10 Vampire Movies From the 1980s You Probably Haven’t Seen Yet

The best vampire films have long been a reference the horror genre since Georges Méliès The Devil’s House. For years, they have played an important role in the genre. Classics like Dracula (1931), Ganja and Hess (1973), and Nosferatu The Vampire (1979) proved the importance and versatility of the genre. Now it’s easy to look at the vampire film as an oversaturated subgenre, but with the boom in horror films in the 1980s, something of a drought emerged.

Accesses like Scary night (1985) and The lost boys (1987) proved to be few and far between, leading to a decade filled with more obscure cult classics. Vampire movies ended up taking all sorts of different forms; anthologies, comedies and even children’s films. Many of them have become well-known in the horror community, but have yet to fully receive the appreciation they deserve.

10

The Monster Club (1981)

Directed by Roy Ward Baker

The Monsters Club proves a good example of the types of vampire films that would populate the horror genre during the decade. An anthology film that mixes genuine scares with a delicious sense of humor. Inspired by the horror stories of Ronald Chetwynd-Hayes, the film is divided into three distinct stories told by a vampire. The film is set in the titular monster club and is introduced to us by Vincent Price’s charming vampire narrator.

Fun musical numbers are sprinkled throughout the film and provide a lot of fun, especially when the ghouls party on the dance floor. Vincent Price is excellent in the role and delivers his lines with sincerity and humor, allowing for a fun, if not very scary, film. The Monsters Club is a good example of what the decade would offer, if not the high point.

9

My Best Friend is a Vampire (1987)

Directed by Jimmy Huston

Part horror, part teen movie, My best friend is a vampire is a fun investigation into trying to navigate teenage life as the undead. The film would follow a teenager (Robert Sean Leonard) after being turned into a vampire and trying to survive without feeding on humans. The film features strong themes of prejudice and identity, as he is guided through his change by an older mentor who tells him about the discrimination vampires have faced.

The film doesn’t attempt many scares, but it manages to elevate the vampire story by making it focused on identity. Whether it’s his parents who believe he might be gay or the vampire hunters who are out to kill him, there’s a lot of subtext to explore in this horror comedy. The always fantastic René Auberjonios is a special highlight and demonstrates why this film is worth discovering.

8

Life Force (1985)

Directed by Tobe Hooper

Vampires rarely mix with science fiction, but if there was any director who would attempt such a feat, it would be the great Tobe Hooper. His hypnotic style, as demonstrated in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Poltergeist, is perfectly suited to vampires and their powers. The film is ambitious and was the biggest budget Hooper ever receiveddisappointing at the box office but quickly gaining a cult following.

Follow the crew of a space mission as they inadvertently unleash an alien race of vampires on London. The film gives a different view of vampires, who have more threatening and alien powers. They can shapeshift, possess and manipulate weaponized energy, proving to be different and even more unpredictable threats. Mathilda May’s performance as one of the alien vampires is particularly iconic, expressing so much with her facial expressions alone.

7

The Hunger (1983)

Directed by Tony Scott

The hunger Possibly one of the most interesting casts than a vampire movie has ever had. Featuring performances from Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie and Susan Sarandon, this horror film is sensual and unique. Naturally beautiful in its cinematography, Tony Scott’s debut combines the old vampire aesthetic with unique imagery from the 80s. The cinematography is possibly the biggest highlight, as cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt fills the frame with fog and shadow.

It tells the story of a vampire named Miriam and her companion John, who suddenly began to age rapidly, causing them to seek help from an aging specialist. The plot is seemingly the film’s weakest element, but it’s the atmosphere that Scott is able to create that makes it such a unique take. This combined with Sarandon and Deneuve’s performances makes it a worthy entry into the genre.

6

Dance of the Damned (1989)

Directed by Katt Shea

Built around pre-existing sets that Roger Corman had in previous projects Katt Shea created a unique, small-scale version of a vampire story. It deals more intensely with the themes of life and death inherent to the monster, without losing sensationalism. It tells the story of a suicidal exotic dancer when she agrees to become a vampire’s next meal. It’s a small, grounded story, but it stays true to the images and aesthetics that vampire films can’t do without.

Featuring a solid performance from Starr Andreeff, it’s able to convey far more emotion than many larger-scale takes on the monster. While the film doesn’t always manage to balance its more exploitative features with its more important subjects, it proves an interesting development in the genre. It’s an ambitious film and another that deserves the attention it has failed to attract, since its release until today.

5

The Monster Squad (1987)

Directed by Fred Dekker

Co-written by Fred Dekker and Shane Black, The Monster Squad is a deliciously fun horror comedy that pits horror superfans against Universal’s classic legendary monsters led by Dracula. The film can range from lighthearted fun to surprisingly dark at the touch of a button, but it always manages to remain a fun romp. Some of the material is certainly dated and remains uncomfortable, but the film is enjoyable enough to overcome these minor moments.

The Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Mummy and, of course, Dracula make appearances. The film features a litany of iconic moments, like a teenager wielding a bow and arrow against vampires and a boy kicking the werewolf in the groin. The film is generally amazing and is sure to make any kid who watches it a horror fan for years to come.

4

Almost Dark (1987)

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Possibly one of the most important vampire films of the 1980s, Kathryn Bigelow Almost dark created a vampire that no one had seen before. Bloody, dirty and full of anguish, created a mix of Western and vampire imagery that is completely unique to this day. The plot follows a young farmer who becomes involved with a makeshift family of nomadic vampires. It features a stellar cast of James Cameron regulars like Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstein, and Bill Paxton.

Special credit must be given to Paxton’s performance, which easily sets the film’s wild and violent tone. The ever-reliable Tangerine Dream soundtrack provides a synth base for the southern imagery, giving the film an out-of-time feel perfect for vampires. Kathryn Bigelow is a once-in-a-generation talent and drives Almost dark in places that many vampire films didn’t dare to go.

3

The White Worm’s Lair (1988)

Directed by Ken Russell

Ken Russell has always proven himself to be an original when it comes to horror film directors. His work in films such as The demons, Altered States and Crimes of Passion proved he had a talent for psychosexual horror. All of this would be very useful for your work on vampires, The Lair of the White Worm. The film follows a small English village after an archaeologist discovers a mysterious skull that awakens an ancient evil called the D’Ampton worm.

The film is a camp classic and manages to mix its mysterious vampire story with an especially humorous performance from Hugh Grant. It also features great performances from Peter Capaldi and Peter Donohoe, who help deliver the perfect tone. It’s certainly a unique experience and a perfect entry into the wild world of Ken Russell and his particular affinity for campy horror.

2

Vampire (1986)

Directed by Richard Wenk

Starting out as a college comedy and quickly turning into a horror nightmare, Vampire is a unique take on what vampires can be. It tells the story of two fraternity members as they try to find a stripper for a friend, but accidentally end up in a club inhabited by vampires. It has an exceptional Grace Jones look, adorned in incredible costumes designed by Keith Haring. She is able to convey so much with just her movements and appearance that the film is worth it for her alone.

Elliot Davis’ neon-drenched cinematography and Jonathan Elias’ excellent synth score set the atmosphere perfectly and provide the perfect 80s vibes. Vampire prosthetics are especially fun and transform beautiful women into terrifying creatures of the night, ready to threaten the college boy protagonists. It’s an exceptionally fun horror comedy that manages to create a unique atmosphere that would be impossible to replicate.

1

Sunset: The Vampire in Retreat (1989)

Directed by Anthony Hickox

Situated in the small town of Purgatório Sunset tells the story of a peaceful town inhabited by vampires as they try to repair the town’s artificial blood factory. It’s a vampire film, unlike any other, that takes a more humorous approach to the way vampires try to live. The cast is filled with legends like Bruce Campbell, David Carradine, Deborah Foreman and the late, great M. Emmet Walsh.

The film is consistently ridiculouspoking fun at every vampire movie trope that has come before. It exemplifies the ways in which 1980s vampire films managed to subvert what came before. Seeing vampires covered in sunscreen and trying to enjoy retirement brings plenty of laughs, while the bubbling tension in the city provides some much-needed horror. It’s a shame that Sunset was largely ignored upon release, but each year it gets more of the attention it deserves.