Two blog posts in one day now there's something I never thought I'd have time for. Anyway, the time has come for another installment in my series of lists of my top 10 horrors per decade and this time we find ourselves at the 80's. I've mentioned this decade a lot in these posts mainly in referencing the great slasher boom that took place during that time, yes slasher films in the 80's were as common as superhero films would be today. But the 80's wasn't all about slashers oh no, the decade saw some very important horror films being released, films that continued to push the envelope, some films that even just ripped the envelope into thousands of tiny pieces. Filmmakers began to use more blood and gore, creating more elaborate kills and more terrifying monsters. Yes the 80's was a brilliant decade for horror and one of my personal favourites, which made it harder for me to single out just ten films. But anyways, here's my list and as always beware, there could be spoilers ahead.
10. Slaughter High (1986)
Now the 80's was packed full of slasher flicks, some gaining high acclaim while others faded away into obscurity, and it would seem like Slaughter High falls into the latter category. However, it is a really entertaining film that's full of some very inventive and incredibly gruesome death scenes that are, at times, vomit-inducing. It follows a group of old high school friends who become the victims of a mysterious killer in a jester mask during their high school reunion, it soon becomes clear that the killer is another former student who they victimised at school to the point of insanity. I say 'mysterious' killer, but in reality his identity is evident from the beginning, even the trailer drills it into your mind that the killer is Marty Rantzen (Simon Scuddamore), an ex-nerd who was disfigured in a high school prank gone wrong. Still though, he has a formidable presence about him despite the silly looking jester mask he dons. What makes him scary is the way in which he kills his victims, almost all of the deaths are nods to some of the pranks played on Marty at the beginning of the film. For example, a glass jar of acid smashes, sending the substance flying to his face, later he uses the same substance to burn a girl to death in a bath tub. It's a nasty, unrelenting film yet surprisingly funny here and there, it also has a catchy, guitar-heavy soundtrack that's just pure 80's. There's nothing clever or thought provoking about Slaughter High, it's just pure exploitation, but that's the beauty of this 80's slasher flick.
9. Night of the Demons (1988)
This is about as 80's as you can get. The film focuses on a Halloween party at an abandoned mortuary that goes awry after the guests start getting possessed by demonic entities that dwell inside the mortuary walls. Another film that has gained a cult status since its release, Night of the Demons is one of the most entertaining horror films of the 80's, its got plenty of laughs and plenty of scares and with its distinctive 80's style it is hard to resist this films charm. It's like if John Hughes attempted to remake The Evil Dead. But it's not all jokes in this film as there are some scenes that are not only scary but downright bizarre, one involves a girl inserting her lipstick into her nipple before slaughtering one of the other guests post-coitus. There's also a surreal dance scene where the possessed Angela (Amelia Kinkade) sways away to Bauhaus' Stigmata Martyr and as the lights begin to flash almost subliminally it feels like watching a David Lynch film. While some of the acting is a bit off, standout characters include the comedian Stooge (Hal Havis) and the wise-cracking Italian stereotype Sal (Billy Gallo). It isn't perfect but Night of the Demons is a thoroughly entertaining 80's horror that will make you laugh, jump and tilt your head in confusion, a true classic.
8. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
I've spoke about this film a lot on my blog, basically it's the only Halloween film without Michael Myers as after the second installment the franchise was intended to be an anthology series. However after this flopped, that idea was scrapped and it went back to the Myers storyline. Don't let the bad reviews fool you though, as a standalone film this is a pretty solid horror that has tons of shocking scenes and pretty decent acting. Instead of continuing the Michael Myers story, this installment revolves around Daniel Challis (Tom Atkins), a doctor who uncovers a bizarre plot orchestrated by maniacal warlock Conal Cochran (Dan O'Herlihy) involving evil Halloween masks and stonehenge. I know, a huge contrast to its predecessors, but a fun film all the same. Although it was directed by It director Tommy Lee Wallace instead of the series' creator John Carpenter, Carpenter's presence is evident throughout, from the incredibly suspenseful atmosphere to his synth heavy score. Along with this early Carpenter-esque vibe, the film has some horrific moments that make it so memorably scary. One scene in particular involves a childs head slowly decaying into a pile of snakes and insects after wearing one of Cochran's masks, what makes it even more chilling is the cheery Silver Shamrock theme playing on the nearby television. It's definitely one of the strongest sequels in the franchise, I may be so bold as to say it's the second best after the original but that's up for debate. With brilliant performances all around and an atmosphere so tense you could cut it with a spoon, Halloween III: Season of the Witch has since become a cult classic despite the initial negativity surrounding it.
7. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
The fourth installment in the Friday the 13th franchise was nowhere near the final chapter despite what its title may say, it was followed by 6 more sequels, a crossover and a remake, but to me it is the best. What sets it apart from the others you may ask? Well to me this one is the definitive Friday the 13th film, not only does it have Jason Voorhees (Ted White) in all his hockey-mask-wearing glory (only the second film to feature said mask), but it also has likeable characters and an interesting plot that makes the impact of the kills much more intense. Taking place directly after Part III, the film sees Jason Voorhees escaping the morgue and returning to Crystal Lake to continue his slaughter of its inhabitants. Aside from the usual killer-stalking-teens story, there is also the story of Tommy Jarvis (Corey Feldman), a young boy from Crystal Lake living with his mother and sister and who has a penchant for horror movie masks. It also sees a man named Rob (Erich Anderson) seek out Jason so as he can avenge his sister who was killed of in Part 2. The subplots alone make it more interesting than previous films in the franchise, however it is the characters in this installment that really make it stand out, they are likeable characters who have time to develop, allowing us to actually care for them when they meet their doom. Above all, the film has a brilliant dance scene courtesy of Crispin Glover, definitely one of the stronger films of the franchise and my personal favourite.
6. The House by the Cemetery (1981)
Lucio Fulci is without a doubt one of Italy's greatest horror directors, renowned for his graphic effects and ability to create atmosphere throughout his films, and nowhere are these skills more evident than in The House by the Cemetery. The film takes place in a house by a cemetery where the Boyle family take up residence after the father Norman's (Paolo Malco) former colleague mysteriously dies, what follows is an outlandish tale of gore, suspense and questionable dubbing. The film highlights two things that Fulci does best, as I already mentioned, these being gore effects and building tension. While not explicitly scary the atmosphere in this film is incredibly suspenseful, somehow Fulci manages to create this unnerving sense of tension that works in his favour. Along with this are his notoriously gory sequences that he's so infamous for, not only because they're explicitly violent but also because they are so drawn out. One scene in the film in which a realtor is brutally decapitated had to be severely cut down and even then it seems like it lasts forever, the Italian director has a keen eye for violence. There is a lot about this film that doesn't make sense however, what was the significance of the mysterious babysitter? Why did she bare a striking resemblance to a shop window mannequin? Why does 9 year old Bob (Giovanni Frezza) sound like a 30 year old woman? These are questions whose answers Fulci took to his grave with him, despite all of the plot holes however, House by the Cemetery is very stylish and extremely unsettling, definitely one of Fulci's best works.
5. The Thing (1982)
After Alien, sci-fi was beginning to get scarier and a prime example of this is in John Carpenter's The Thing. Essentially a remake of The Thing From Another World, the film is set in the Antarctic and sees the citizens of a research station combat a strange, shapeshifting being from another world. This was the second film in the long collaboration between director John Carpenter and actor Kurt Russell who plays the protagonist MacReady in this, it once again proves that the duo work extremely well together. Russell brings his signature witty charisma to the role, creating one of the most likeable horror film protagonists of all time. This film contains what is perhaps the most suspenseful scene in cinematic history in which everybody at the station must undergo a blood test to determine who has been assimilated by the creature, it is an incredibly nailbiting scene. It would be cruel to praise this film without discussing its effects, it contains some of the most mindblowing creature effects of its time, one of my favourites being the stomach that becomes a set of jaws thanks to the eponymous Thing. The whole idea of the baddie hiding among the heroes is something that has been done many times both before and after The Thing, however it has never been done like this before. It is a masterclass in science fiction that takes a familiar concept and fuses it with John Carpenter's signature style to make for a truly terrifying piece of cinema.
4. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Director Wes Craven had already gained acclaim in the genre in the 70's with films like Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes, but it was this supernatural 80's slasher that really cemented the late directors name in horror history. While it follows the usual slasher formula of a killer relentlessly stalking teenagers, this one has a supernatural twist as the killer can only get his victims in their dreams from beyond the grave. This is the film that introduced the world to Freddie Krueger (Robert Englund), the disfigured dream lord who vengefully slaughtered the children of Springwood Ohio years after he was burned to death by their parents. It put an original spin on a genre that was growing in popularity and I suppose that's what gained it so much acclaim, taking an original idea and applying it to a genre that was still growing in popularity. Englund is phenomenal as Krueger, bringing an incredibly sinister atmosphere to all of his scenes while also maintaining a certain wit that the character has become so heavily associated with over the years. The acting talent doesn't end there however as this also marks the cinematic debut of a certain Johnny Depp who plays Glen, the love interest of the films protagonists Nancy (Heather Langenkamp). It's a clever little film and the late Mr. Craven has great fun toying with the audiences minds, blurring the lines between dream and reality, it is one of the highlights of his career.
3. Hellraiser (1987)
Body horror was another subgenre that became increasingly popular during the 80's and one of the most iconic of these films is Clive Barker's Hellraiser, an adaptation of his own novella The Hellbound Heart. The story revolves around nihilist Frank Cotton (Sean Chapman) who enlists his sister in law Julia (Clare Higgins) to help resurrect him after being torn apart by the cenobites, beings from another dimension. I love this film, it is a film that retains a perfect balance of sophistication and violence, having a tone much more serious than other films released at the time. It's got some of the greatest creature effects ever, the cenobites are so disturbingly grotesque from the grizzly looking Chatterbox (Nicholas Vince), to the now iconic Pinhead (Doug Bradley) they are some of the most original and convincing creatures of their time. Bradley in particular is incredible as Pinhead, his performance is so memorably chilling that although he is only a neutral character in this film he is undoubtedly the most iconic thing about it. It has such a unique sense of style, gothic and beautifully grotesque, it really reflects the whole theme of pain and pleasure that is so prominent throughout the film. Between the skinless Frank feeding on unsuspecting victims in his attic to the eerie cenobites, there is such a strong sense of dread throughout Hellraiser that makes it one of the most memorable and original horror's of its time.
2. The Shining (1980)
It was only a matter of time before acclaimed director Stanley Kubrick turned to horror, and what better way to do so than adapting Stephen King's supernatural novel The Shining. A twisted tale of paranoia set against the backdrop of a haunted hotel that sees Jack Torrance's (Jack Nicholson) slow descent into madness during his time as winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel. Kubrick takes King's novel and makes it his own, bringing his signature style and techniques to the film to present a visually stunning piece of horror cinema. Kubrick transforms the story into a surreal descent into insanity fuelled by paranoia and Jack Nicholson is brilliant at embodying this aspect of the film. As always he gives an electric performance and it is a real treat watching him unleash this sheer madness upon his unsuspecting family. While Nicholson's performance is terrifying enough, Kubrick also makes use of the editing and the chilling score to weave a truly horrifying tale packed full of atmosphere. Nicholson isn't the only one who stands out, young actor Danny Lloyd who was only six years old at the time is brilliant as Torrance's son Danny. He gives a performance that is not only convincing but also vaguely disturbing and his muttering of 'redrum' to this day remains to be unnerving. A combination of the acting, editing and score along with the distinctive Kubrickian style make this a truly chilling horror, a slow burner but chilling nonetheless. Although it differs greatly from King's novel, it stands out as one of Kubrick's greatest films.
1. The Evil Dead (1981)
My favourite horror of the 80's however, is a little cabin in the woods film called The Evil Dead that not only began a successful acting career for Bruce Campbell but also saw Sam Raimi begin his career as a director, later going on to give us the likes of Spider-Man and Drag Me To Hell. The story involves five students who head to a remote cabin in the woods for a relaxing break, what they get however is far from relaxing when they come across the Necronomicon Ex Mortis, the book of the dead. Soon they become the victims of a mysterious demonic force that possesses them one by one, prompting them to become violent and unhinged. This is a cacophony of outlandish violence, its got decapitation, its got stabbing, its got sexually frustrated trees(?), and although the effects seem a bit dated by today's standards they are pretty impressive for such a small budget. I read Bruce Campbell's autobiography a while ago and one of the most fascinating parts in it was the chapter about the making of this film. The crew assembled a variety of makeshift pieces of equipment including a camera attatched to a broomstick for when the window breaks during one of the POV sequences. The story of its production is the tale of budding young filmmakers making the most of their miniscule budget to produce a fantastic piece of horror cinema. The results are incomparable, it is a thrilling tale of terror that sees friends being forced to kill eachother in order to save their souls from the evil dead. It has since spawned two successful sequels that took a more comedic tone, an impressive remake and a hilarious TV show that aired last year. God bless The Evil Dead.
Phew. That was a lot. Like the 70's, there were so many brilliant horror films released in the 1980's and it was so hard to pick just 10, so if you've got any favourites then let me know in the comments! Also before anyone says anything I don't count Aliens as a horror, moreso an action/sci-fi but if I did you know it'd be on this list. Next time I'll be looking at the 90's, a decade that saw the decline of slasher films but the emergence of a whole new subgenre, meta-horror. Until then.
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