10 Horror Movies From The 80s That Were Ahead Of Their Time

Horror Movies of the 1980s are some of the best and most influential of the 20th century, and many of them are responsible for creating new niches in the genre. Blending the horror aspects with drama, social commentary and psychological thriller elements sets these films apart from their competition and distinguishes them from other horror works. The 1980s were a particularly strong decade for horror Because there was a significant social and political upheaval around the world, which lends itself to being represented through art.

Although many of the most influential scary movies are well-remembered, there are many underrated 1980s horror movies that are worth checking out. more often than not, Terrifying and boundary-pushing works were misunderstood when they were first released, But later critical reception reveals them to be ahead of their time in terms of thematic storytelling or visual style. Helplessly graphic or violent horror films aren’t necessarily the most creative, but when new ways to experience horror are shown on screen, it’s impossible not to.

10

The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

Directed by George Miller

The star-studded cast in The Witches of Eastwick is enough to make it a memorable addition to the horror genre. Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jack Nicholson are hilariously evil in this film. Based on the John Updike novel of the same name, The Witches of Eastwick Opt for a more modern name, enhanced by the performances of some of the most famous actresses of the decade. Horror comedies like The Witches of Eastwick became more popular in the ’80s, and this film is a great example of that.

The 1996 film The Force is often compared with The Witches of EastwickAs it revolves around a group of young women who explore their supernatural abilities. However, the female revenge narrative coupled with The kami style of The Witches of Eastwick has influenced some of the best female-led horror movies, like Jennifer’s body Or The love witch. Although the history of The Witches of Eastwick Not considered an overtly feminist story, it paved the way for more boundary-pushing explorations of female empowerment.

9

Poltergeist (1982)

Directed by Tobe Hopper

Just a few years after his groundbreaking success with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre In 1974, Tobe Hooper directed Poltergeist For audiences of the 1980s. Steven Spielberg was part of the writing team and one of the producers, making Poltergeist One of the most terrifying projects the family-friendly director ever worked on. At the time of its release, Poltergeist Is considered one of the scariest movies ever made and still holds up to this day.

Poltergeist Successfully incorporated the media and the contemporary anxiety About what children are consuming on television in a landmark piece of horror. It was a massive success both critically and at the box office. It is significant because it pushed back on the traditional values ​​and the structure of the nuclear family, which was popular in cinema in the 80s. Although it has been consistently praised for its special effects, Poltergeist Was no less dedicated to his characters, giving the plot nuance and not relying on cheap thrills.

8

The Evil Dead (1981)

Directed by Sam Raimi

Sam Raimi Evil Dead franchise has become a cult classic in the horror genre, And the 1981 movie The evil death started it all. Although there is an argument to be made that the sequel, Evil Dead IIIs the better film, the first installment was pivotal and is one of the best horror comedies of the 1980s. While the later movies develop further into the comedy aspects, The evil death Lean to action. This gave The evil death An edge of intrigue through the skillful action choreography.

However, this does not take away from the fact The visual style of the movie and the performance of Bruce Campbell cement the project as an amazing horror film who kept his sense of humor. Campbell’s character, Ash Williams, has become something of a cultural phenomenon, thanks to the collaboration between Campbell and Raimi that resulted in the iconic horror-action hero. This film can be credited for ushering Raimi and Campbell into film and horror history and influencing many action-horror movies to come.

7

Property (1981)

Directed by Andrzej Zulawski

The terrifying and traumatic Possession is not an easy film to watch, but it encapsulates the violence and chills of the psychological horror niche brilliantly. The story takes place in West Berlin when the city was still divided and is in conversation with the social and political issues of the time. Mark, the protagonist, is a spy, and when he returns to West Berlin, he arrives to find his wife, Anna, changed and demanding a divorce. Sometimes referred to as a break-up film, Possession From there it only gets more horrible and horrible.

It took many years for Andrei Zulavsky’s intense and gritty film to be released again And thought of as an important addition to the horror genre. However, the performances of Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill alone are enough to justify revisiting the movie and remembering how innovative the project is. to call Possession A horror film showcases some of the best aspects of storytelling, as the genre-bending project was instrumental in showing how much horror can be accomplished through the blending of story elements.

6

The Entity (1982)

Directed by Sidney Y. Fury

The entity is a harrowing film to watch and has faced backlash over its graphic depictions of sexual assault throughout history. Although the intensity of the scenes remains unsettling, The entity has been reevaluated over time and seen as an early example of a subversion of films that use assault as a form of exploitation for conflict and shock value. instead, The entity takes the pain and bravery of its protagonist, Carla, seriously And adds to the gravity of her situation with the fact that the people in her life do not support or believe her.

The narrative in The entity Revolves around Carla being repeatedly abused and harassed by an invisible demonic force and the lengths she goes to to convince the people in her life that she is telling the truth and understands what is happening to her. It also grapples with a woman’s position as a single mother And the social pressures that accompany this. Barbara Hershey’s performance as Carla is often singled out as a defining factor in the film.

5

Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

Directed by Ruggero Deodato

One of the best cannibal movies of all time, Cannibal destruction Takes a sharp look at the exploitative nature of filmmaking and uses grotesque imagery to do so. A story within a story Cannibal destructionWatch your protagonist, Harold Monore, discover the lost documentary footage of American filmmakers in the rain forest in South America. In addressing the problematic and offensive stereotypes surrounding this area, Cannibal destruction Soon discover how far the crew was willing to go to get an unforgettable story for their project.

The making of Cannibal destruction Raised enormous controversy, as the director of Cannibal destruction was arrested for murder because of how realistic the violence was (by Collider). Although the allegations were heightened to increase publicity for the film, looking back at the brutal images in the film makes the allegations almost believable. however, Cannibal destruction Is not only relevant because of the rumors but also because It helped establish the found footage genre as a crucial part of film history.

4

Hellraiser (1987)

Directed by Clive Barker

The Hellraiser The franchise went on to become a soaring success, with Clive Barker’s first film and directorial debut, the 1987 HellraiserKick-starting the universe’s success. The line between pleasure and pain is somewhat explored in the narrative of Hellraiser, And the desire to push the boundaries of human experience is an interest that many of the main characters share. Although the Cenobites are the monsters in the world of HellraiserIt is Frank, played by Sean Chapman, who is the most frightening and sadistic in the film.

Pinhead, the leader of the Cenobites, has a distinct and memorable character design that has inspired other great horror works. While Barker was best known for his plays and novels before directing Hellraiser, He demonstrated the same dedication to world-building and character that he does in his written work. The explicit discussions of sexuality and desire on screen were also ahead of their time in the 1980s, which made Hellraiser relevant today.

3

The Flight (1986)

Directed by David Cronenberg

Although a remake itself, David Cronenberg’s 1986 iteration of The flight is almost unrecognizable from the original 1958 version. As a director, writer and actor, Cronenberg has reinvented the horror and thriller genres many times throughout his career, and The flight is just one of the landmark projects he undertook in the 1980s. Starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, the body horror and sci-fi elements in The flight Must be seen to be believed.

Goldblum’s character, Seth, accidentally connects with a fly after inventing a teleportation pod, and the transformation he goes through after that is terrifying and impossible to watch. The chemistry between Goldblum and Davis is fantastic, elevating what could have been a classic body horror story into a devastating portrait of doomed and lost love. Winning the Academy Award for Best Makeup, The flight Goes down in history as one of the most tragic and grotesque horror romance movies of the 1980s.

2

The Thing (1982)

Directed by John Carpenter

Based on the novella by John W. Campbell Jr Who goes there?, The thing Also has much in common with Lovecraftian horror stories and monsters. Kurt Russell stars as RJ MacReady alongside Keith David as Childs and an ensemble cast that braves the terrors of the narrative with dedication. The atmosphere and aesthetics of The thing Was inspiration for many later projects that incorporated themes of distrust and fear of the other. This was particularly relevant in the 1980s and is now affecting viewers.

Both the body horror aspects and the depictions of the monster in The thing have helped cement it as one of the best and most skillfully crafted horror movies of the 20th century. While John Carpenter did an impressive job, The thing Stands out as one of his most effective at brewing tension and terror over a long period of time. Despite negative reviews and graphic images that shocked audiences, The thing Has received great support back, and it is undoubtedly well deserved.

1

The Shining (1980)

Directed by Stanley Kubrick

It is surprising today to think that there was ever a time when The Shining is not considered one of the best and most innovative horror movies of all time. however, When Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece first premiered, it received mixed reviews from critics and audiences and was criticized for its deviations from the Stephen King novel it was based on. however, The Shining was never supposed to be an exact replication of King’s book and instead became enormously influential, inspiring modern horror films and often referenced in pop culture.

The many quotable lines and the dedicated performances of Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall are part of the reason The ShiningHis story is so enduring today. Unpacking masculinity and the crowded cultural period between the late 70s and early 80s in America, The Shining is a time capsule of the era while remaining fervently relevant to modern audiences. There are few Horror Filmmakers who can claim not to have been influenced by Kubrick, and specifically The Shining.