’80s horror is far more than it’s cracked up to be. Unlike the ’70s which were loaded with iconic films, zombie masterpieces, and paranormal gems, the slasher-heavy decade of the ’80s brought some renowned classics and little treasures as well. Admittedly, there were a great deal of questionable films in the ’80s, as slashers became the norm, and violent goofiness rose to prominence. Effects were at their cheesiest, and borderline parody seemed to be a draw for audiences. To some extent, people began really wanting silliness in their gory horror. Amidst the cheese, however, there was a slew of outright great and criminally overlookedhorror flicks. These films still showcased atmosphere, slow builds, and genuine creepiness. It wasn’t purely killer flicks, though even many of the slashers don’t get the credit they deserve for being the stars of solid films.
One thing’s for certain - directors in the ’80s still knew how to scare, and they aimed to prove it any chance they had. So, today we’re going to count down a few of the scariest horror films the ’80s had to offer. Many of these are widely known, while others will feel like surprising picks. There’s no particular ranking in the list, but a little piece of advice: be sure to watch every one of them, as they represent a great decade that’s still being used as a reference in current pop culture icons directly inspired by what made the ’80s the best decade for commercial cinema.
Updated on August 17th, 2023 byFederico Furzan:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
20Children of the Corn (1984)
Children of the Corn, despite any and all critiques, aged incredibly well. Inspired by the work of Stephen King (a name that you will show up more than once on this list), the film tells the story of an unfortunate couple who get stranded in a town that’s in the middle of nowhere, and where kids have taken command.
They’re following a religious norm that calls for violence against adults and arguably everyone who sins. The film’s well executed, but ultimately it’s the idea that makes it a frightening film that will make you doubt taking your next road trip. The opening sequence in the diner is, to this very day, one of the most terrifying scenes on film.
19The Funhouse (1981)
Tobe Hooper doesn’t get nearly enough credit for this all-encompassing fright, and that’s possible because he made The TexasChain Saw Massacreyears prior.The Funhouseis hard to categorize, though it’s mostly framed under slasher tropes.
Regardless, Hooper incorporates almost every element of horror here. It has it all - brutal killings, the paranormal, a deformed monster, and scared teenagers. You couldn’t expect much more from this sincerely disturbing, early ¿80s movie with a couple of unforgettable jump scares and a monster that will make you think before saying “Oh, carnivals! Those were pretty fun back in the day”.
18Poltergeist (1982)
Tobe Hooper shows up again with the thing he did best: scare audiences out of their minds. Only this time, he came into every home and got inside the veins of ’80s America to plant a seed of absolute terror. InPoltergeist, the Freelings are an energic family of five that represent the best of the middle class.
A huge house where they’re building a swimming pool, a real estate business that seems to go really well, and just about every toy sold in the ’80s in the children’s bedroom. The thing is, this house comes with something. An evil presence that pulls Carol Anne inside and doesn’t let go. This conventional deconstruction of the American dream is one of the best horror films ever made.
17A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Everyone sleeps. It’s a bodily function you’re able to’t avoid. So, what if sleeping were dangerous? Not because you’re afraid of never waking up, but because something lurks in your nightmares: a burned psychopath with a glove that has knives coming out of it that will slash your body to pieces if he can catch you.
A Nightmare on Elm Streetwas Wes Craven’s masterpiece that put the slasher genre above the usual rules and added a mystical element that simply made it more complex. It’s not about naked women running while a guy in a mask tries to kill them. It’s about vulnerable people whose only sin was being born in a family whose parents served justice to a child predator years ago, and now the spirit of the monster is back to haunt their kids.
16Hellraiser (1987)
InHellraiser, a man is after the exploration of pain as an inherent part of desire and lust. A device will show him exactly that. It will also open up the gates of another realm where ancient beings known as cenobites reside. All of this is framed in a story about a family starting over in a new house that used to belong to the man in question.
His brother’s new wife and his daughter come to live in the house he once owned. However, his wife is also deeply in love with his brother whose spirit resides in the attic and can materialize in this world if the woman brings him more victims for him to feed on. If you thought this was weird, wait until the very scary cenobites start showing up and become hell’s real estate dealers.
Related:The 15 Scariest Movies Ever Made, Ranked
15Pet Sematary (1983)
Pet Semataryis a jarring experience that still haunts us to this day. Inspired by Stephen King’s novel of the same name, it tells the story of a father who will do anything for his family. As they move to a small town, their neighbor tells them of a pet cemetery in the woodlands. He also tells them of an area they should step on that’s beyond the cemetery.
So, what happens when Gage, is killed and run over by a truck? The father takes the little boy’s body and buries him in an Indian burial ground that brings the dead back to life. What comes back isn’t exactly… cute. Still, this isn’t the scariest thing in the film. We’ll leave that to Zelda, one of the most effective horror characters in the ’80s that still haunts our dreams.
14Sleepaway Camp (1983)
Sleepaway Campis so much more than a standard ’80s campy slasher and that comes down to the atmosphere. Although it’s shot in a beautiful location, a feeling of dread permeates throughout the entirety ofSleepaway Camp. It’s eerie from start to finish. The kills are all inventive.
But it’s that ending that makes it a great pick to be on this list. Because if you stayed for the kills and for enjoying classic ’80s material, then the ending will make you change your mind. It is simply one of thescariest final shotsof all time. Pay no attention to those who wish to condemn it because of its depiction of gender dysphoria. It’s much more than that.
13The Changeling (1980)
The Changelingis a very well-made haunted house movie. It relies on atmosphere, and what the audience doesn’t see, to truly frighten the hell out of us. There are no over-the-top ghosts or mangled children with stringy hair crawling - just sounds and the occasional spine-chilling visual.
It tells the story of a composer who after a tragedy that killed his wife and daughter, decides to move into an old house where something lurks in the dark. We won’t reveal anything else. Amidst the slew of corny, jump scare-ridden haunted house films, is a treasure known asThe Changeling, starring the great George C. Scott.
12The Thing (1982)
A damn near perfect sci-fi horror/thriller.The Thingis beautifully acted, grotesque in all the right ways, and not short on suspense. The practical effects look just fine today, and Carpenter has a knack for getting the right pacing.
It tells the story of researchers who come upon an extraterrestrial being in their facility in Antarctica. Only this alien doesn’t manifest in any shape or form you’d expect. It’s actually a shape-shifter that can adopt any life form and corrupt it as a vessel. The scene with the blood sampling is just unnerving and a great exercise in tension.
11The Shining (1980)
There’s a reason why hotels are sometimes very creepy. And the reason is calledThe Shining. Again, one of Stephen King’s works is taken to the big screen, but this time he hates it. Intensely. Nevertheless,The Shiningis an absolute horror masterpiece thatshouldbe evaluated as a product with no relation to King’s work to enjoy it.
It’s a ghost story about a family who gets isolated in a hotel during the winter. The demons inside the hotel start clouding the mind of Jack, the father who’s a writer working on his latest novel. Ultimately, the demons win and Danny and Wendy become the victims of a man whose sole intention is to hack them to bits and live forever in the halls of the Overlook Hotel.
