October is horror month and to help celebrate a few of us have decided to sit down each week and discuss our favorite horror films. This week we touch on the first half of our discussion on films from the 1980s.
Jeff: 80s horror. I grew up in the 80s, as I’m assuming you guys did, too. Unlike most kids, instead of watching Disney movies (I watched those, too!), I obsessively watched action and especially horror. I don’t know how I got away with it, but I think that’s the reason I love 80s horror more than any other decade. The list of indispensable (and just plain fun) horror flicks from the 80s is massive.
Don: 70s horror got the ball started, but I feel there was just a sheer stupid amount of awesome movies that came out in the 80s that were just fantastic and iconic. Honestly, I’m not really sure where to start, as outside of Halloween, I have so many favorites from this particular decade.
Chris: Well, I think any discussion about 80s horror needs to begin with the slasher genre, in particular the big icons of horror. Freddy, Jason, and Michael (making his return appearance).
Don: Real quick, am I the only one who loves the Friday the 13th series, but absolutely hates the original?
Jeff: I’m collecting Chris’ tears in a bottle right now. I know he loves it, but I’m kinda with you, Don. I don’t hate it, but I’d never watch it over any other Friday the 13th movie.
Chris: I hate you both. It’s so fucking good. It’s the only one that could actually happen. Crazy mom loses her kid and kills all those she felt responsible for his death, the entire time it is implied that there is some sort of supernatural being (Jason) killing them off one by one. It’s awesome. And the arrow scene, how can you guys not love it?
Jeff: Well, the arrow scene, Kevin Bacon getting killed, and the axe were all pretty cool. As was the beheading at the end. But I think the remake pretty much covered that in less than 10 minutes. I kid, I kid. No, I didn’t hate it. I just feel like it’s slow and clunky compared to 2-4.
Don: The beheading scene was neat, I’ll give you that. And I would totally watch the original Friday the 13th movie over Jason X or Jason Goes to Hell, but anyhow, Friday the 13th 2-4…man, what classics, right?
Chris: I’m going to stab you. (For the record, Jason Goes to Hell sucks, except for the sex scene.)
Jeff: One, Chris is right. A proper discussion of 80s horror starts with Jason, Freddy, and Michael. They defined that decade. And for me, if one single movie defines 80s horror more than any other, it is Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. It was the pinnacle of the entire series. The teen slasher flick perfected. And it had an all-star cast: Corey Feldman, Crispin Glover, and those other people. It also had the “dead fuck” computer dialogue in the car, which I just love to death. Not to mention, it probably has the best practical gore effects in the entire series, and it was the last before Jason turned into zombie Jason.
Chris: I disagree but I’ll sit over here and be quiet.
Don: The Final Chapter was my favorite as well, though 3 and 4 tend to run together for me. Friday the 13th 2 was what hooked me on the series though. I knew about jason growing up, and after watching the original, I was a little pissed off because some old hag was killing people and not Jason. Mind you, I was a pre-teen at the time, so this is stupider-than-usual Don we are talking about. I watched the second movie, and “the guy with the potato sack” was killing everyone. I found that at least a little more interesting.
Chris: Part II is the film that got me on board with Jason as well. In fact, I personally feel it is the purest of the “Jason” films and it sets the formula and rules for how the rest of the series kind of progresses. It doesn’t have the true interlocking story that grabbed Jeff but it is, for me at least, the purest showing of Jason Voorhees.
Don: What I liked the most about the second movie, and I hate to dwell too long on these few films since there is an epic portion of movies to try to talk about, is kind of what you liked about the first one. While it is definitely less believable than the original Friday the 13th movie, he seemed like a more realistic killer at this point in time. I guess that’s kind of what you are talking about, so in short, I agree with you on this one. Though I do love the hockey mask wearing, brutal killer, it was cool to see a guy slaughtering people and doing so while wearing a potato sack over his head.
Chris: I think what it is, is as Jeff said, it is Jason before he becomes zombie Jason and just kills via program because it is what he has to do. But enough Jason, let’s talk Freddy, because while Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is Jeff’s idea of the teen slasher flick perfected, I think Wes Craven did it that same year with A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Jeff: The original Nightmare on Elm Street and Dream Warriors are both fantastic 80s horror films. I still remember my parents letting me watch the original to scare me away from horror, and it almost worked. Not quite.
Don: So this is where *I* bow out for a brief break. I did enjoy the remake somewhat, but for one reason or another, I never got into Nightmare on Elm Street. I honestly think it’s the humor laced in, which is what so many people love. Sadly, it didn’t work for me. The idea is great, though.
Chris: But the original doesn’t really have that humor laced in as much. That comes later in the series. Freddy is a creepy bastard in the original.
Don: Well, this could be me remembering all of the movies being run together in my head, too. I should probably just go back and watch the original for old times sake.
Chris: You should, the original and the third, at the very least.
Jeff: I feel like the humor was always there, as it was in the original “Child’s Play.” But in both series, it became overbearing as the series went on. In the original, there was just a little bit of dark humor, and most of it was coming from a character so loathsome as to be terrifying. In later Freddy flicks, he became a parody of himself.
Chris: Oh, like where he is playing Nintendo in that awful entry with Roseanne and Tom Arnold? God the series turned to crap at a certain point, never to return. Anyway, Freddy is creepy and has some of my most memorable kills of all of horror but I think the ones that stands out to me the most are when Johnny Depp gets eaten by the bed and then spewed all over the walls and just about everything from Dream Warriors.
Jeff: What about when he tells Nancy, “I’m God.” And slices his fingers off in the alley, and then his arms stretch out and scrape the walls of the buildings!!! Dear God, man!
Chris: And the god damn jingle. Still puts me on edge every time I hear it.
Jeff: Yep. I actually enjoy Nightmare on Elm Street 1-4, although by part four, it definitely became more cartoony. (I also really love Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, but that’s another decade.)
Chris: So to wrap up the trifecta, I think we need to touch on more Michael Myers and Halloween II.
Don: Halloween II, along with the first Halloween, is my favorite set of movies. Hands down. I try to watch those two movies at least once a year. Most of the time, sequels never really live up to the original, but being as the second Halloween movie is just an extension of the original, it makes for a flawless set of movies. And being shot all in pretty much the hospital…just makes me a little more scared of hospitals than I should be.
Chris: I think that direct continuation is exactly why I like it so much. Well that and the scene where he boils someone alive.
Jeff: I love that it picks up exactly where the original left off (and that the original left it to be set up like that). It’s so very rare. The sequel takes place entirely on the same night as the original, and despite slightly more gore, retains the spirit of the original. Also, Michael does boil that hot chick in the hot tub.
Don: Oh yes, you couldn’t have said it better. Well, about it retaining the spirit of the original. It has the same tension as Halloween. To me, it seemed amplified though, because the first movie had the usual build up you get in movies, and this one just picked up where the last one left off, it already had the story set. So while tension increased while Michael roamed the hospital in search of Laurie, it was already set at a higher-than-usual bar.
Jeff: Yeah, I think that’s why I love Halloween II and watching them both back to back. The pace keeps on going from the first, for the most part.
Chris: Yep, the pacing is fantastic in both those films but let’s up the pace a bit and discuss something that isn’t related to the trio.
Don: ……..watch it, Chris.
Jeff: Halloween III?
Chris: Oh, fuck you guys.
Jeff: Come on. It’s a misunderstood gem.
Don: It really is. I remember sitting down to watch Halloween 1-5 for the first time as a pre-teen. I was going to marathon through them. I watched the first, fell in love. I watched the second, just more love. I watched Halloween III: Season of the Witch, and afterwards I sat there dumbfounded. I was pissed. Pissed is not even the word, I was enraged that it didn’t have Michael Myers in it. I have since watched the movie a few more times, and find myself enjoying it more and more each time.
Chris: I’m still pissed. Screw that film.
Jeff: Dudes, that film has another excellent John Carpenter score (reminiscent of Christine), an awesome theme song, an evil toymaker, awesome masks, awesome gore, and fucking androids! Androids, yo!
Don: I have an Android in my pocket, man. But anyways. I really do like that movie. I don’t love it, but I give it more praise than most people. And that catchy theme song!
Chris: That’s what it is isn’t it? You all listened to that dumb TV signal and are now brainwashed. Right? Please tell me I am right?
Jeff: It is way more fun once you let go and just enjoy it. It’s one of my favorite movies to watch this time of year.
Don: Just let it go, Chris. Let the hate go.
Chris: You know what is one of my favorite movies to watch this time of year? Nearly anything but Halloween III. How about some Evil Dead?
Jeff: Not on my list. I don’t know why. I’ve seen them…
Don: Oh wow, I’m not alone on this one? I thought this was going to be another “torture Don” scene. I’ve seen the Evil Dead movies, but never got into them. I realize they are cult classics, but what I remember of them are low-budget, cheesy effects and terrible acting. But Chris, by all means, spread some love since you didn’t for Halloween III.
Chris: That is because there is no love to spread for that film. It is universally hated by all but you and Jeff. You’ve been brainwashed, and I weep for your eternal souls. As for Evil Dead, though, I don’t think we should run around slinging accusations like terrible acting when we splooged all over Friday the 13th forever.
It’s true, Sam Rami’s cult classics are certainly low budget. And the effects are about what you’d expect from that budget, but I thought the story was quite well done, and it established Ash as another iconic 80s character, this time a hero though instead of a murderous psychopath. Still, I can see where some people wouldn’t like it, especially since Evil Dead II, which is basically just a remake of the original on a slightly larger budget, plays a lot of itself for laughs.
Don: But Friday the 13th’s low-budget wasn’t AS apparent, in my foggy opinion. And the acting in pretty much any Friday the 13th movie isn’t near as bad as (again) what I remember of Evil Dead. I’m not saying it’s a bad movie, I just didn’t enjoy it, and those are the two things that stick out to me that I remember not liking. I do like some movies with bad acting, sure, who doesn’t? But I just found Evil Dead overly-corny.
Jeff: Evil Dead is corny. It gets what it’s aiming for, which is a low-budget horror comedy that allows film students to explore gore effects. I get it, and it’s smart in that goes for comedy, but it never clicked with me as a kid.
Don: I’ve marked this on my list of movies to go back and rewatch for the sake of having a different scope on things and a more mature taste. But something I loved from the get-go, and have enjoyed watching multiple times is John Carpenter’s The Fog, another masterpiece.
Jeff: The what?
Don: ……shut up. Really, Jeff?
Chris: I know The Fog. It’s that boring one with the priest and the incoherent storyline and pirates right?
Don: Really guys? REALLY?
Chris: I love Carpenter but for me, The Fog is a giant misfire but why do you love it?
Don: I guess for me it was just the general idea. The first few times, I had no idea what the hell was going on, so I can’t argue that it has a strong story. But there’s something about a fog with ghosts killing people that is both exciting and terrifying. The remake, which I shuddered just typing that for the record, probably did a better job at getting the plot across.
Jeff: You know what 80s Carpenter film I love? If you guessed The Thing, you’re wrong. Because Christine is his second best film behind Halloween. Christine for days.
Chris: That is just because you are a Stephen King fan, and I’m with you Christine is a great film but c’mon The Thing is fantastic and the effects still hold up today.
Jeff: More impressive than any special effect in The Thing is the transformation of the main character in Christine. He goes from being a dweeb to an alpha male, and Keith Gordon convincingly portrays that transformation.
Chris: It is quite impressive, although I’ll take the desolation of the arctic over a creepy car with personality changing abilities any day.
Don: Sorry Chris, Jeff wins this one. Christine was awesome. And that’s coming from someone who only likes a handful of Stephen King movies.
Chris: Well that’s not surprising being as there are only a handful of Stephen King movies actually worth liking. EDIT BY DON: I do not like Christine.
Jeff: :’(
Don: Christine was great, though, how can you not like that movie? It has a car….that comes to life. It kills people, for God’s sake!!!
Jeff: The car also REPAIRS ITSELF!
Chris: Did I ever say I didn’t like it? I think you are misinterpreting my statements.
Don: If people scroll above, it clearly says “I do not like Christine.”
Chris: Yeah, right after I said It was a great film.
Don: Okay, okay, sorry guys. I’ve been drinking. Why have we not talked about Chucky yet? That’s my only question as of now.
Jeff: Well, I briefly touched on Child’s Play, noting that its comedy seemed to follow the same path as Freddy’s in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. But yes, for me, the original Child’s Play is another great 80s horror film. It’s miles scarier than its sequels.
Chris: Child’s Play was every child’s worst nightmare come to life.
Don: Did anybody else want a My Buddy doll around this time? I remember wanting one one year, and then a few months later saw a commercial for a Child’s Play movie on HBO. I was terrified. I never told my mom, so she thought I still wanted one, and of course, I got one. I never mistreated that damn thing. One time, my sister put a dress on it, and I freaked out, thinking it was going to come alive and kill me.
Chris: I never wanted one but I had a friend that got one and then locked it away for fear of it killing him. I can’t blame either of you for being scared of that thing though.
Jeff: I had a Chucky doll, and we were friends til the end.
Don: That is not surprising, as everyone is your friend til the end. But those first three movies were so good. The original was the best, I agree with you on that, Jeff. It had such a great build. The third is my second favorite, on the military base. That scene where he switched the fake ammo with live rounds was the most memorable moment in that movie, and possibly the series for me, because I just couldn’t believe he did that.
Jeff: Well, Chucky always had to be more inventive than his taller foes. And I do remember loving that scene in part three a lot, but as far as sequel moments go, nothing tops the factory scene in Child’s Play 2 for me. But even that, looking back on it now, doesn’t come close to the genuine, low-budget thrills of the original. But as we’ve covered the big ones, what are some of the gems that get glossed over? The 80s has a LOT of them.
Don: I can’t go into detail as I only watched it once and it was a decade or two ago, but do you guys remember Puppet Master?
Jeff: I watched at least three of those at my uncle’s house, and I remember the first one being super boring but enjoying the sequels.
Chris: I remember loving the look of the puppets, choppy animation and all. But yeah, as for standout horror, the original didn’t quite grab me all the way. It was a great concept but its potential was filled later on down the line. How about Hellraiser though, anyone get behind that creepy bastard, Pinhead? The original is slow paced, but the payoff is pretty damn special.
Don: I couldn’t get into the original back in the day, and have never given it a second chance since then. The guy looks cool, though.
Jeff: There was subgenre that popular in the 80s that I miss. The anthology horror picture. I’m talking Tales From the Darkside, Creepshow, and Cat’s Eye.
Chris: I love me some Cat’s Eye. Actually all three of those are some of my favorites, I love the short film, anthology approach as it forces the stories to get to the point quickly.
Don: I loved the first two you mentioned, and yes, that is a subgenre that I would love to see return. Sadly, they fit into that category of “I have not watched in too long”, and while I do love them, I can’t for the life of me remember them besides the guy getting buried up to his head on the beach. Or was that the comic?
Jeff: Ted Danson on the beach getting buried by Leslie Nielsen, son! And OMG, I just found my list. It’s frightening what we haven’t covered.
Chris: I actually think with you having found your list, that we should hold it until next week and just extend the 80s (like it should be) and give it more time.
Jeff: The 80s for days!!!!
About Author
