jiraffejustin's Top 25 Horror Films* of the 80s

[jiraffejustin]

*Loose definition of horror film. But, it's my list, so I'll put in whatever I want. But if you want to tell me it's not horror, that's fine. It's not like I'll neg rep you. ;)



Let me start my list out with a couple other lists.

My 5 least favorite horror films from the 80s:

1. The Evil Dead
2. Evil Dead II
3. Aliens
4. Creepshow
5. The Return of the Living Dead


And now my Top 10 horror films from the 80s I haven't seen AKA What I think could make it into my list once I finally see them:

1. Maniac
2. City of the Living Dead
3. Opera
4. Christmas Evil
5. Near Dark
6. The Burning
7. Bad Taste
8. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
9. Tetsuo, the Iron Man
10. Street Trash

I'll start the legit countdown in the next post.

[jiraffejustin]

25.

Scanners

http://www.bloodsprayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Italian-Scanners.jpg

My first film on the list already pushes what could be considered horror, but once you see a man's head explode, how is there even a question? Cronenberg goes on to make better horror films during the decade (as you'll soon see) but you still get the Cronenberg gross-out body horror moments in this one. Pulsating veins, skin melting off bodies, and obviously heads going kaboom. Cronenberg's B-sides are better than most's best effort.

[jiraffejustin]

24.

Gremlins

http://www.andyerupts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Gremlins-poster-1984.jpg

Joe Dante made some pretty awesome horror-comedies, and this is probably his most famous. It's also loads of fun. I want a little gremlin.

[Godoggo]

Love Gremlins. From your least favorite list, I really like Creepshow and Return of the Living Dead.

[jiraffejustin]

23.

The New York Ripper

http://classic-horror.com/files/images/new_york_ripper_poster.jpg

The New York Ripper doesn't really care to follow a plot that makes any sense, and it revels in it's gratuitous sleaze. The duck voice thing is incredibly silly. With all that said, it's a very stylish piece of filth. And stylish filth is fun to watch.

[jiraffejustin]

Love Gremlins. From your least favorite list, I really like Creepshow and Return of the Living Dead.

What did you like about Creepshow and RotLD? I've never understood the love for those films. I'm beginning to think that the humor in films like those is just lost on me.

[jiraffejustin]

22.

My Bloody Valentine

http://www.impawards.com/1981/posters/my_bloody_valentine.jpg

Once you get past the silly ending, you have yourself one of the better slashers of the 80s. The scenes in the mine shaft are my favorite in the film.

[jiraffejustin]

21.

House on the Edge of the Park

http://images.moviepostershop.com/house-on-the-edge-of-the-park-movie-poster-1980-1020669614.jpg

Not for children. Flawed, but overall too effective for me not to appreciate it.

[honeykid]

Of those you expect to like, I'd go with Near Dark (it's on my 100), The Burning (which I like more than the film it imitates, but I'm certainly in the minority there) and Bad Taste (which I used to love but became bored with.)

*EDIT* Oh, and Maniac. :)

[jiraffejustin]

20.

Razorback

http://www.brianclintonauthentics.com/images/filmposters/film_razorback_l.jpg

Have you seen Jaws? This is Jaws as a giant feral hog in the Outback.

[jiraffejustin]

19.

The Beyond

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SYVtxqphGw8/TcBibUB-xEI/AAAAAAAAAG4/TfOM8fa9gac/s1600/BeyondT.jpg

Has a real nightmarish feel. Like other Fulci and other gialli it doesn't follow a tight plot, and is more about audience reaction. There is a lot for the audience to react to in this one. The ending is one of my favorite in a horror film as well.

[jiraffejustin]

18.

The Toxic Avenger

http://veryaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Toxic-Avenger.jpg

Probably more comedy and action than horror, but whatever. Loads of fun, over-the-top villains and action sequences. Just an entirely enjoyable film for those with a morbid sense of humor.

[jiraffejustin]

17.

The Fog

http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/150029.1020.A.jpg

Not as good as Carpenter's other masterpieces, but not much is. Still a very good atmospheric, ghost story, slasher combination. Jamie Lee Curtis is as perky as ever.

[jiraffejustin]

16.

Tenebre

http://www.horrorphile.net/images/tenebre-movie-poster1.jpg

All the twists and turns you expect from Dario Argento. Filled with stylish colors, music, camerawork, and some interesting deaths.

[Godoggo]

What did you like about Creepshow and RotLD? I've never understood the love for those films. I'm beginning to think that the humor in films like those is just lost on me.

I thought that they were both a lot of fun. I also like those old pulpy horror comics when I can find them, so I liked Creepshow for that reason. Return is probably more fun to watch with a bunch of people who love it than it is alone. It's a silly movie, but I like it.

[honeykid]

I love The Fog. It's such a wonderfully atmospheric film. I saw Razorback once, back in the 90's, but I didn't care for it. Maybe I'll give it another chance should it appear again.

I don't like Troma, so I hope there isn't any more on your list. :)

[jiraffejustin]

15.

The 'Burbs

http://www.screeninsults.com/images/the-burbs-poster2.jpg

I mentioned Joe Dante earlier in the thread, well he's back again. This time starring a young Tom Hanks. Getting help from Princess Leia and one half of Corey & Corey. Tom Hanks is as likable as ever as a man determined to find the truth when he suspects his neighbors of MURDER. He then recruits some of his other neighbors to help him prove their guilt. The lengths they are willing to go provide some comedy gold.

[jiraffejustin]

I love The Fog. It's such a wonderfully atmospheric film.

:up:

I saw Razorback once, back in the 90's, but I didn't care for it. Maybe I'll give it another chance should it appear again.


You definitely should, it's a fun piece of Ozploitation


I don't like Troma, so I hope there isn't any more on your list. :)


Troma certainly isn't for everyone. I assume you don't like movies where kids get hit by cars and their heads explode.

[mark f]

No, he makes those things happen all the time.

[honeykid]

Troma certainly isn't for everyone. I assume you don't like movies where kids get hit by cars and their heads explode.
A movie of kids getting hit by cars and their heads exploding I'd be fine with. :D

The only Troma film I can think of that I do like is Space Zombie Bingo!!!, but I think I'm right in thinking that was a film Troma bought rather than an original production.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzi7sHM3Qkc

[jiraffejustin]

14.

Possession

http://www.traileraddict.com/content/unknown/possession_1981.jpg

Just watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMdP02jv8Bo

[jiraffejustin]

13.

An American Werewolf in London

http://www.impawards.com/1981/posters/american_werewolf_in_london.jpg

I thought about analyzing this film once, but then I realized all I could think about was Jenny Agutter hotness.

[jiraffejustin]

12.

Hellraiser

http://www.joblo.com/posters/images/full/1987-hellraiser-poster1.jpg

Cerebral horror film with a very dreadful atmosphere. It's a little slow, so that could turn some off, but they would be dearly missing out.

[jiraffejustin]

11.

The Prowler

http://deathensemble.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/THE-PROWLER-poster.jpg

Severely underrated and unappreciated slasher from the 80s. It follows the slasher formula, but it's not a Friday the 13th ripoff by any means. It also has some fantastic Savini gore, if you're into that kind of thing.

[jiraffejustin]

10.

The Thing

https://1-media-cdn.foolz.us/ffuuka/board/tg/image/1338/73/1338738030884.jpg

John Carpenter's best film gives you a little bit of everything: Paranoia, aliens, dogs being consumed by aliens, snow, lots of snow, Kurt Russell, aliens, dogs being consumed by aliens

[honeykid]

Love The Thing. :up:

[jiraffejustin]

Love The Thing. :up:

Hope I didn't set the bar too high for the rest of the list.

[jiraffejustin]

9.

Day of the Dead

http://www.impawards.com/1985/posters/day_of_the_dead.jpg

My second favorite in the trilogy. Ahead of Dawn, behind Night. Really underrated zombie flick out of the Godfather of zombie movies, George A. Romero.

[honeykid]

You have by following it up with that. I know I'm in the minority, but I don't like "Day".

[jiraffejustin]

8.

Manhunter

http://www.impawards.com/1986/posters/manhunter_ver1.jpg

Not a horror film you say? Sod off I say. :)

[jiraffejustin]

You have by following it up with that. I know I'm in the minority, but I don't like "Day".

I live to disappoint. I have a feeling there's more coming up you won't like. :p

[honeykid]

You're right, Manhunter's not a horror. But it is brilliant. I have it on my top 100. Also, I'm sure there'll be plenty I don't like. I don't like anything. :D

[jiraffejustin]

You're right, Manhunter's not a horror. But it is brilliant. I have it on my top 100. Also, I'm sure there'll be plenty I don't like. I don't like anything. :D

Enemy of all things film! ;)

[Godoggo]

Love Hellraiser, The Thing and I really like Manhunter.

[jiraffejustin]

7.

Videodrome

http://mutantville.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Videodrome_poster.jpg

Cronenberg is one of the genre's finest directors, and it's been a real joy for me to "discover" a lot of his works. Videodrome is one of the better of these works, which is saying something, and it's disturbing enough to stick with you for a while.

[jiraffejustin]

6.

The Vanishing

http://www.movieposterdb.com/posters/11_09/1988/96163/l_96163_208acc72.jpg

What? This isn't a horror film either? You must not have seen the ending.

[honeykid]

It's not. It's a psychological thriller. Like Silence Of The Lambs or Manhunter.

BTW, Manhunter, Day Of The Dead and The Vanishing pics aren't showing for me. :)

[jiraffejustin]

5.

Blue Velvet

http://movieposters.2038.net/p/Blue-Velvet_1.jpg

This isn't really a horror film but it's pretty terrifying at times...I do love this film, and I felt I could crowbar it into my first list here, so I did. ;)

Don't worry, honeykid, the rest are pretty straight forward horror. At least, I consider them to be. :p

[honeykid]

Now, while I agree that Blue Velvet isn't a horror film, it is, along with Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer, the most disturbing film I've ever seen.

[hapax_legomena]

those are the most disturbing films you have seen?


y u no snuff?

[jiraffejustin]

4.

Re-Animator

http://www.yourfaceisa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ReAnimator_poster.jpg

This is the film they mention in American Beauty. It's much more than that though, it's an experience in balls-to-the-wall fun.

[jiraffejustin]

3.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

http://www.joblo.com/posters/images/full/1990-henry-portrait-of-a-serial-killer-poster1.jpg

The most disturbing film honeykid has seen...so you know, watch it.

[jiraffejustin]

2.

The Fly

http://www.tysto.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/379pxFly_poster1.jpg

Cronenberg's body horror magnum opus.

[jiraffejustin]

1.

The Shining

http://cache2.allpostersimages.com/p/LRG/22/2268/RNSZD00Z/posters/the-shining.jpg

If you had any prior knowledge to my love of Kubrick, I don't think this would have surprised you...and **** the golden raspberries for nominating this masterpiece for anything. They should all jump off a cliff onto a pile of punji sticks.

[fuze931]

The Shining is terrifying. I remember the first time I saw the blood steam down the wall. Yikes. I would have fit Poltergeist in there somewhere, but a lot of these films I have yet to see. Nice work!

[jiraffejustin]

The Shining is terrifying. I remember the first time I saw the blood steam down the wall. Yikes. I would have fit Poltergeist in there somewhere, but a lot of these films I have yet to see. Nice work!

Thanks! Hopefully something on my list will find its way into your dvd player.

[fuze931]

I am sure they will :)

[The Rodent]

@fuze931: Not to self promote and not to fill the thread with unwanted posts... have a look for Rodent's Top 10s Of The Genres... Kinda

It's in the Reviews Sub-Forum. I've got a pile of personal Top 10s of all sorts of genres.

Might be worth a gander.

:o

[honeykid]

y u no snuff?
I have. I just find that boring


The most disturbing film honeykid has seen...so you know, watch it.
Well, along with Blue Velvet. So, yeah, dammit! Watch it! :D

**** the golden raspberries for nominating this masterpiece for anything. They should all jump off a cliff onto a pile of punji sticks.
Wow. I didn't know that. So, once upon a time, they actually nominated a film which truly deserved it? Colour me surprised. :o

The Shining is terrifying.
Boring. I think the word you were looking for was "boring."

I'll be interested to see if this list changes if/when you see some of those films you listed at the beginning. :up:

[mark f]

The Razzies didn't nominate the film, but they did Kubrick and Duvall.

[jiraffejustin]

The Razzies didn't nominate the film, but they did Kubrick and Duvall.

I should have been more specific...yes this.

Wow. I didn't know that. So, once upon a time, they actually nominated a film which truly deserved it? Colour me surprised.

boo

[honeykid]

The Razzies didn't nominate the film, but they did Kubrick and Duvall.
Which were the two worst things about the film. So they even got that right. Well done, Razzies. :up:

Thanks for the clarification, mark. :)

[jiraffejustin]

Which were the two worst things about the film. So they even got that right. Well done, Razzies. :up:

Thanks for the clarification, mark. :)

There's no hope for you. :p

[HitchFan97]

Gotta agree with your #1. I personally prefer Videodrome and even Dead Ringers to The Fly, but glad to see the former make the top ten. :up: Blue Velvet definitely isn't horror, but it is certainly one of the best and most disturbing films I've ever seen.

[Cobpyth]

1.

The Shining

http://cache2.allpostersimages.com/p/LRG/22/2268/RNSZD00Z/posters/the-shining.jpg

If you had any prior knowledge to my love of Kubrick, I don't think this would have surprised you...and **** the golden raspberries for nominating this masterpiece for anything. They should all jump off a cliff onto a pile of punji sticks.

The Shining is a spellbinding, terrifying masterpiece.

[honeykid]

There's no hope for you. :p

So I've heard. :D

[Sexy Celebrity]

Colour me surprised. :o

Only if "surprised" is a purple color.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=10383&stc=1&d=1364616187

[jiraffejustin]

Only if "surprised" is a purple color.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=10383&stc=1&d=1364616187

That movie just missed out on my countdown.....

[Godoggo]

That movie just missed out on my countdown.....

It made mine. :D Love The Shining and Videodrome. Got a couple of movies on here on my to watch list. The one I'm most excited about is Razorback because of my love for Creature Features and Australian cinema.

[Used Future]

The one I'm most excited about is Razorback because of my love for Creature Features and Australian cinema.

Razorback is one of the most underrated monster movies I've ever seen. Uber atmospheric stuff as if Dario Argento and Peter Jackson shot a black comedy about a killer pig in the Aussie outback. Great. Got slated on release because director Russell Mulcahy had come from a pop video background. Ha! That's normal these days, but I've always rated the movie.

[jiraffejustin]

Agreed. Razorback is criminally overlooked. There's a lot to love about it. It seems like the whole movie is really grimy and dirty because of the excellent use of the Aussie colors. Especially the brownish red dirt/dust.

[cricket]

I'm a big horror fan and really enjoyed your list. My only disagreement was your least favorite 5. Out of the ones you haven't seen, I would recommend Street Trash, Bad Taste, Maniac, and especially Near Dark.

Notable omissions for me were Pet Sematary, Basket Case, The Howling, Fright Night, The Brood, The Hidden, Demons, and Poltergeist.

[Seer123]

You Suck

[jiraffejustin]

In that regard, I have a lot in common with your mother.