Why 80s Horror Movies Reign Supreme

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Ah, the 80s – the golden age of horror movies.

The 80s birthed chiller icons like Freddy Krueger’s razor glove and Jack Torrance’s descent into madness.

These chilling classics continue to send shivers down our spines.

But why, even decades later, do these “old” horror movies still hold such power?

Let’s open the coffin and unearth why 80s horror movies reign supreme.

The 80s gave us 100s slasher flicks; most were cheap and had a lasting impact on rabid horror fans like us.

In my opinion, the 80s was the best decade for horror movies.

I’m not saying classic fright movies weren’t made before or after. It’s just that the 80s had so many of them.

Famous 1980s Horror Movie Masks

Why 80s Horror Movies Reigned Supreme

1. Using Practical Effects Instead of CGI

Before the rise of computer-generated imagery, filmmakers had to get their hands dirty (and bloody) to create scares.

The result? Special effects that, while sometimes wonky, felt raw and visceral. Think of the stop-motion brilliance of “The Thing” or the gooey practical gore of “Re-Animator.”

These effects may not always be “realistic,” but they’re real enough to make you squirm.

2. The Monster Mash: 80s horror wasn’t afraid to get creative with its villains.

1980s Horror Movies Icon Jason Voorhees.

From the shape-shifting terror of “The Thing” to the Cenobite nightmares of “Hellraiser,” these movies reveled in the grotesque and the otherworldly.

And who can forget icons like Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers? These slashers became cultural touchstones, their masks and machetes instantly recognizable symbols of pure dread.

3. Social Commentary Wrapped in Screams

Horror has always been a great way to hold up a mirror to society’s fears and anxieties. The 80s were no different, with movies like “The Breakfast Club” exploring teen angst and “Videodrome” tackling the rise of technology.

These films used the genre’s thrills to delve into deeper themes, making them terrifying and thought-provoking.

4. The VHS Factor

Remember rewinding that tape in fear just to watch your favorite kill scene again?

The rise of home video in the 80s created a unique viewing experience. Gathering around the TV with friends, passing the popcorn bowl, and bracing yourselves for jump scares – these communal rituals added a layer of terror and excitement to the experience.

5. Pure, Unfiltered Fun

Sure, some 1980s scary movies were downright terrifying. But let’s not forget the genre’s playful side. Movies like “Gremlins” and “Ghostbusters” balanced scares with humor, proving that horror can be fun too.

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The 80s Produced The Best Horror Movies!

Undoubtedly, the 80s was the decade that created the best scary movies ever.

Still, there is no denying that decade produced many memorable slashers, supernatural, comedy, psychological thriller-chiller- -flicks, and cult classics, bar none.

The Golden Age of 1980s scary movies had it all: sexy women, terrifying villains, exciting settings, and classic characters.

Of all the movie genres, scary movies attract sensation-seeking viewers who love to be frightened while eating popcorn on their couch or in the movie theater.

In the 80s, horror movies were relatively inexpensive to make and easy to write. Because of this, everyone tried to cash in on the slasher craze.

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My First Horror Movie Experience

The first horror movie I watched was the Original Friday the 13th. I didn’t watch it when it first premiered at the movies; however, I watched it when it was shown on cable television in the early 1980s.

What made 80s scary movies so great?

  1. Originality
  2. The Characters were memorable
  3. Lots of ‘Campy’ movies
  4. Suspense
  5. Unique and or fun plots
  6. Gratuitous “boob shots.”
Michael Meyers.

Horror Movies Post 80s

Most movies, not only horror movies, are plain and unoriginal and have lousy casting or actors for characters.

One of my favorite scary movies post-1980s was Scream. The movie had all the elements of a classic fright flick. The movie starts with a bang in the opening dialog with Drew Barrymore and Ghostface.

Scream had so many likable characters, especially Randy Meeks, played by actor Jamie Kennedy, when he brilliantly explained horror movie rules to his friends.

Rules like you can never have sex, drink, or do drugs, and never (ever, under any circumstances) say, “I’ll be right back.”

Also, who could forget Officer Dewey Riley, played by David Arquette? Scream also has one of my favorite childhood actors, Henry Winkler, whom I hope to meet someday at a Horror Con.

⇒Related: Kim’s Krypt Haunted Mill Review

My Favorite 80s Horror Movies

As I said, the 1980s horror movies’ characters helped get the film over with the audience. Most characters in modern movies are unlikeable, unmemorable, or low-skilled actors.

So much so that I root for the villain and look forward to seeing them get killed off so I don’t have to watch another second of them on screen. But I digress.

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  1. Friday the 13th Parts 1-4
  2. The Shining (Kubrick Version)
  3. Humongous
  4. American Werewolf in London
  5. The Thing (Carpenter Version)
  6. Curtains ( The Ice-Skating Scene was Classic)
  7. Night of the Demons
  8. Sleepaway Camp
  9. Children of the Corn
  10. Poltergeist
  11. Nightmare on Elm Street
  12. The Howling
  13. Child’s Play
  14. Cujo
  15. Fright Night
  16. The Fog
  17. Hellraiser
  18. Pumpkinhead
  19. The Entity
  20. Madman (Marz)
  21. Silver Bullet
  22. My Bloody Valentine
  23. Maximum Overdrive
  24. Terror Train
  25. The Funhouse
  26. Maniac Cop
  27. Pet Sematary
  28. One Dark Night
  29. The Blob
  30. The Dark Knight of the Scarecrow

80s Comedy Horror

I love Comedy Horror Movies. A few years ago, I watched a great one: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil. Whoever made this film, please make another one! It was a classic.

  1. Beetlejuice
  2. Monster Squad
  3. Return of the Living Dead
  4. Killer Klowns from Outer Space
  5. House
  6. Student Bodies
  7. Creepshow 1&2
  8. The Burbs
  9. Ghostbusters
  10. Gremlins
  11. April Fool’s Day
  12. Transylvania 6-5000
  13. Return to Horror High
  14. Saturday the 14th

⇒Related: My Encounter With A Demon In The Woods

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What Makes A Great Horror Movie?

A scary movie does not need to showcase blood and guts to work. It’s not even necessary. One of my favorite modern fright movies is the 2010 film Insidious.

I thought the first one was well done because it had suspense and a supernatural connection, which is always scary.

Also, who could forget the unsettling scene when the ghost boy is dancing and running through the house while Tiny Tim’s Tiptoe Through the Tulips is playing?

I’m also a fan of the Insidious and The Conjuring franchises. Once again, the main character castings are perfect, and James Wan and his writers nail it.

Another thing a good horror movie needs is a location. I love movies set in attractive outdoor settings.

Whenever I read the movie’s plot, it states that a group of friends decides to take a weekend trip to the woods, a cabin, mountains, a farm in New England, an abandoned Hospital, or whatever, I will watch for sure.

Madman is another one of my favorite 80s movies. The casting was top-notch. It had T.P., Max, Richie, Madman Marz, and the blonde girl who went down and dirty with T.P. in the unnecessarily long hot tub scene. Who could forget T.P.’s belt with his initials on the buckle?

Yes, the location is in the woods at a kid’s summer camp. It never gets old for me.

A couple of winters ago, I departed on a Bigfoot horror movie binge because the setting was in the woods for all of these movies. In all, I must have watched at least a dozen of them.

Most 80s terror movies did not cast known actors, which, in my opinion, is good. However, the actors were perfect for their parts and made sense in the movie. So, in general, a film’s setting, great characters, and actors matter to me.

A good horror movie relies on creating tension and imagery to make it work.

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My Favorite 80s Horror Movies Villains

  1. Jack Torrance – The Shining
  2. Freddy Krueger – A Nightmare on Elm Street
  3. Pinhead – Hellraiser
  4. Chucky – Child’s Play
  5. Angela Baker – Sleepaway Camp
  6. Jason Vorhees – Friday the 13th, Parts 2,3 &4
  7. Michael Myers – Halloween 2
  8. Leatherface – Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
  9. Axel Palmer/ Harry Warden- My Bloody Valentine
  10. The Hag – Curtains
  11. Gunther – The Funhouse
  12. Angela Franklin – Night of the Demons
  13. Conrad Straker – The Funhouse
  14. Jerry Dandridge – Fright Night
  15. Spike – Gremlins
  16. Matt Cordell – Maniac Cop
  17. Rev. Kane – Poltergeist 2
  18. Malachai Boardman – Children of the Corn
  19. Henry Morrison – The Stepfather

Night of the Demons

The 1988 Cult Classic Night of the Demons is one of my favorite horror movies. First, the location is excellent. The film is about a group of teens deciding to have a Halloween party in an abandoned funeral parlor.

Secondly, all the characters are memorable. My favorite character was the mullet-wearing Stooge, played by Hal Havins. He nails the obnoxious high-school character so well.

Also, the overly religious and perpetually frightened character Rodger, played by Alvin Alexis, was excellent.

And let’s not forget Angela and her slutty besty Suzanne. Sal was another great character, played by Billy Gallo. I always wondered what an Italian guy from Brooklyn was doing in Southern California.

The smoking-hot Judy and Frannie, played by Kathy Podewell and Jill Terashita, weren’t bad either. The other two guys, whose names I forget, weren’t bad either.

To wrap it up, this is why The Original Night of The Demons is perfect.

  • Location – Party in an abandoned and haunted funeral parlor
  • Every actor played their part perfectly and fit the movie well. No one seemed out of place or felt they were squeezed in somehow.
  • Gratuitous boob shots.
  • Attractive women. Yes, I will watch the movie if the girls are hot.
  • Scary and suspenseful without unnecessary blood or gore.

Halloween vs. Friday the 13th

These two movies are classics that have existed for many decades, including remakes and reboots. What makes them so iconic?

They both share the masked killer theme. The mystery of the emotionless killers behind a mask that hides their authentic selves makes them appear stoic.

Halloween first debuted in 1978, making it a 1970s classic, while Friday the 13th debuted in 1980. Although they are two years apart, they are similar in many ways.

What both movies have going for them, in addition to badass killers, is the score. They are not edgy if you watch a horror movie with the volume muted. However, once you add music, it adds an element of suspense that adds to the scene.

Harry Manfredini created the score for Friday the 13th, and Director John Carpenter created Halloween’s score. I believe the score and the killers for these two movies make them horror classics.

So, which iconic fright flick do I like better?

I have to go with Friday the 13th.

My favorite Friday The 13th movies go in this order.

  1. Part 3
  2. Part2
  3. Part 1
  4. Part 4
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Friday the 13th Part 3; My Favorite

I prefer Halloween 1 over Friday the 13th, Part 1. After that, the following three Fridays, the 13th, are better than the next 3 Halloween movies.

I don’t count Friday the 13th movies after Part 4 in the same light. Every Friday the 13th past part 4 is an alternate turn from the original franchise storyline.

I would have preferred it if Tommy Jarvis had not killed Jason in Part 4. I’m not a fan of Zombie Jason, even though all the actors that played Jason after Part 4 did a great job, especially my Monster-Mania Con friend Kane Hodder.

F13th Part 3 is my favorite for several reasons.

  1. The hottest girls of any F13th movie. The hottest girl in the whole franchise is Terry from F13th Part 2.
  2. The Best Jason actor.
  3. The location, especially the barn.
  4. The iconic Hockey mask is revealed.
  5. It’s in 3D.

The best Jason is from Part 3, played by Richard Brooker, followed by Ted White, who played Jason in Part 4. These men were imposing in the film without being ‘cartoonishly large.’

The makeup in part 3 was perfect.

Jason was scary-looking but not too deformed-looking. He wasn’t too big or overly muscular (according to today’s standards, where steroids and HGH are used more often), and his size appeared menacing. Plus, I think Richard Brooker had the ideal stature for playing Jason.

Jason gets his iconic hockey mask on Friday the 13th, Part 3. At the beginning of Part 3, Jason doesn’t wear a mask. During the movie’s filming, the producers realized that applying the makeup to Richard Brooker was too time-consuming.

Instead, they decided to use a hockey mask that one of the supervisors on set had with him to save time.

Even though the First 2 F13 movies were filmed on the East Coast, F13 Part 3 was filmed in Southern California. The most memorable scenes in F13 Part 3 were in or around the barn.

If you enjoy seeing where movies were filmed, check out The Daily Woo on YouTube: Friday The 13th Part 3 – The Filming Locations / Higgins Haven & Birth Of The Hockey Mask. YouTube.

Last Winter, I began writing an outline for a Friday the 13th Part 4 reboot. Part 4 starts where Part 3 left off. But, Jason does not go to the ‘Jarvis Camp’ in Part 4 Reloaded, and Tommy Jarvis does not kill him, which means Jason is still a mortal man with supernatural abilities.

Many questions are answered as to why Jason had long hair in F13 Part 2, and the next day in Part 3, Jason is bald while packing on fifty pounds of muscle and growing 6″ in height.

I also created a back story on Jason, including his drowning and whether he drowned and died.

My Favorite Cheesy 80s B Horror Movies

B Movies are low-budget films with no-name actors.

Generally, B Movies do not perform well initially but may receive a cult following afterward. When it comes to horror movies, I love B Movies. Most classic 80s fright flicks are B Movies.

  1. CHUD
  2. Happy Birthday to Me
  3. The Slumber Party Massacre
  4. Alligator
  5. Hell Night
  6. Humanoids From The Deep
  7. Silent Night Deadly Night 1&2
  8. Christmas Evil
  9. Maniac Cop
  10. Deadly Blessing
  11. Body Count
  12. Motel Hell

80s Horror Films Are The Best!

So many modern horror films are set in the 1980s. The funny thing is that studio executives once looked down upon horror films until they realized people enjoy being scared and could make money in the process.

I believe the 1980s was the best decade for horror movies because directors didn’t have the big budgets that moviemakers have access to. Directors had to hold an audience by telling an engaging story using creative kills and suspense.

Monster Mania Con Bill Moseley
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Conclusion

So, the next time you’re in the mood for a good scare, dust off those old VHS tapes or fire up your favorite streaming service. Even though the leg warmers are long gone, the horrors of the 1980s are still as alive and kicking (and slashing) as ever.

So grab your popcorn, dim the lights, and let the screams commence. The 1980s are calling, and they’re hungry for your fear.

Thanks for reading my article about why 80s horror movies reign supreme!