Summary

The 1980s were famous for spawninghorror filmfranchises , but the decade had a meaning number of great standalone scary movies that , amazingly , never generate a lineal sequel . Few decade can contest with the amount of monumental film series spawn by the 80s , with the repugnance region in particular explode in popularity in this fourth dimension period . From the most iconic slashers , likeFriday the 13thandA Nightmare On Elm Street , to moody supernatural classics likeThe ShiningandChildren of the Corn , few ofthe best eighty horror movieshaven’t had a subsequence or follow - up of some kind .

There are a few reasons why some of the eighty greatest horror movies were able-bodied to fall away through the cracks with no espouse - up film even forty year after . Oftentimes , horror movies of the era were critically panned at the clock time of their release , only becomingcult classicslater on far past the point of their life bike in which developing a sequel would ’ve been feasible . In other case , item-by-item horror films simply stick out on their own so well that to envisage on a subsequence would be an exercise in futility , the original already existing in sodding stasis as a self - contained construct .

10Videodrome

1983

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Cast

Videodrome ( 1983 ) is a science fabrication repugnance picture directed by David Cronenberg . The movie stars James Woods as Max Renn , a television executive who falter upon a programme signaling featuring uttermost wildness and torture . His obsession with expose the informant leads him into a disturbing and hallucinatory journeying , highlight the destructive potential of medium and technology . Debbie Harry also asterisk as Nicki Brand , a radio receiver personality entangled in the narrative .

come up out of Canada , Videodromesprung from the mind ofbody - horror icon David Cronenberg , whose name has become synonymous with grotesque imagery and grotesque practical effects . However , Videodromeshifted the focal point from biology to engineering , chronicling the narration of a TV post president who unravels a bloodcurdling confederacy . feature the acting endowment of a young James Woods and fever - aspiration mental imagery that merges the human body with machinery in creatively sickening ways , Videodromewas a box federal agency bomb that was only fully appreciated as time went on .

9Near Dark

1987

Near Dark is a 1987 celluloid directed by Kathryn Bigelow that blends elements of repugnance and the Western genre . The write up follows a unseasoned man who becomes entangle with a group of nomadic vampires . As he grapple with his newfound condition , the film explore subject of loyalty , survival , and personal identity . Starring Adrian Pasdar , Jenny Wright , and Lance Henriksen , Near Dark is noted for its atmospherical cinematography and intense operation .

maneuver by Kathryn Bigelow , known better for her Oscar - winning work in films likeThe Hurt Locker , Near Darkis a moody and atmospherical horror story that creatively unionizes vampires with Western paper and imagination . The story tracks a untested human race from a small townsfolk who falls in with a nomadic biker crowd of lamia after being bitten . Featuring gifted performance voyage a unique landscape painting that realize the most of vampiric earthly concern - building , Near Darkjuggles horror , romance , and comedy with dumfounding skill , make it all the harder to think the movie never expanded into a series of any kind .

8The Thing

1982

A team of researcher set out to study an alien ballistic capsule found in Antarctica , where they also discover an alien body on the site . The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to copy human form . The group must find a way to tell apart who the existent person is from The affair and stay alive . John Carpenter ’s 1982 film is a remaking of 1951 ’s The affair from Another World and star Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady .

One ofJohn Carpenter ’s all - time honorable moving picture , The Thingneeds little origination as the movie maker ’s magnum opus . The chilling horror of the Antarctic inquiry base ’s isolation combined with the skanky and insidious machination of the titular life - anatomy to have all organic issue in its path makes for an unforgettable experience . WhileThe Thingdid inspire hoardes of comic script and video plot subsequence and a prequel film of the same name in 2011 , it curiously never invite a verbatim 2d installment , lead audiences to forever enquire if Kurt Russell ’s MacReady or Keith David ’s Childs were infected .

7Dead & Buried

1981

make waves with its vent in the former 80s by being briefly banned in the United Kingdom for obscene material , Dead & Buriedis a unique horror masterclass never truly prize in its time . The film drop back a Sheriff enquire a concerning string of murders plaguing a modest town , only to unveil a sinister secret . The tense confederacy that dim the protagonist and visceral gore make an irreplicable portmanteau word of thriller suspense and full - throttle horror that may have put the motion picture in an awkward decisive position , too plot of ground - get for gore chaser but too red for foolhardy enigma lovers .

6The Changeling

1980

The Changeling is a supernatural revulsion - mystery story film by director Peter Medak , relinquish in 1980 . A composer named John Russell impress to Seattle , Washington , after his married woman and daughter are killed in a tragic elevator car accident , but before long let out his new mansion house may have uninvited guests of the nonnatural mixture .

A classichaunted house movie , The Changelingis a chilling ghost history that follows a composer who moves into a haunted mansion house after his family is killed in an fortuity . The film provides a surprisingly thought - out serial publication of events , demonstrate audiences with a smart horror protagonist that goes about dealing with his ghost - infest dwelling as reasonably as anyone could . Of course , beyond the competency of George C. Scott ’s John Russell , the film still does n’t fail to slow churn its viewer with an exponentially - blooming sense of supernatural dread . Screenwriter Russell Hunter evidently base the fib off of his own spooky experiences .

5They Live

1988

John Carpenter aim They go , a sci - fi moving-picture show about a drifter known as Nada ( Roddy Piper ) , who discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see the evil military force that secretly take out the strings of the humankind and manipulate people through subliminal messages . The film allow for a critical commentary on consumerism and conformity from a science fiction perspective .

Another certify classic from John Carpenter , They Livemay toe the line between action and horror , but there ’s no mistaking that the minatory black-market - and - ashen glares of the flick ’s skull - face aliens as really terrific , even today . They Liveuncovers the tale of a vagabond who slip up upon an pernicious closed book – The human universe is being controlled by alien , hiding in unornamented sight while bombarding the satellite with subliminal messages . At once a brainlessly - enjoyable activeness gambol and a scathing societal commentary , it ’s tragic thatThey Livenever bring the chance to exposit on its terrible universe .

4Opera

take aim by repulsion ikon Dario Argento , Opera is a revulsion / slasher film released in 1987 . the cinema centers on an up - and - coming performer who land the role of Lady Macbeth for an up - and - coming play but finish up at the midpoint of a series of ghastly murders all within the opera household by an unknown slayer .

A modern - day re - imaginaning of the classicPhantom of the Opera , Operawas a terse slasher that helped delineate the genre ofGiallo horror filmsto get out of Italy . Operapresents audiences with a hopeful opera understudy gearing up for a rendering of The Scottish drama , only to be stalked by a deranged serial killer blot out within the theatre of operations . As classic of a horror premise as they come in , Operamanages to convey its paper of fixation , voyeurism , and twisted artistic pride with lifelike detail .

3Possession

will power is a horror - dramatic play film by theatre director   Andrzej Żuławski that was release in 1981 . The film follows international undercover agent Mark , who returns home only for his married woman to divorce him and leave him for another humans . The Triangulum between the three grows progressively violent , but the the true behind Anna goes deeper and darker than any of them pull in .

Another 1981 horror motion picture to garner controversy for being heavy censor , Possessionis a high-pitched - concept horror film that fuses espionage thrillers and political play with Lovecraftian horror . The film centers around the tumultuous divorcement of a married man and married woman , one of whom happens to be a German undercover agent . The film is a kaleidoscope of seemingly unfitting elements , from relationship play to romance , noir mode , and supernatural elements . Yet all of these aspects ofPossessionblend together in a swirling nightmare of psychological repulsion whose censorship unfairly gutted its chances at a sequel .

2Night Of The Comet

1984

nighttime of the Comet , released in 1984 , follows two teenage sisters in a post - apocalyptical Los Angeles after a comet wipe out most of humanity . They navigate a landscape of red dust and living dead - comparable mutants , finally link up force with a hand truck number one wood to combat a malefic scientific group .

drill the conception of a mysterious comet track effecting the Earth far better thanStephen King ’s abysmal directorial entry , Maximum Overdrive , Night of the Cometfollows a couplet of baby in their attempt to survive the side effect of a cosmic event that disintegrates most of humanity , turning most survivors into brainless zombie . satirise vale - missy civilisation while freshening up its well - wear down zombie assumption with a striking coating of Ne colors , the low - budget sci - fi horror romp deserves more recognition , good with opportunity for exploring its post - Revelation further with a subsequence .

1The Burning

A forgotten entry in the overpopulated slasher lineup of the 80s , The Burningcould’ve easily been the one to reap a franchise of sprawling sequels over contemporary likeFriday the 13th . Admittedly , The Burning ’s assumption is rise fairly note of hand - for - note from Jason ’s movies , telling the story of a disfigured summer bivouac caretaker who gets his revenge on gender - positive teenager . If it can be take in in a vacuum , The Burninghas some of the most gut - sprain gore and pulse - pounding latent hostility of any slasher , making it a compellinghorror moviein its own right , even if it wore its influences on its arm .

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10 Great 1980s Horror Movies That Still Need Sequels

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Article image

Videodrome (1983) is a science fiction horror film directed by David Cronenberg. The movie stars James Woods as Max Renn, a television executive who stumbles upon a broadcast signal featuring extreme violence and torture. His obsession with uncovering the source leads him into a disturbing and hallucinatory journey, highlighting the destructive potential of media and technology. Debbie Harry also stars as Nicki Brand, a radio personality entangled in the narrative.

Headshot Of James Woods

Headshot Of Debbie Harry

The vampires standing on a hill in Near Dark

Article image

Near Dark is a 1987 film directed by Kathryn Bigelow that blends elements of horror and the Western genre. The story follows a young man who becomes entangled with a group of nomadic vampires. As he grapples with his newfound condition, the film explores themes of loyalty, survival, and identity. Starring Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, and Lance Henriksen, Near Dark is noted for its atmospheric cinematography and intense performances.

Cast Placeholder Image

Headshot Of Bill Paxton

Headshot Of Lance Henriksen

Norris-Thing from The Thing 1982

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A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.

The buried head on the poster for Dead and Buried.

John Russell in The Changeling

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The Changeling is a supernatural horror-mystery film by director Peter Medak, released in 1980. A composer named John Russell moves to Seattle, Washington, after his wife and daughter are killed in a tragic car accident, but soon discovers his new residence may have uninvited guests of the otherworldly variety.

Article image

John Carpenter directs They Live, a sci-fi movie about a drifter known as Nada (Roddy Piper), who discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see the evil forces that secretly pull the strings of the world and manipulate people through subliminal messages. The film provides a critical commentary on consumerism and conformism from a science fiction perspective.

Headshot Of Keith David

Opera 1987

Opera 1987 Movie Poster

Directed by horror icon Dario Argento, Opera is a horror/slasher film released in 1987. the film centers on an up-and-coming performer who lands the role of Lady Macbeth for an up-and-coming play but ends up at the center of a series of gruesome murders all within the opera house by an unknown killer.

Possession 1981 Movie Poster

Possession is a horror-drama film by director Andrzej Żuławski that was released in 1981. The film follows international spy Mark, who returns home only for his wife to divorce him and leave him for another man. The triangle between the three grows increasingly violent, but the truth behind Anna goes deeper and darker than any of them realize.

Headshot Of Isabelle Adjani

Headshot Of Sam Neill

Night of the Comet poster

Todd looking scared in The Burning.