While they may be iconically ‘80s, fright films are still a popular genre in the modern era. Newer films are packed with special effects and slick cinematography, yet there’s something about the horror movies of the 1980s that make them so intense they almost warrant classification into a separate genre of their own. Often playing twisted mind games with the viewer, these classic films have an identity all their own that encapsulates the uniqueness of the decade.
Indeed, ‘80s horror fans often lament the trend among modern movie makers of relying on jump scares to get a reaction from the audience. While this tactic definitely existed in ‘80s fright films, it was there more to create an extra layer of intensity, enhancing the creeping horror of the mind games being played out within the plotlines.
For a lot of spooky movie enthusiasts, horror movies from the 1980s just can’t be beaten when it comes to cerebral plotlines, top-notch acting, and creative special effects. While some people look back on these films as cheesy and awkward, we’re definitely onside with fans of the genre in seeing the unmatched brilliance that emerged from the decade. Allow us to prove to you that these films still have what it takes to terrify the heck out of even the most tech-obsessed modern viewers.
Check out these ten horror movies from the 1980s that will surely leave you scared-witless.
There are three faces that people visualize when they think of ‘80s horror: Jason Voorhees, Michael Meyers, and Freddy Krueger. A Nightmare on Elm Street shocked viewers of the time with the artistry of its special effects (such as using spandex to let Freddy stretch through what appeared to be solid walls, the utilization of a revolving set for Tina’s passing, and bisquick and oatmeal for the nightmare staircase).
What makes this horror film truly terrifying is the background of Freddy Krueger’s character – the supernatural predator is a child abuser who murders young people in their dreams. The only way to avoid him was to not sleep, leaving victims with little chance of survival. This premise means the film will stick with you long after the credits have rolled. Every other film villain can be escaped in one way or another. But we all have to sleep sometime.
There’s an unwritten law of the universe which states that Hellraiser will always be brought up when a conversation about horror films emerges. This proves just how much of an impact the horrifying story had on the world, spooking audiences on its release and then over and over in the decades that followed. The first installment of the movie was unveiled in 1987 and was helmed by director Clive Barker. The film introduced the world to Pinhead, a cenobite in the Order Of The Clash.
The key to the film’s long shelf life is its horrendously morbid visuals. Even after several decades, it still never fails to frighten movie-watchers as its visual standard is one of extreme gore and carnage. Moreover, the mere presence of freaky Cenobites, such as Butterball, Chatterer, and the Female Cenobite, are enough to scare the bejesus out of anyone.
Hellraiser has a total of nine installments, but none will top the first one.
While many ‘80s horror movies seemed to be followed by an endless stream of sequels, Evil Dead kept it simple for the longest time with just two follow-ups: Evil Dead II in 1987 and Army of Darkness in 1992. Almost 30 years after the first film’s opening night, the TV show Ash vs. Evil Dead was unleashed on the world. While each new Evil Dead installment carried on the franchise’s unique blend of epic gore and comedy, nothing can ever beat the first.
Each of the films is headlined by actor Bruce Campbell who plays the iconic role of Ash Williams. Ash makes the fateful decision to head to a cabin in the woods with his pals. There, he stumbles upon the Necronomicon, or The Book Of The Dead, which unleashes flesh-possessing evil creatures.
The movie had some unofficial remakes in recent years, but as mentioned earlier, nothing will be on par with the original, especially that famous moment went Linda sings “we’re gonna get you.”
Not everyone is aware that The Thing by John Carpenter is a remake of the 1951 film, The Thing From Another World. While it may be a remake, many people revere The Thing as being superior even to other ‘80s horror films. Apart from the fact that it features the great leading character, Kurt Russel, the movie had special effects that still hold up by today’s standards.
The plot details an alien race’s attempt to take over humanity by copying the form of humans and even animals. This merging of aliens with Earthlings paves the way for the development of terrifying mutated creatures. Jump scares are horror movie staples, but The Thing has the trick so finely tuned you’ll actually get a workout from watching it.
Stephen King’s horror books have been adapted into so many films and television series, it's hard to keep track of them all. One of the most famed adaptations was created by the well-respected filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. While it terrified audiences the world over, oddly enough, The Shining did not impress King at all.
While the author may not have been pleased, The Shining remains one of the best horror films ever created. It tells the story of Jack Torrance, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, who takes on a caretaker role during the offseason of the Overlook Hotel. Isolated in the snowed-in fortress with his wife Wendy, and their son Danny, the story spirals into mind-bending madness. Given how terrifying this film was, we are eagerly awaiting the release of Doctor Sleep, the sequel set for release in 2019.
In this day and age, there are too many werewolf movies to mention. One thing’s for sure, the best films of this subgenre of horror came out in the ‘80s, and the ultimate werewolf film was released in 1981. We are speaking, of course, of An American Werewolf in London by John Landis. This film shares more than just the tale of a werewolf coming to grips with its existence. It has mutant Nazis and epic ‘80s-style transformations from human to werewolf form. What more could you ask for?
There’s an abundance of scary scenes in the movie, but arguably one of the most hair-raising is the part when David Kessler becomes a werewolf. The special effects still frighten the heck out of us, which is why it was not surprising that the movie clinched the Academy Award for Best Makeup in 1982.
The creepy doll Annabelle may be dominating the horror film world today, but before she even existed, there was one evil doll that petrified every ‘80s child. While Chucky may have come across as a funny, foul-mouthed little doll to adults, every kid who saw Child’s Play had nightmares. This demonic toy has so far appeared in seven movies and is set to be the basis of a television reboot in 2019.
The first installment used a puppy to bring the evil doll to life, and also hired the actor Ed Gale to be suited up in the Chucky costume. Later installments turned to CGI and puppets.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was a bizarre and spooky creation from the mind of horror genius Tobe Hooper. The sequel that was unveiled in 1986 managed to form its own cult following through the years. The ‘80s installment of the franchise tells the story of a cannibalistic family coming for a radio host, and the sheriff who goes after them for revenge. It cannot beat the first film for that sense of nostalgia, but the second part has a lot of puke-worthy scenes.
Leatherface still headlined the sequel. However, the movie expands his family with the introduction of another creepy Sawyer: Chop-Top. Needless to say, Chop-Top is as sick in the head as the rest of them.
Released in 1982, this horror movie was a tribute to the DC and EC horror comics that began in the ‘50s. Creepshow was helmed by director George Romero and was written by the legendary Stephen King. Moreover, it’s an anthology movie that showcases five different spooky stories.
The film includes ape-like beings, bugs, and even alien meteorites. As with a couple of other classics on this list, Creepshow is set to get a television adaptation this year. The first installment may already be four decades old, but it’s still sure to send shivers once again once the latest installment takes over the screens.
No list of ‘80s horror films could be complete without this horrifying classic. Even to this day, Cannibal Holocaust is considered the number one horror film, not just of the ‘80s but of all time. This film, which will haunt you long after the last scene has gone black, is one of the most controversial projects ever created. The scenes were so violent and so realistic that to say it was too much for audiences to handle is an understatement. On its release, people feared it was a snuff film and accused it of being pornographic and unnecessarily brutal.
The actors themselves signed a deal to disappear as soon as filming closed. The idea was to maintain the belief that the movie was a documentary and that all events depicted in it were real. Of course, there were no genuine human deaths in the movie, but many animals were killed during filming. The latter is simply unacceptable by today’s standards, but if this list has taught us anything it’s that the ‘80s may as well have been a whole different world.