The Mike's 31 Favorite 1980s Horror Films: No. 5 - 1.

Well, the day is here.  What was once the entire field of '80s horrors films was narrowed down to 31, then the first 26 films on the list were revealed, then five omissions were sadly unveiled....and then, there were five.

No more words....let's see my five favorite '80s horror films...NOW.

Previously on The Mike's 31 Favorite 1980s Horror Films....
#31-#26     #25-#21     #20-#16     #15-#11     #10-#6

5. Gremlins
(1984, Dir. by Joe Dante.)

I've had this argument before, as it seems most consider Gremlins to be a great '80s film but not a great horror film.  I refuse to acknowledge their argument.  It's a film about little monsters terrorizing a town that brings the fears of the 1950s into the '80s and does so in a fantastic manner.  It's got monster splatter, it's got a town terrorized, it's got inventive kills, and it's even got one of the best monologues on human horror that's ever been put on film.  It is a horror film...and it's a great one.

4. An American Werewolf in London
(1981, Dir. by John Landis.)

OK, there's a slight theme developing here in my top 10.  It seems that I love a) throwbacks to the monsters gone by, and b) a bit of humor with my horror.  Oh, and c) would have been Jenny Agutter and d) would be the overuse of songs with "moon" in the title.  But there's no arguing against Landis' shocking horror comedy, which has only gotten better with age.  I mean, who didn't want to be David Naughton when they grew up? I KNOW I DID.  And the makeup effects were so good that they invented an Oscar for them.  I know I bring that up every time I talk about this movie, but it's like the LeBron doesn't have six championships argument - it's the only one I need.

3. The Evil Dead
(1981, Dir. by Sam Raimi.)

Despite the way we all think about Bruce Campbell now, we need to remember that this one does not, I repeat NOT, fall into that "humor with my horror" category.  Though we look back at the film and smile, there's really nothing that funny about The Evil Dead, the film that made us realize that trees could rape and bodily fluids didn't have to be liquidy and red.  It's kind of like Hellraiser in the sense that it's an endurance test...but it's also really fun and kind of timeless.  Whenever I need gore, this is the place I start.

2. Fright Night
(1985, Dir. by Tom Holland.)

If you think I'm overcompensating on this one because an awful looking remake is on its way, you're dead wrong.  In fact, the last time I made this list in December of '09 - thank God none of you actually read the site back then! - I had it as my favorite of the decade.  I've had a soft spot for Fright Night for a long, long time, and I can still vividly remember watching that crazy scene with the impaled Evil Ed when I was a very young Mike.  It's one of the horror movies that has definitely shaped my life, and it'll always be one of my favorite horror films and one of my favorite films in general.

1. The Thing
(1982, Dir. by John Carpenter.)

Maannnnnnnnnn....I didn't want to let you be number one, The Thing.  You win EVERYTHING.  But....I guess you are just that good.

Gosh, what else is there to say about you, The Thing.  Everyone loves you.  You've proven to be timeless thanks to your atmospheric setting, due to your ambiguous and haunting ending, due to your jaw dropping special effects, and - of course - due to Kurt Russell's beard.  You literally have everything a horror movie should have, and I'm not sure if there's a way I could have voted against you....even if you aren't very '80s.  I mean, would it have killed you to throw in a ballad or two?

I kid, I kid.  But I don't kid about The Thing....because it's the winner of the number one spot again.  Let us grow beards and rejoice in its name!

 

Midnight Top 5 - The '80s Horror Month "Didn't Quite Make My 31 Favorites List" Edition

Yeah, yeah, I know.  Lists, lists, lists.  All month long it's been lists.  But hey...do you think you could cover all the awesome horror films of the '80s individually in just one month? I DIDN'T THINK SO.

If you don't know by now, the king of those lists has been my countdown of my 31 favorite horror films of the '80s, which should end Wednesday when I reveal the Top 5 of said list.  But I would be doing a disservice to a few films if I didn't mention them this month....even though they didn't quite make the list.  So, let's take a look at the five(ish) films below, many of which may inspire you to want to assassinate me once you realize that I have less fun with them than I do with Waxwork or The Entity.

As I always say - I REGRET NOTHING!  (Just don't ALL start hating me, OK? I need like one or two readers left, please.)

The Believers
(1987, Dir. by John Schlesinger.)

OK, this one probably won't inspire too much sadness in all y'all, but I simply had to bring it up because I occasionally feel like I'm one of the film's only fans left.  If you don't know The Believers (and if you don't get it confused with Believers), it stars Martin Sheen as a New York City dude who gets caught up with a strange voodoo cult.  It's one of those '80s movies that takes its stuff really seriously - probably the influence of established director Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy, Marathon Man) - and features a slew of recognizable faces (Jimmy Smits, Harris Yulin, Robert Loggia), but it also features some first rate creepiness thanks to an incredibly imposing head voodoo dude and a suspenseful final act.  If you can survive the first scene (which is a classic "I know this is supposed to be sad but it's kinda funny" moment), you may find it to be one of the decade's more thought provoking horrors.

The Friday the 13th Series
(1980-1988, Dir. by Several Dudes.)

If you've read FMWL regularly, you've probably heard me whine about the Friday the 13th films.  Despite the fact that two of them have been Midnight Movie of the Week picks already and despite the fact that I'll gladly watch any of them (except maybe Part 8 and Jason Goes to Hell) almost any time, I simply have never embraced them like most horror fans do.  Are they fun? Sure.  Are they good movies? That's debatable.  Would they go with me on the horror movie ark? Well, maybe parts 4-6 would....but they'd have a lot of competition.

I'm just not a slasher guy.  So sue me. (Don't actually sue me, please. That'd be mean.)

Killer Klowns from Outer Space
(1988, Dir. by Stephen Chiodo.)

This was a really tough one to leave out.  Basically, I got down to the last few movies to make the list and I was like "Y'know, I got The Blob on the list....and I got Clownhouse on the list.....Can't I just combine them to make Killer Klowns from Outer Space?  Are they the blue and the yellow to KKfOS' green?  Maybe...

But, I do dearly love Killer Klowns from Outer Space, despite all the controversy it caused in FMWL's March Midnight Madness Tournament, because it's one of the most fun horror comedies of the era.  It just didn't quite make it over the crowded field into my list.  And that makes me sad.

A Nightmare on Elm Street
(1984, Dir. by Wes Craven.)

I'd imagine it's safe to say that this is the omission that is most going to chafe people's bums.  While I could simply apologize to all the Freddy-holics out there, I'm going to do something else here.  I'm going to argue my point.

There's no denying that the original Nightmare reaches some of the more amazing heights that any horror film of that decade achieves.  We've got an iconic killer who is menacing, we've got a survivor girl that might even trump the great Laurie Strode, and we've got some great visuals, sound effects, and music courtesy of Craven and crew.  But here's the thing - THAT ENDING IS FREAKING TERRIBLE.

I'm assuming studio bosses, test audiences, and assorted other general morons freaked out pretty mightily when our heroine simply turns her back on the diabolical villain and he evaporates into thin air.  BUT THAT WAS THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION TO THAT FILM. In fact, it was not only logical, it was empowering. It stood for something. It looked every horror fan who's ever bravely watched a bit of onscreen terror in the face and said "Hey, good for you guys.  You're stronger now because you can face your fears and then walk away from them."  Nancy Thompson's final act of that film represented one of my favorite things about horror - the idea that the strong CAN face down their fears and walk away with no fear left in their mind.

But noooooooooooooooooooooo.  Either the studio or Craven (who has proved to be an idiot at times, so maybe it's all his fault) decided we needed that final scene which combines a) one last dose of Ronee Blakely's horrible acting, b) a stupid car gag that negates Nancy's actions throughout the final act, and c) what appears to be a blow up doll being awkwardly pulled through a window.  Because clearly THOSE things will send the audience home happy. Right. 

Ugh.  I freaking hate you, ending of A Nightmare on Elm Street.  You make it impossible for me to love an otherwise fantastic horror film.

The Return of the Living Dead
(1985, Dir. by Dan O'Bannon.)

Clu Gulager and Thom Mathews and Linnea Quigley are all awesome.  I agree that the "Send more paramedics." thing is one of the coolest things ever.  But I've just never really loved it.  I would say that I'm just a Romero guy, but I don't really dig Day of the Dead either...so I don't know what my problem is.  But I know that I considered The Return of the Living Dead for the list...and then I looked at everything else I wanted to put on the list - including The Entity, I know - and I just decided that The Return of the Living Dead was gonna sit this one out.  Doesn't mean I don't dig it, I swear. 

Soooo....how y'all doin?  Y'all mad at me?  Well, I promise I'll do the best I can to redeem myself when the Top 5 is unveiled this week!  In the meantime, I'm sure I'll pay for the heartbreak I've given!

The Mike's 31 Favorite 1980s Horror Films: No. 10 - 6

Excluding the other 21 movies I've listed so far, there are about 4,793 '80s horror films left. And I had to pick only 10 of 'em to fill this Top 10.  Truthfully...it was pretty easy to narrow down which films are my favorites of the decade.  But putting those films in order was a big chore.  Alas, submitted for your approval, here are numbers 10 - 6 in this countdown of goodness.

Previously on The Mike's 31 Favorite 1980s Horror Films....
#31-#26     #25-#21     #20-#16     #15-#11

10. The Fog
(1980, Dir. by John Carpenter.)

You probably saw this coming, considering I've used that image of the famed pirate ghosts as the header of every single list I've made this month.  The Fog has always been a movie I've liked, but it's also been one that has steadily risen from "Yeah, that's good." to "Oh man, you gotta see The Fog." to "Oh my gosh, I'm in mad love with The Fog!" over the years.  Just a couple of years ago I might not have listed Carpenter's second horror film this high, but it's kind of timeless.  Who knows where it'll rank in a few more years?

9. Prince of Darkness
(1987, Dir. by John Carpenter.)

I've always felt like I might be Prince of Darkness' biggest fan, and I'm quite OK with that.  Yeah, I know it's completely ridiculous and has Liquid Satan and stuff, but it still manages to a) make me think it's awesome and b) creep me the heck out. I'm not sure why, considering the fact I know this movie's like the silliest thing ever, it gets under my skin at times, but I'm betting it has something to do with Carpenter's awesome score, great sound effects, and willingness to completely sell out for his silly plot.  That darn Lisa Blount always gets to me!

8. Poltergeist
(1982, Dir. by Tobe Hooper.)

If you've ever watched a sports draft (OK, it's a stretch for most of you, but stay with me here), you'll often hear the talking heads talking about a player who might not have the most talent or the brightest future, but who is so sound and so well trained that he's a "safe pick" for the team that's choosing their future star.  When it comes to '80s horror films, Poltergeist kind of seems like the "safe pick" to me.  It's never been my favorite and I don't watch it as often as many other films on this list.  But whenever I do pick it up, it's exactly what I expect it to be and it never disappoints.  And that's the kind of movie you need every once in a while.

7. The Monster Squad
(1987, Dir. by Fred Dekker.)

Scary? Nope.  Filled with horror icons? Yep!  Charming and totally fun? Of course!

And, perhaps most importantly, The Monster Squad was probably the first '80s horror film I ever saw.  At the time, it did the amazing by helping little me get interested in the "classic monsters" of years gone by.  But, unbeknownst to me it also was one of the films that really introduced me to the cheesy goodness that can come from the right '80s horror film.  And in the long run, it's simply one of the most fun movies I know of.

6. The Shining 
(1980, Dir. by Stanley Kubrick.)

When I finally got this list narrowed down as far as I could - which was no easy task, there were six films that I was left with to consider atop the list.  Each of these six films was a strong contender for the number one spot on this list, starting with The Shining.  I doubt I really need to make much of an argument on the film's behalf, so let's spin it the other way....why didn't I rank The Shining higher on this list.

If I had to answer that question, I might say that the truth of the matter is that The Shining isn't really an '80s horror film to me.  Sure, it was released during the decade, but Kubrick's loose adaptation of the Stephen King novel was produced before the slasher craze took over horror cinema and seems more like a product of the '70s - which it technically was, since most of the filming took place in 1979.

Does it really matter what decade the movie came out in when I'm talking about my favorite horror movies? No.  In fact, if I were just listing favorite horror movies, this one might be above some films I will mention in the Top 5.  But if I'm listing the horror movies that are my favorites specifically in relation to this decade....then I guess The Shining gets the slight bump down the list.  Sorry Stanley and Jack, you're still awesome.

What say you all?  Are you shocked?  Are you surprised?  What do you expect will round out the Top 5?  Well, you'll find out....next week.  Don't worry, we'll have plenty of '80s horror goodness before then to keep you rockin' in the free world!...just like these guys!

The Mike's 31 Favorite 1980s Horror Films: No. 15 - 11

After a week away - and some jaw-droppingly cool stuff from five fantastic souls - The Mike is here and excited to be back with you all!  Let's kick it!

A wise prophet of the '80s once said something to the extent of "Whoooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, we're half way there" - and that currently applies to our countdown of my 31 Favorite '80s Horrors.  So, with fifteen films left, we're getting to the point where the decisions become more difficult and the omissions become more glaring.  Are you ready, or do I need to post another DMC jam?

Previously on The Mike's 31 Favorite 1980s Horror Films....
#31-#26     #25-#21     #20-#16

15. The Changeling
(1980, Dir. by Peter Medak.)

We throw "they just don't make 'em like this any more" around a lot these days - it's a statement that's true of most films on this list - but The Changeling is one of the first films that comes to mind when I think about the changes in horror over the last three decades.  It's one of the last slow-burn haunted house films, complete with creepy seance and legitimate actors in the lead, and I simply don't see any thing these days that matches it. (How sad is it that the likes of George C. Scott could fill their late career with stuff like this while the likes of Robert De Niro wallow in crap like Hide and Seek?)  Oh, and there's a scene in the middle of this film that is among the creepiest things I've ever seen, and that's worth a ton of points.

14. Creepshow
(1982, Dir. by George A. Romero.)

We're officially at the point in the list where I start hitting myself in the head and shouting "How the eff do you rank THAT so low on the list!"  I mean, Creepshow is kind of brilliant.  It's got everything from The Crate and Hal Holbrook (my personal favorite segment) to killer bugs to Jordy Verrill to Ed Harris dancing - and I haven't even mentioned Tom Atkins or the Leslie Nielsen/Ted Danson segment yet.   Man, Creepshow is anthology perfection at its best.  And yet it's only 14th, and that makes me crazy.

13. Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn
(1987, Dir. by Sam Raimi.)

When I wrote about ED2 a while back, I lamented the changing perception of the movie I've had over the last decade.  I mean, I do love it...but for some reason it keeps slipping down my list of favorites.  13 seems ridiculously low here, but I find that the movies I'm ranking above it just speak to me a little more often.  It's not you, Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, it's me.  I promise I'll make it up to ya!

12. Something Wicked This Way Comes
(1983, Dir. by Jack Clayton.)

And now I'm at the point where I think I may be over-rating this one, but I just can't help loving it.  A fine example of how PG horror can work, as The Innocents director Jack Clayton takes Ray Bradbury's story and turns it into a wicked chiller that's appropriate for young-uns but can still send shivers up my spine.  And that cast! Jason Robards, Jonathan Pryce, Pam Grier, good child actors!  It makes my heart skip a beat.  If there's one film on this list that I'd recommend to anyone and everyone, this might just be it.

11. The Lost Boys
(1987, Dir. by Joel Schumacher.)

I KNOW.  This is ridiculous.  I can't believe The Lost Boys isn't even in my Top 10.  I tried so hard, but numbers 9-11 were completely the most difficult decisions I had when finishing this list, and well...it just slipped.  I still totally love it, and could watch it every day.  But...it just missed the Top 10.  I'm so mad at me right now. :(

In fact, I don't even have factoids to add at this point.  Putting these films so low is too sad.  Here's something to cheer me up....

Much better.  The Top 10 is coming soon!

The Mike's 31 Favorite 1980s Horror Films: No. 20 - 16

By the time you're reading this, The Mike has safely been whisked away to an undisclosed vacation spot in the southern U.S.  But you know what?  THAT AIN'T STOPPING ME FROM PARTYING WITH '80s HORROR MONTH!  So let's keep our countdown rolling, as we're down to The Mike's 20 favorite '80s Horror films!

Previously on The Mike's 31 Favorite 1980s Horror Films....
#31-#26     #25-#21

20. Clownhouse
(1989, Dir. by Victor Salva.)

My relationship with Clownhouse has already been summed up at FMWL back when it was Midnight Movie of the Week.  Yeah, I know it's not a good movie (it still has some fine scares, however) and I know the director committed a ridiculously disgusting crime while making it. But I just can't help my past.  I grew up with Clownhouse, and I can't hide from it.  It's a part of me.

19. Dead & Buried
(1981, Dir. by Gary Sherman.)

I didn't see this movie until the last few years, but it was one of the first movies to come along in some time that really had me on the edge of my seat due to a palpable sense of impending doom.  A lot of what's stuck with me is that evil Lisa Blount and her tempting ways (she was responsible for two of my Top 10 Willies!), but the coastal California setting and a dose of fog does wonders for Dan O'Bannon's script - which is pretty good in its own right.

18. April Fool's Day
(1986, Dir. by Fred Walton.)

I've made it pretty obvious - heck, I've beaten it into my readers' skulls - that I don't take slasher films very seriously most of the time.  And that's probably why I have so much fun with April Fool's Day, which cause controversy by bucking some slasher trends in its final act.  I also don't think there's a slasher film with a better cast out there, as the likes of Deborah Foreman, Clayton Rohner, Amy Steel and Biff Tannen, among others, bring fun characters to a fun slasher story.

17. Re-Animator
(1985, Dir. by Stuart Gordon.)

Is it weird if I say Re-Animator is one of those movies I respect more than I love?  I generally say that kind of thing about the likes of Lawrence of Arabia or Raging Bull or whatnot, but for some reason I've never had a big emotional connection with Re-Animator.  At the same time, I think about it and I'm immediately showing it respect like I'm watching Atticus Finch walk out of the courtroom.  That's worth something, isn't it?

16. Psycho II
(1983, Dir. by Richard Franklin.)

I like to cite Psycho II as proof that anything can be made into a good movie.  Just think about it like this: 23 years ago, Beetlejuice happened (Not saying it's as good as Psycho, it's just the first non-sequeled movie of 1988 I came up with).  Now, let's pretend that it's now - but Tim Burton is dead and some dude who spent a day on one of his film sets when he was in school is making a sequel.  HOW BADLY WOULD WE TRASH THAT MOVIE?  Yeah, badly. So imagine what 1983 audiences thought a sequel to Psycho would be like.  And yet, thanks to some inventive writing by Tom Holland and Richard Franklin's love for Hitchcock, Psycho II is kind of awesome.  And if Psycho II is awesome, then any movie can be awesome.

Five random facts/questions to ponder as '80s Horror Month moves on.....
1) I'm not gonna go into the details of Clownhouse's legal history again. So instead, let's just talk about Sam Rockwell!  I had no idea who he was back when Clownhouse was a family favorite (even though he had been in the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles flick! - but there's a scene in Clownhouse where he's telling a "scary story" that now seems to me brilliant. I wasn't smart enough to see it as a kid, but that dude's always been a star.  Go Sam!

2) My reaction to Dead & Buried is almost the opposite to Clownhouse, as I could not, for the life of me, see Melody Anderson as anything but Dale Arden of Flash Gordon fame.  Do you have any tales of not being able to see an actor as anything but one of their more famous roles?

3) April Fool's Day was partially inspired by the famous Agatha Christie tale And Then There Were None, which was also an inspiration to films like George Pollack's Ten Little Indians, Mario Bava's Five Dolls for an August Moon, and Jams Mangold's Identity.

4) Random personal factoid: I'd read of Re-Animator as a teen, but didn't see it until I was into my 20s.  My biggest reason for wanting to see it? That scene in American Beauty when Ricky and Lester joke about the film where "the severed head goes down on the girl".

5) So, Psycho II exists (as do Psycho III & Psycho IV!), much to my initial surprise.  What films would you be most surprised to see successful sequels of?

We're more than halfway through the countdown!  Come back next weekend, when the list whittles down a little more, and some of my potentially glaring omissions move closer to being revealed!

The Mike's 31 Favorite 1980s Horror Films: No. 25 - 21

Like the beat, the list goes on.  Number 31 through Number 26 were already revealed, now let's see five more of The Mike's favorite horror film of the 1980s.

Previously on The Mike's 31 Favorite 1980s Horror Films....
#31-#26

25. C.H.U.D.
(1984, Dir. by Douglas Cheek.)

My love for C.H.U.D. is one of my worst kept secrets.  Heck, I'm still boycotting the Criterion Collection after their ridiculously cruel April Fool's Day joke about releasing it.  Yeah, I know that a movie about Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers is an easy target, but there's more to C.H.U.D. than they or anyone else who underestimates this fun little monster movie can see.  I'll stand by it till the end.

24. Hellraiser
(1987, Dir. by Clive Barker.)

The gore in this film really gets to me....but I kind of like it.  And that's the strange hook of Clive Barker's original Hellraiser.  Most everything about it, from the appearance of each character to the ridiculous amounts of blood and torture, is unappealing to the eye...yet kind of haunting at the same time. I dig that, even though I often don't want to.


23. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
(1987, Dir. by Chuck Russell.)

If you had Chuck Russell in the "Who will be the first director to place two films on The Mike's list of '80s horrors?" pool, congratulations!  One of my favorite horror sequels of all-time - not a gigantic compliment, I know - Dream Warriors brings together a horror icon, a surprisingly strong cast, and the music of Dokken to create a deliciously '80s blend of goodness.  And mega bonus points are rewarded for the return of Heather Langenkamp and the mental hospital setting, too.

22. Near Dark
(1987, Dir. by Kathryn Bigelow.)

I don't get Adrian Pasdar, but everything else about Near Dark is pretty awesome.  Lance Henriksen might be at his very best, and Bill Paxton is as good as usual (I'm not sure why, but his offhand remark "We keep odd hours" never ceases to make me laugh).  And Jenny Wright....oooooh, Jenny Wright.  A one of a kind vampire tale.

21. The Gate
(1987, Dir. by Tibor Takacs.)

This one made my Willies list!!!!!!!!  And it's generally awesome, too.  To me, this movie was kind of like the scary version of The Goonies when I was growing up. Instead of finding pirates and treasure, little Stephen Dorff and his metal-lovin' friend found a passageway to Hell and some clay demons.  It's like The Sentinel, but without the creepy old people having sex.  (It's also quite unforgiving for a child based horror, which I respect greatly.)

Five Random Things to Know About These Five Films:
1) As Midnight Warrior Emily C of The Quest To Watch Every Movie Ever would point out, C.H.U.D. proudly stars two future Home Alone cast members, John Heard and Daniel Stern.  Here they work together, and Kevin is nowhere to be found.

2) The working title of Hellraiser? Sadomasochists From Beyond The Grave.  Also, when Pinhead proclaims "We'll tear your soul apart", I get crazy shivers.  I want to channel that someday when I need to scare someone.

3) Ummmm....DOKKEN YOU GUYS!

 2) Joshua Miller, who plays the mini vampire Homer in Near Dark is the son of The Exorcist co-star Jason Miller, who gives one of my favorite performances ever in that film. He's also the half-brother of another horror star - The Lost Boys' Jason Patric.

1) Ummmm, I don't have much to say about The Gate.  Except that, if you haven't seen the remastered DVD, you should.  I had my old full frame DVD for too many years, and when Lions Gate provided a widescreen version...the terror took on new form.  Super highly recommended!

Well....not as super highly recommend as the next 20 films on this list!  Stay tuned for more!

The Mike's 31 Favorite 1980s Horror Films: No. 31 - 26

FMWL's trip through 1980s Horror Month is underway, and one of the main attractions I've got planned is this countdown - a round up of my favorite horror films of the decade.  Some of my choices may shock you - as will some of the films I did NOT choose - but I hope you'll enjoy a look into the depths of my '80s horror lovin' mind.  The countdown will be segmented throughout the month....starting now.

31. The Entity
(1982, Dir. by Sidney J. Furie.)

Maybe I'm overvaluing this one as I start this list. It's too long and too silly in many regards, but the scenes of paranormal dominance are really hard to shake.  And have I ever mentioned how much I love Barbara Hershey?  Because I do, and this might be her best lead performance.  So it's in.
The Entity as Midnight Movie of the Week #48 - December 2, 2010

30. Pumpkinhead
(1988, Dir. by Stan Winston.)

This was the last film I picked for the list (even though I rated it ahead of The Entity). I'm not entirely wild about the film's acting, which is pretty pathetic from everyone who's not Lance Henriksen, but then there's Stan Winston's amazing creature design.  It's easily my favorite monster of the decade, and it pushes the film to another level.

29. The Blob
(1988, Dir. by Chuck Russell.)

I'm kind of surprised I didn't push this higher up the list. Maybe my love for the original film is clouding things again, because I do get a ton of enjoyment out of Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont's script for this remake.  The story is not one that could have been easily recreated, but the script manages to maintain some of the first film's charm while updating things in an interesting manner. Oh, and it has a blob!

28. Of Unknown Origin
(1983, Dir. by George P. Cosmatos.)

My most recent "find" to make the list, as I just saw this for the first time a couple of months ago and fell quickly in love.  The game of "Future Robocop and Mouse" between our lead and the plus sized rodent that is tearing apart his home is never dull and surprisingly dark in tone.  Peter Weller gives a surprisingly good performance.
Of Unknown Origin as Midnight Movie of the Week #63 - March 16, 2011

27. Videodrome
(1983, Dir. by David Cronenberg.)

Alright, here's a controversial comment - I'm not wild about most of Cronenberg's '80s output.  The Fly has never done much more than repulse me, and Scanners' lead might be the worst actor every to step on to a film set.  (To be fair, I do like his adaptation of The Dead Zone - but I might prefer the TV series! - and have some decent memories of Dead Ringers from long ago.)  Videodrome, however, stands out as a mind-bending bit of surreal horror that never grows old to me - even if it is repulsive and uneven. Long live the new flesh, indeed.

26. Waxwork
(1988, Dir. by Anthony Hickox.)

Capitalizing on classic horrors in fun and inventive ways might have been my favorite trend in horror of the 1980s, and Waxwork is one of the shining examples of how to do this well.  A great cast - including Zach Galligan (aka Bruce Campbell, Jr.), David Warner, and Deborah Foreman (who is probably the '80s best kept secret goddess) - carries the tale of wax sculptures and alternate dimensions and werewolves played by Gimli; creating a fun bit of horror that's tongue in cheek, yet still a little bit creepy.

Six random facts/questions to ponder as '80s Horror Month moves on.....
1) The actor playing Barbara Hershey's son in The Entity broke his arm during a scene in which he was violently thrown by the titular entity. The son of the "real life" victim of these attacks also had his arm broken in this manner during one of the "attacks".  Does that mean something?

2) When I was 8 or 9 years old, the October "Haunted Hayride" in my hometown featured a scarecrow looking character with a large - in my mind it was about five feet in diameter - pumpkin for a head that featured a demonic scowl. I had nightmares about it for weeks, and assumed it was the subject of Pumpkinhead. Have any childhood nightmares you'd like to see on screen?

3) Does anyone know where I can get one of those biohazard suits with the trash can shaped hood that the dudes wear in The Blob? They look wicked fun!

4) The idea of Robocop chasing a giant mouse and setting Tom & Jerry style traps for it in Of Unknown Origin just makes me smile.  Do you have any favorite cartoons that you'd like to see as a horror film?

5) I don't really have anything interesting to say about Videodrome. It has chest vaginas that eat Betamax tapes, what can I add to that?

6) Jason Voorhees, the children from Village of the Damned, The Thing, and The Golem were each featured in exhibits in the original script of Waxwork.  If you were making your own horror Waxwork, what character couldn't you live without?

Come back soon as the list rolls on; Numbers 25-21 should offer a few surprises!  Until then, be well Midnight Warriors!