The Best Classic '80s Horror Movies
Which ones hold up and why
A couple of years ago, my biggest horror hot take was that if it weren’t for the Nostalgia Factor, plenty of “classic” horror movies from the ‘80s simply wouldn’t hold that title.
I felt that people's fond memories from childhood, like sneaking over their parents' shoulders to watch these when they were way too young, muddied the waters on whether or not these movies were actually any good.
After recently watching a few incredible ‘80s horror movies, I’ve softened up on that argument.
Of course, nostalgia plays a role in our favorite movies, but just like every other subgenre of horror, it’s personal preference that determines which ones work the best.
The other element to consider when examining older movies is the technology of the time (this was pretty much pre-CGI) and whether the creators had the vision and skill to bring their monsters to life in a way that would stand the test of time.
For me, the best of the best comes down to:
Story, Setting, and Characters
Directing, Performances, and Cinematography
Special Effects, Inventiveness, and Passion
If those elements work, it doesn’t matter what decade the movie was shot in, it’s going to stand the test of time.
Let's talk about my favorite classic ‘80s horror movies.
1. The Shining (1980)
The Shining is a psychological/supernatural horror movie about a family who stays isolated in The Overlook Hotel when strange (potentially paranormal) occurrences on the premise cause insanity and danger.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on a book of the same name by Stephen King, it clearly gets points for superior storytelling, effective setting and interesting, memorable characters.
I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that Kubrick is an amazing director or that Jack Nicholson is an uber-talented actor. But I will applaud them because the choices they made, like the fact that Kubrick was one of the first directors to use the Steadicam and how Nicholson improvised ‘Here’s Johnny,’ are what makes this movie great.
In The Shining, the creators give you plenty of opportunity to marvel at effects, like the fake blood gushing from the elevator (Evil Dead Rise recently played homage to this effect) or all the pretend snow that makes you believe you’re in a frozen wasteland.
I love that this movie doesn’t tell you what to think. I always took away that the hotel was truly haunted, but a realist (like Kubrick himself) could walk away from the movie convinced that all the ghostly elements were in the character’s minds.
Yes, this movie is so embedded in pop culture that if you haven’t seen it, maybe you feel like you have. But trust me, it’s still worth a watch.
2. Poltergeist (1982)
Can you name a more charming horror movie than Poltergeist?
The movie follows a family who discovers their house is haunted. When the ghosts prove to be vengeful and dangerous, they have to work with paranormal investigators to uncover the mystery and save the neighborhood.
The movie is directed by Tobe Hooper (of Texas Chainsaw Massacre fame), but with Steven Speilberg writing the script, and acting as a very hands-on producer, his influences (mainly that unyielding charm) clearly shine through.
Like The Shining, Poltergeist succeeds in storytelling, directing, setting, practical effects and cinematography.
But it works for me personally because I love a classic haunted house ghost story. I think Poltergeist really set the tone — and set the bar — for what a modern haunted house story should look like. It answers the question, what would happen if a regular suburban, inconsequential family accidentally built their house on cursed grounds and had to deal with the consequences?
That question has continued to inform more modern movies like The Conjuring and Insidious.
Poltergeist has that realism, that connection to childlike fears, that created so many memorable moments, like the clown doll scene, the tree scene, the face-ripping mirror scene, I could go on and on.
It’s the quirky choices and charm (They’re hereeeeee) of this movie that makes it stand the test of time, and yes, if you haven’t seen it, you simply must.
3. The Thing (1982)
The Thing is a sci-fi horror set in Antarctica about members of a remote research station. One day, a sled dog shows up, but it doesn’t take long for them to realize this is no ordinary dog. Suddenly they must fight each other to prevent a deadly, otherwordly outbreak from spreading to the mainland.
Like The Shining, The Thing is yet another film that is now lauded as one of the greatest of all time, despite being panned at its original release. It was criticized for its grotesque portrayal of aliens and overall bleak and nihilistic tone. A.K.A., it was ahead of its time.
Like the others, this movie gets points for superior directing by the legendary John Carpenter and acting (Kurt Russell’s MacReady is particularly memorable), but its practical effects are really worth talking about. At the time, the movie had the largest budget ever for "creature effects."
Since the thing is a creature with the ability to shapeshift, Carpenter and his fellow creators had a lot of opportunities to create amazing visual effects, and they take it there every single time.
A top criticism of mine in a horror movie is when the creators shy away, they don’t take it there — they don’t do the creatively brave thing and see their plots through to their bitter, grotesque end. That is because of movies like The Thing that do take it there and have raised the bar for what’s cinematically horrific, especially in terms of a creature feature.
The body horror is so creative, so nightmarish and so impressive that there are documentaries dedicated to how special effects genius Rob Bottin and his team created the effects.
Even without all the technical greatness, The Thing would still be horrifying due to its pervasive ambiance of paranoia and isolation. I recommend watching it in the dead of winter. With a dog.
4. The Evil Dead (1981)
A little backstory, I watched Evil Dead, the 2013 remake/reboot, when I was in high school and found it traumatizing.
With Evil Dead Rise having all the buzz currently, it got me wanting to do a proper binge, like the completionist I am, and watch all of the series. Then, I found a DVD of The Evil Dead in my local record shop and knew it was fate.
The Evil Dead is about a group of college students who are vacationing at a rustic cabin in the woods. While exploring the cabin, they find a creepy old book and a recording of the cabin’s last occupant, which unleashes an evil that possesses the group one by one.
I knew of the film’s cultural relevance and much of the plot since I’d seen the remake, but it was still far from what I expected. Since the films that follow The Evil Dead venture into the horror-comedy genre, I was expecting the first one to be funny and light. Maybe even a bit cheesy.
It is not.
The Evil Dead doesn’t just hold up, it’s still truly a scary movie. I had nightmares!
Like the others on this list, I think this is because it matches my horror profile; supernatural, demonic, unseen forces plaguing a group in a remote location are just terrifying to me.
But it also succeeds in taking risks and pulling none of its punches. Especially considering it was an indie production by first-time filmmaker Sam Raimi, it has earned its status in the cultural zeitgeist. And is worth watching just to see what all the fuss is about (if you can tolerate gore).
5. Child’s Play (1988)
Like The Evil Dead, I was expecting a cheesy funny horror movie that didn’t hold up when I put on Child’s Play but was pleasantly surprised.
Child’s Play, directed by Tom Holland, is the first in the Chucky Doll cinematic universe. It introduces Chucky, the doll who comes to life after a serial killer transfers his soul into a doll. He then wreaks havoc on a little boy and his single mom, who must convince others that an actual doll is to blame for murdering those around them.
So, yes, the concept is silly and was ripe for the horror comedy sequels which followed. But the original covers deep topics like consumerism and grief. It also has legitimate scares and suspense.
Like others on this list, the special effects were practical, inventive and meticulously crafted. They used puppeteers, animatronics and child actors to create the living doll effect, and because of that, it holds up.
Child’s Play is a great popcorn horror; it’s fun, violent, silly, scary and a horror classic great from the 80s.
What Did I Miss?
What are your indisputably best “classic 80s” horror movies?