The 1980s were a great time forhorror moviesand a decade full of undisputed classics and several underappreciated hidden gems. With advancements in special effects and increased use of animatronics and prosthetics, horror movies during this decade could depict gruesome imagery and shocking visuals in ways previously thought unimaginable. This was also the era whenslasher moviesreally took off, and horror films dared to become even more gory, shocking, and violent than what was permissible in previous decades.
Some of thegreatest horror moviesever made were released in the 1980s asall-time great directorslike David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, and Wes Craven really came into their own. The 1980s saw the creation of franchises that have continued right up to this day and the introduction of horror villains like Freddy Krueger, who have become icons of modern popular culture. With films that reflected the social and political anxieties of their time,the 1980s were truly a golden age for horror.
Cast
The 1980s started strong as Stanley Kubrick’s incredible adaptation of Stephen King’sThe Shiningwas not only the best horror of the year but just might be the greatest horror movie ever made.Jack Nicholson was never more menacing than when playing Jack Torrance, the recovering alcoholic and aspiring novelist who found himself slowly being compelled into a murderous rampage due to the spooky influence of the spirits of the Overlook Hotel. With endless symbolism and a healthy dose of the supernatural,The Shiningcaptured the eerie essence of King’s book, even if the author himself was not a fan.
9 Things Stephen King Has Said About Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining Movie
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is considered one of the greatest horror films ever, but one man isn’t a fan: Stephen King, the author of the novel.
From iconic quotes like “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” to the murderous announcement of “Here’s Johnny!”The Shiningwas a chilling journey into the darkest recesses of madness set in a creepy hotel that’s not nearly as vacant as it first seemed.The Shiningwas genuinely frightening, and Shelley Duvall gave one of her all-time great performances as the long-suffering wife Wendy, while the clairvoyance of their young son Danny added to the intrigue of its lore.The Shiningwas an all-time great horror that’s not lost any of its power all these decades later.
The Evil Dead
The Evil Deadis a horror movie from 1981 starring Bruce Campbell and directed by Sam Raimi. The film follows Ash Williams, who after visiting a cabin in the woods, is tormented by deadites and must fight for his life after his friends are possessed.The Evil Deadnot only started a long-running horror franchise, but it is also the film responsible for putting both Raimi and Campbell on the map as a director and actor, respectively.
Although 1981 saw the release of classics likeAn American Werewolf in Londonor the sequel that properly introduced Jason Voorhees inFriday the 13th Part 2, it was Sam Raimi’sThe Evil Deadthat stood out that year. As the inception point for the franchise that continues to this day, the firstEvil Deadmovie was far less comedic than the rest of Raimi’s trilogy, as a group of friends was plagued by demonic possession while Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) was forced to survive in an increasingly brutal confrontation.
The Evil Deadwas a true cult classic that laid the groundwork for everything that followed it.Campbell was perfectly castas the tenacious and often hilarious hero who will stop at nothing to ensure his own survival in a performance that was so informed by his skill for slapstick that the sequels leaned even more heavily into his undeniable comedic genius.The Evil Deadwas a low-budget horror film that managed to break through into the mainstream and helped solidify Raimi’s reputation as a major horror filmmaker.
The Thing
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
It seemed the audiences and critics of 1982 didn’t connect with John Carpenter’sThe Thingas it received poor reviews and underperformed at the box office. This was the year ofPoltergeistandCreepshow, although, with the power of hindsight, it’s clear thatThe Thingwas misunderstood and was truly the best horror release of that year. With a terrifying and unknowable shapeshifting extraterrestrial threat at the heart of its story,The Thingwas characterized by fear and paranoiaas the trust between a group of American researchers in Antarctica slowly started to erode.
The alien inThe Thingcould assimilate, then imitate, other organisms, meaning none of the survivors could tell who was still themselves or who was an imposter just waiting for their chance to attack. With themes around the fear of the other,The Thingwas particularly relevant considering the Cold War tensions of the 1980s and increased fear of mutually assured destruction in the event of a nuclear attack. While it didn’t get the love it deserved upon release,The Thinghas been reevaluated as one of the best horror movies ever made.
Videodrome
Videodrome (1983) is a science fiction horror film directed by David Cronenberg. The movie stars James Woods as Max Renn, a television executive who stumbles upon a broadcast signal featuring extreme violence and torture. His obsession with uncovering the source leads him into a disturbing and hallucinatory journey, highlighting the destructive potential of media and technology. Debbie Harry also stars as Nicki Brand, a radio personality entangled in the narrative.
Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg developed his unique talent for body horror grotesqueness throughout the 1970s, and by the release ofVideodromein 1983, he had truly started to perfect it. Cronenberg’s alienating cinematic style meant he was rarely able to reach a mainstream audience, andVideodromewas no different as it bombed at the box office. However, it built up a reputation as a true cult classic, as its techno-surrealism style and deeply psychological themes made it stand out as one of the year’s most accomplished films.
Videodromeblended body horror and sci-fi as layers of corruption revealed themselves as a man sought to discover the source of a strange broadcast symbol that aired unauthorized snuf films. From outrageous hallucinations that highlighted a crumbling sense of reality, the themes ofVideodromeaddressed the increasing grasp technology was holding on societyat large and the negative impact of allowing it to take over entirely.Videodromeis even more relevant today than it was in the 1980s, as it signaled the dark path technology was leading society down.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street, released in 1984, explores the terror faced by a group of teenagers haunted in their dreams by Fred Krueger, a vengeful spirit. As they confront a series of mysterious deaths, Nancy Thompson uncovers the truth about Krueger’s dark past and seeks to stop him.
The world was introduced to the child murderer who kills teenagers in their dreams, Freddy Krueger, in Wes Craven’s 1984 classicA Nightmare on Elm Street. While this was known asthe film debut of actor Johnny Depp, it was also the beginning of a major horror franchise that went on to have six sequels, a television series, and even a crossover, some of which were better than others. However, it’s tough to beat the original, as everything that was chilling and great about this series was on full display in the very first movie.
As a unique blend of classic slasher horror movie tropes and more fantastical elements, the way thatA Nightmare on Elm Streetcombined the threat of murder with an surreal dreamworld gave it a unique appeal. As a killer who visited his victims in their dreams, Freddy was a threat unlike anything ever seen in mainstream movies before and, as a result, became a genuine horror icon. As a film that walked the fine line between the imaginary and real,A Nightmare on Elm Streetwas an original horror that captured the often traumatic experience of adolescence.
Re-Animator
1985’s Re-Animator is a feature-length film based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story, Herbert West–Reanimator. The Horror and Comedy release follows a man that spends time attempting to create a reagent that will reanimate the dead.
The comedy-horrorRe-Animatorjust might be the greatest H.P. Lovecraft adaptation of them all, as it perfectly captured the spirit of his 1922 short story “Herbert West–Reanimator.” Starring Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West,Re-Animatortold the story of a medical student who discovered how to reanimate the dead in a gory tale that blended the classic horror ofFrankensteinwith the aesthetics and humor of the best 1980s horror. With deadpan delivery, Combs gave his all to this more lighthearted take on Lovecraft’s original story.
Re-Animatorwas campy horror movie fun in the truest sense of the word and led to several sequels, includingBride of Re-Animatorin 1990 andBeyond Re-Animatorin 2003. With an incredible soundtrack that even paid tribute to the classic score from Alfred Hitchcock’sPsycho,Re-Animatorwas a real treat for horror movie lovers as it leaned into the legacy of the genre while also feeling totally original. As a fun and frightening film,Re-Animatorbeat out other great movies of 1985, such asFright NightandDay of the Dead.
The Fly
The Fly follows scientist Seth Brundle as he makes a groundbreaking teleportation experiment. During testing, he inadvertently merges with a housefly, leading to unforeseen consequences.
David Cronenberg managed to improve upon the original when he remade the 1956 B-movie horror classicThe Fly, a sci-fi horror classic based on a short story by George Langelaan. With Jeff Goldblum as the brilliant but eccentric scientist Seth Brundle,The Flyleaned into Cronenberg’s penchant for body horror as an experiment gone wrong meant he slowly transformed into a terrifying fly-human hybrid creature known as Brundlefly. With gruesome imagery,The Flydeservedly earned an Academy Award for Best Makeup.
The Flyhas gained an important place in popular culture and has been parodied numerous times, like inThe Simpsons' “Treehouse of Horror VIII,” when Homer used a matter transporter machine that switched his head with that of a fly. EvenThe Fly’stagline, “Be afraid. Be very afraid,”has become so well known that many may not realize it originated from the marketing of this film. With an undeniable legacy,The Flywas the perfect encapsulation of Cronenberg’s unique style that made him a true original in the world of horror.
Predator
A team of elite commandos led by Major Dutch Schaefer is sent on a rescue mission deep in the Central American jungle. However, they soon find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior with advanced technology and a penchant for collecting human trophies. As the creature picks them off one by one, Dutch must rely on his wits and combat skills to survive the ultimate test of man versus alien.
Horror movies can traverse many different genres as they often combine elements of comedy, fantasy, sci-fi, or, in the case ofPredator, action movies. This action horror starring Arnold Schwarzenegger led to an entire franchise as humans faced off against the highly skilled extraterrestrial creatures known as Yautja. By taking the action-hero persona that Schwarzenegger had developed in movies likeCommandoand blending it with the horror of a seemingly unstoppable alien foe in the jungle,Predatorwas a claustrophobic classic with impressive special effects for its time.
Part sci-fi, part horror, part action,Predatormanaged to successfully juggle its blend of genres to produce a tense, engaging, and highly entertaining movie. WhileSchwarzenegger gave one of his best performances as Dutch Schaefer, whose utterances of lines like “get to the choppa!” have gone down in movie history, Carl Weathers also deserved praise for his effective turn as the CIA agent Dillon. While thePredatorfranchise had plenty more great moments to come, it never got any better than the 1987 original.
They Live
John Carpenter directs They Live, a sci-fi movie about a drifter known as Nada (Roddy Piper), who discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see the evil forces that secretly pull the strings of the world and manipulate people through subliminal messages. The film provides a critical commentary on consumerism and conformism from a science fiction perspective.
Director John Carpenter made some of his greatest work during the 1980s, and one underappreciated release was the biting satireThey Live. As a blend of action, comedy, sci-fi, and horror,They Livewas an effective deconstruction of 1980s neoliberalism that took sharp aim at Reaganomics, increased commodification of culture, and the divisive politics of the era.They Livetells the story of a drifter named Nada (Roddy Piper) who discovers special sunglasses that allow him to see the ruling class as they really are: aliens manipulating the status quo through subliminal messaging.
They Livewas a clever satire that showcased those in power’s desire to manipulate people into consuming, breeding, and conforming to serve the interests of elite aliens, pulling the strings behind the scenes. WhileThey Livewas lambasted at the time of its releasefor its heavy-handed messaging and subversive social commentary, this was also the exact reason it has endured so well as an effective time capsule of the era in which it was produced. With a powerful message about the dehumanizing effects of an increasingly fractured world, the scariest thing aboutThey Livewas how accurate it was.
Begotten
Begotten is an avant-garde horror film directed by E. Elias Merhige, featuring stark black-and-white cinematography and minimal dialogue. The film depicts a series of disturbing and surreal imagery, exploring themes of creation, death, and rebirth in a mythological context. Its abstract narrative and unsettling visuals challenge conventional storytelling and evoke a visceral, contemplative response from viewers.
The 1980s ended with some great horror movies, including the excellent adaptation of Stephen King’sPet Semataryand cult favorites likePuppet Master. However, the honor of best horror of that year has to go to the experimental classicBegotten, a silent horror movie that terrifyingly explored creation myths in Christian mythology, Celtic mythology, and Slavic paganism. Originally conceived as a work of experimental theater,Begottenmade for challenging viewingand certainly won’t be for everybody, but those who connect with it will do so deeply.
With impressive cinematography and visual imagery,Begottenwas a piece of avant-garde filmmaking that reached a much larger audience in the 21st century due to its widespread availability online. As a beautiful and challenging work of art from E. Elias Merhige,Begotten’shaunting and dreamlike aesthetic was remarkably unsettling in a way that made it stand out as totally original. While it will likely take fans of more conventional horror movies far outside their comfort zone,Begottenalso proved thathorror moviesdon’t have to follow any predetermined rules of filmmaking to be truly effective.
