the ‘80s made their mark on horror history. Advancements in special effects created bolder, more gruesome storytelling, and these films take full advantage of the new opportunities. Many of thehorror films of todaywould not exist without these groundbreaking films.
In fact, the decade is full ofso many iconic filmsthat I had a hard time narrowing them down. If you’ll humor me, I’d like to shout out a few honorable mentions:The Changeling,Poltergeist,Near Dark, andThe Blobare also particular favorites of mine.
As you plan yourHalloween movie marathons, it’s worth considering all of the following ‘80s horror films. Whether you’re a horror fanatic or a new fan, these films are essential Halloween viewing.
The Shining(1980)
I would be remiss to leave out one of the most famous horror films of any decade. Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation ofStephen King’sThe Shiningis (in)famous for taking the source material and turning it on its head.
Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) is an aspiring author who accepts a new job as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel. He brings his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), with him to the isolated and deserted hotel for some family bonding. However, his writer's block plagues him, and he’s starting to see some unusual beings lurking in the halls and empty rooms.
While King didn’t care for Kubrick's changes,The Shiningis an undeniably effective horror film. Thanks to its disturbing imagery, including elevators of blood, spooky twin ghost girls, anddeadly family disputes, it has had a long influence on horror ever since. Duvall especially shines as a wife who desperately hopes her husband will come to his senses while knowing he probably won’t.
An American Werewolf in London(1981)
An American Werewolf in Londonis another ‘80s horror film with a lasting legacy, particularly due to its unparalleled special effects. Despite the many attempts over the years, you will have difficulty finding awerewolf flickthat handles its transformation sequence better.
American college students David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne) are backpacking through Britain when a large wolf attacks them. David survives with a relatively small bite wound, but Jack is killed in the encounter. David spends time in London to heal, but he’s haunted by the ghost of his dead friend and the possibility that he may turn into a werewolf on the next full moon.
As was previously mentioned, the transformation sequence alone is enough to make this film a must-watch. However, the slowly deteriorating corpse, played to chilling effect by Dunne, is also an astounding feat of makeup and practical effects. The story is also surprisingly emotional as David struggles with his new existence, makingAn American Werewolf in Londona cut above the rest.
Possession(1981)
Possessionwas banned in the United Kingdom and heavily edited in the United States following its release, and honestly, I can see why it inspired the pearl clutching. This“video nasty,”as the National Viewers’ and Listeners’ Association would say, takes you on a nightmarish journey through the world’s worst divorce.
An international spy, Mark(Sam Neill), is devastated when Anna (Isabelle Adjani) asks him for a divorce. He tries every manipulation trick in the book to convince her to stay, but becomes increasingly alarmed at the escalation of her erratic behavior and the effect it has on him. There may be something more demonic at the heart of this conscious uncoupling.
WatchingPossessionmade me question whether I was the one losing touch with reality. It’s impossible to anticipate where the plot is going from one moment to the next, and the grotesque imagery hits you when you least expect it. Neill gives a wonderful performance, akin toIn the Mouth of Madness, but Adjani is the film's heart. Whether she’s smiling eerily at the camera or convulsing in a subway terminal, you can’t look away (even if you want to).
The Thing(1982)
John Carpenter appears in every list of the greatest horror films of the ‘80s, and for good reason. He’s directed dozens of major hits, but as far as I’m concerned,The Thingis one of his most outstanding achievements and one of the best representations of ‘80s Cold War paranoia.
A team of American scientists in Antarctica accidentally let an alien into their camp, and things just get worse from there. Pilot MacReady (Kurt Russell) leads the charge against the mysterious monster, which kills and perfectly replicates its victims. Now that it’s impossible to tell who is a friend and who is a foe, the men turn on one another to find the impostors.
The Thingis claustrophobic, nauseating, and suspenseful. As an adaptation ofThe Thing From Another Worldand the John W. Campbell story that inspired it, it improves on its source material and gives ussomething timelessly scary. In addition to a strong leading performance from Russell, Keith David also commands the screen as MacReady’s rival in the divided camp.
A Nightmare on Elm Street(1984)
WhileA Nightmare on Elm Streetis an obvious choice, it’s not unearned.Wes Craven’s slasher filmshifted genre expectations by adding a more overt supernatural component, changing the game and making us afraid to fall asleep for decades.
Several teenagers have the same nightmare starring Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), a mysterious knife-fingered man, and then soon after they die in gruesome and unexplained ways. Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) starts to suspect that there is a secret on Elm Street, and she is determined to solve it before Freddy kills her, too.
Freddy Krueger is never as terrifying as inA Nightmare on Elm Street. Astounding visual effects and eerie dream sequences perfectly match Englund’s intimidating presence. Langenkamp’s Nancy is also a well-realized counterpart to Freddy, and she stands out as one of the strongest female protagonists in a slasher film. If you somehow haven’t seen it yet, this Halloween is the perfect opportunity.
The Fly(1986)
If the ‘80s were about prosthetics, thenThe Flytakes the cake. David Cronenberg is another horror director considered untouchable, and his remake ofThe Fly(1958) perhaps best displays his penchant for grotesque effects and bleak stories.
Scientist Seth Brundle(Jeff Goldblum)has successfully created a teleportation device, but he decides to test it on himself when under pressure to present results. Unfortunately, a housefly sneaked into the machine with him, and after the otherwise successful test of the machine, Seth begins to merge with the fly’s DNA.
The Flyhas everything—a charming turned menacing Goldblum, realistic molting skin, pregnancy nightmares, and anything else you can think of. In a decade of shocking films,The Flyranks pretty high on that metric. However, it also breaks your heart as Seth’s hubris leads to the worst possible outcome.
Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn(1987)
While Sam Raimi’s low-budgetThe Evil Deadalso came out in the ‘80s, its sequel somehow improved upon an already great premise.Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn, again directed by Raimi, is one of the besthorror comediesaround, and don’t worry—it doesn’t skimp on either genre.
While technically a sequel, the film begins as a re-do of the first before branching into new territory. Ash (Bruce Campbell) takes his girlfriend, Linda (Denise Bixler), to a remote cabin getaway. There, they play a taped recitation ofNecronomicon Ex-Mortis(The Book of the Dead), which awakens the Kandarian Demon and unleashes a bizarre evil into the world.
Evil Dead 2is the pinnacle of horror and comedy, especially for its time. It showcases an absurdist sense of humor and ridiculous levels of carnage. It’s tough to take this film seriously at times, but at others, it’s chillingly effective with its scares. From Ash’s iconic chainsaw hand to absurd laughing furniture and dancing corpses,Evil Dead 2bursts with frenetic energy.
The Lost Boys(1987)
The Lost Boysis another horror comedy that is a little more serious than films likeEvil Dead 2. While there were plenty of excellentvampire flicksin the ‘80s (includingNear Dark, which came out in the same year),The Lost Boysstands out as a true representative of the decade.
Following her divorce, Lucy (Dianne Wiest) drags her reluctant sons, Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim), to California to live with their grandfather (Barnard Hughes). It turns out, she has put them in the path of a gang of unruly vamps led by David (Kiefer Sutherland), forcing them to team up with teenage vampire hunters, the Frog Brothers (Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander).
If you want a quintessential ‘80s horror movie, I think one that stars the two Coreys, features a rocking soundtrack, and demonizes rebellious youth will do the trick. This movie is just fun, particularly when Sutherland and the other vampires are partaking in their hedonistic rituals. Maybe the kids aren’t alright, but you’ll have to watchThe Lost Boysto find out.
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