Ahh - the 80s.
That wonderful time when things were still a little bit unashamedly weird, goofy and
zainy - and as a side note, we were treated to some of the most distinctly captivating
graphic design that modern culture has ever known.
Be it a crumpled paperback copy of Stephen King’s
Christine, or a shiny plastic VHS copy of Beetlejuice - the 80s were a tactile time,
when you could hold a tome of horror in your hands and somehow not feel out of place.
It was a time shortly after the doors of horror were blown wide open by the 1970s, and cinematic
greats like John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper had already sown the seeds of their franchise
terror.
It was a time when being a weirdo - or a wastoid was expected, and geeks, zeeks, freaks - sarcastic
motorheads and headbanging was all the rage.
And it was a time when horror cinema had truly found its feet.
Hello horror fans - and welcome back to the scariest channel on YouTube - Top 5 Scary
Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch - as today, we power up the Betamax
- and take a look at the Top 5 Scariest Horror Movies From The 80s.
Roll the clip.
For the curious amongst you, that clip was from 1987’s The Lost Boys, starring Kiefer
Sutherland, Corey Haim and Corey Feldman - amongst others - and it’s actually one of my favourite
movies of all time.
It also highlights a very important point with this list - it’s going to be impossible
for me to please everyone in this Top 5, myself included.
So much so that I even left John Carpenter’s The Thing out - because I figured I harp on
about it too much.
So, just like how I keep my garlic - I’m keeping it fresh.
Kicking off at Number 5 - The Dead Zone, 1983
And if you ask anyone worth their salt, they’ll tell you that this is one of the truest cinematic
interpretations of Stephen King’s horror fiction to date.
The Dead Zone, released in 1983, is based on the 1979 Stephen King novel of the same
name - and star’s the legendary Christopher Walken as Johnny Smith, a schoolteacher who
awakens from a coma to find that he has psychic powers.
And one of the reasons that this film is so damn good, is Walken’s performance.
He absolutely knocks it out of the park, and his portrayal of a supernatural character
is so convincing that we almost forget we’re watching paranormal horror.
The Dead Zone was also directed by the 80’s heavyweight of horror cinema, David Cronenberg,
the man responsible for Scanners, Videodrome - and another horror classic that has definitely
made this list.
At first glance, The Dead Zone appears to be another bad carbon copy of King’s fictional
work - but it’s so, so much more than that - and confronts some pretty heavy themes that
aren’t usually found in horror.
Granted, it’s not the best example of Cronenberg’s iconic body horror - but instead, a slow-burning
paranormal thriller jam-packed with atmospheric dread.
Great stuff.
Coming in at Number 4 - A Nightmare On Elm Street, 1984
I’d be a
fool if I didn’t have this one on my list, purely for the fact that I don’t want to
piss off any Robert Englund fans.
That’s a whole horror show in itself - so hopefully, you’re appeased.
That by no means is intended to detract from the fact that A Nightmare On Elm Street is
one of the finest examples of 80’s horror going, and Freddy Krueger and the 1980s go
together like rama lama lama ka and ding-a da ding-a dong.
And forgive me for that Grease-y pun, but I figured that I’m on a roll.
First released in 1984, and directed by the horror legend Wes Craven, A Nightmare On Elm
Street was the first installment in a horror franchise that would span seven different
nightmares across a decade, as well as a 2010 remake directed by Samuel Bayer.
The original A Nightmare On Elm Street though - which in my opinion is by far the best,
stars Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp and Robert Englund as the seminal dream-invading
villain.
In classic 80s style, the plot concerns four teenagers in suburban Ohio, who are stalked
in their dreams by the terrifying Freddy Krueger - and then subsequently killed in real life.
It gave birth to Plastic Reality - featuring some of the most insanely entertaining special
effects of the genre - and there’s not much more to it, really.
Freddy Krueger is an 80s horror icon, and just a straight up horror icon to boot.
Wes Craven.
Of course it makes this list.
Swinging in at Number 3 - The Fly, 1986
Nothing says 1986 like Jeff Goldblum in a Brundlefly physical effects suit, spewing
corrosive vomit over John Getz’s poor hands.
And in my opinion, The Fly, directed by David Cronenberg and released in 1986 - is quintessential
eighties horror viewing, as well as being Cronenberg’s most commercially and critically
successful film to date.
In it, he combines his fantastic use of physical body-horror and gore with some of the most
well-crafted and grounded characters in the genre.
And also - it’s Jeff frickin Goldblum.
You can’t ask for much more.
Loosely based on the classic sci-fi short story of the same name written by George Langelaan,
The Fly tells the tale of Seth Brundle, a scientist who has developed the technology
to allow instantaneous teleportation.
But of course - this is a horror film, and when Seth attempts to test the technology
on himself, a common housefly slips inside the pod - and then we get Brundlefly.
The script is incredibly tight, the pacing is second to none - and the insanely grotesque
set pieces are some of horror cinemas most horrifyingly brilliant.
Just watch the deleted monkey-cat scene on YouTube - and you’ll get an idea of why
The Fly is so brilliant in all it’s gory glory.
We should all be afraid.
Be very, afraid.
Next up at Number 2 - The Evil Dead, 1981
It wouldn’t be 1981 without a Necronomicon and a blood soaked Ash Williams - and a film
that gave birth to one of the most dearly loved and charming horror franchises ever
created.
The Evil Dead works because it’s weird - and it was an idea that spawned itself from the
true spirit of the eighties.
Do it yourself, and let’s not give a sweet F-A about what anyone else thinks.
Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi were best friends as kids, and luckily for us - that friendship
led them all the way to create this - 1981’s The Evil Dead - as well as three more feature
films - and three T.V seasons of Ash Vs Evil Dead - chainsaw hand and all.
It doesn’t matter if you love the Evil Dead Universe or not - because the original 1981
film is just a fantastic horror showstopper in itself.
It’s a melting pot of every cinematic trope that works well together.
The woods, teenagers in a cabin - a trap door, an evil demonic book - and an entire army
of darkness of Deadites and Monstrous Trees.
During production, Stephen King, after an advanced screening of The Evil Dead - called
it the most ferociously original film of the year - and in that cemented its cinematic
legacy as one of the most captivating horror franchises ever made.
But there is one that takes the cake.
Coming in at our Number 1 spot - Aliens, 1986
I could spend an eternity trying to explain exactly why Aliens is so good, and I still
wouldn’t even come close to articulating it.
Water is wet.
Aliens is awesome.
That’s all there is to it.
Yes, although 1979’s Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, paved the way for the franchise
- and is a colossus of sci-fi horror in its own right, James Cameron’s 1986 masterpiece
is perhaps the best thing that the eighties could have ever given us.
For a sequel to have this much impact is impressive in itself - but the fact that it is heralded
as the greatest sequel of all time, in the whole of cinematic history - is a feat in
and of itself.
James Cameron had some absolutely massive shoes to fill for this film, and the production
process was a completely separate horrific ordeal.
Most of the crew attached to this film had worked on Ridley Scott’s Alien - and were
fiercely loyal to to the director, often causing trouble for Cameron and suggesting that the
then 31-year old director wasn’t capable of producing a reasonable sequel.
But, for me - that’s exactly what the eighties was all about.
It was about stepping up in a brave new world and saying - nah, we can do you one better
- and the result is this.
Aliens.
Sigourney Weaver at her best, Bill Paxton at his absolute best, Lance Henriksen, Michael
Biehn, Paul Reiser.
Xenomorphs.
Exosuits.
Perfection.
Well - there we have it horror fans - that’s my list for the Top 5 Scariest Horror Movies
From The 80s - what do you think?
Why don’t you let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below.
Before we depart though, let’s read out some of your more creative comments from over
the past few days.
First up, awkward potato says -- Idk what to comment.
… -- … I don’t know what to say.
Next up, John barfield says -- Hey Jack, do you believe in witchcraft?
-- Well John, I mean, that’s quite an expansive question to answer in just a few seconds - BUT
- if I have learned one thing in my short time on this Earth, it’s to never - ever
- piss off a witch.
Unfortunately folks, on that note - that’s all we’ve got time for in today's video,
cheers for sticking around all the way until the end.
If you were a fan of this video, make sure to hit that thumbs up button, as well as that
subscribe bell - and we’ll be seeing you in the next one.
As per usual, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5
Scary Videos - and until next time, you take it easy.