Hidden Horror Gems of the 1980s: Terrifying Films That Go Beyond the Bloody Basics

There’s no denying that the 1980s were a phenomenal decade for horror movies. But take a stroll through any horror convention these days and you might leave convinced that it was the only decade for horror movies.

In addition to standalone classics like “The Shining” and “The Thing,” the ‘80s saw the birth of virtually ever major franchise that continues to dominate horror iconography. Wes Craven introduced us to Freddy Krueger in “Nightmare on Elm Street,” Jason Voorhees (eventually) emerged as the invincible antagonist of the “Friday the 13th” movies, Sam Raimi brought “The Evil Dead” into the world, and ‘70s films like “Halloween” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” cemented themselves as bona fide franchises with an endless stream of popular sequels.

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It was a thrilling time to be a horror fan — and many of those movies are still worth revisiting — but what should have been a fun decade’s worth of schlocky classics somehow emerged as the genre’s unimpeachable canon. Countless horror masterpieces that have been released in the last 30 years, but none of them inspire half the costumes, merchandise and remakes that their ‘80s counterparts do. Much like a man who finds a haircut that works for him in 12th grade and decides he never needs to spend another second thinking about grooming, the horror community got stuck in a rut and never quite emerged. 

The omnipresence of ‘80s slasher iconography doesn’t just hurt contemporary horror filmmakers — it also does a disservice to the decade’s horror movies that didn’t spawn endless sequels and action figures for grown men. The 1980s were filled with standalone films that deserve to be revisited. As IndieWire’s ‘80s Week comes to a close, we took a walk down memory lane to highlight ten that have stood the test of time. 

We’re not claiming all of these selections are unknown movies, but they exist outside the relatively narrow scope of what’s popularly defined as “‘80s horror.” From relatively minor works from the genre’s greatest auteurs to cult classics that have fallen through the cracks, keep reading for our 10 favorite hidden horror movies from the 1980s. 

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