There's just a week to go until Halloween, so we've been taking a look back at some of our favourite classic horror movies that would be the perfect accompaniment to a big bowl of popcorn this October 31st! The best scary flicks undoubtedly come from the 1980s, so with that in mind, here are the 15 greatest classic horror films that you should watch - or rewatch - before the month of October comes to a close!
15. Hellraiser (1987)
Described as "the future of horror" by acclaimed author Stephen King, director Clive Barker brings an intense and terrifying ride to the big screen with the adaptation of his novel The Hellbound Heart. Hellraiser sees sexual deviant Frank (Sean Chapman) open a portal to Hell, unleashing demons known as Cenobites who tear his body apart. His soul lives on, however, and when his brother and sister-in-law move into his old house, he's brought back from the dead, and convinces his former lover Julia (Clare Higgins) to lure men back to the house, so he can be reconstructed with their blood. It's an incredibly-unique idea, and a film that has cemented its place in history.
14. Gremlins (1984)
Though it's absolutely hilarious at times, Gremlins is without a doubt, first-and-foremost, a horror movie! Directed by Joe Dante, with Steven Spielberg serving as an executive producer and Chris Columbus having written the flick, an A-team of Hollywood's biggest names put together a story focused on a small creature known as Gizmo. Though he's harmless before midnight, if he is touched by water or fed after that time, he will spawn evil Gremlins that are focused intently on death and destruction.
13. The Fly (1986)
Jeff Goldblum gives the performance of a lifetime here, taking on the role of a scientist who's hoping to create a teleportation device. When things go wrong however, there are some horrifying results. A fly inadvertently finds its way into his machine, changing the scientist's appearance with some wonderful makeup effects of the time, from Chris Walas and makeup artist Stephan Dupuis.
12. Child's Play (1988)
They say that nothing beats an original, and that's certainly the case with the first film in the Child's Play franchise. Toys coming to life is a common concept in today's world, but one that is happy to murder is an entirely different beast. Chucky has since become an icon of the horror world, with Mark Hamill voicing a modern-day version of the doll.
11. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Now a cult classic, An American Werewolf in London follows two students who are backpacking in England, before being attacked by a werewolf. One is mauled to death, but the other is transformed into a fellow creature of the night, who attacks and murders the people of London when there is a full moon. A film that can only end in tragedy, the survivor-turned-werewolf falls in love, but is unable to live out his days with the woman who shares that mutual feeling.
10. Day of the Dead (1985)
Zombie movies and TV shows are a dime a dozen these days, but they all have George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead series to thank for their popularity! Day of the Dead was the third instalment in the franchise. It saw the zombie outbreak in full swing, with the living dead outnumbering humans 400,000 to 1. Survivors are barricaded in camps and underground bunkers, with scientists working hard to find a solution to the pandemic. Things go wrong, as is to be expected, and the result is a chaotic thrillride.
9. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
What's better than a classic horror? A classic horror musical, of course! This campy, fun flick is one that has all audiences smiling whenever they watch, even with the terrible vocals and ridiculous plot. Big names include Steve martin, Bill Murray and Rick Moranis - if you like your horror without all of the jump scares, then this one's for you!
8. The Evil Dead (1981)
Sam Raimi made a breakthrough in the industry with this indie flick which has become one of the most talked-about and celebrated cult classics of its time. The director has an unmistakable style and flair when it comes to putting on a show, and Bruce Campbell is one of the funniest, most charismatic male leads in the entire horror genre. The follow-up Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987) is just as good a film, if you fancy a binge-watch!
7. Children of the Corn (1984)
Based on Stephen King's short story of the same name, this film follows a couple who travel to a town in Nebraska, where the children are murdering adults in a ritual to ensure a good corn harvest. It's an insane idea on the face of things, but one that is implemented incredibly-well. Courtney Gains is terrifying as Malachai.
6. Friday The 13th (1980)
Camp Crystal Lake looks like a gorgeous setting for a film, but when our villain decides that he'll enjoy a murderous rampage of counsellors in the summer camp, it turns into a blood bath. Friday The 13th has remained extremely influential in the build of horror films that came after it, including 1982's The Slumber Party Massacre and 1983's Sleepaway Camp. Screenwriters are to this day using the material as inspiration for their own flicks and shows, with Ryan Murphy's most-recent season of American Horror Story - the aptly-titled 1984 - enjoying the summer camp template.
5. Poltergeist (1982)
Steven Spielberg showed the world just what he could do with horror when Poltergeist dropped in 1982, alongside credited director Tobe Hooper. If ghosts are what scare you, then this movie will have you biting away at your nails and hiding behind your pillows. Scares are plenty, as this haunted house delivers a terrifying experience like no other.
4. The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter is renowned as a master of the horror genre, and for good reason! Some say that The Thing is his best work, and after watching, it's hard to argue. The movie follows a group of researchers in the Antarctic, who are visited by an alien who takes human shape and co-exists with them, with deadly intent. Kurt Russell gives an incredible performance in a film that was ridiculed upon its initial release, but has now found a home with the greatest of horror fans.
3. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
This Wes Craven masterpiece had audiences failing to sleep after watching, and it's easy to see why! Freddy Krueger is one of the most terrifying Big Bads of all; a man who was evil both in his living days as a child abuser, and in death, as he stalked children through their dreams.
2. Aliens (1986)
If you thought the first Alien film was so good, no sequel could ever top it, you'd be wrong! Aliens is a masterclass in how to build suspense and tension, as well as a formidable female lead. Sigourney Weaver is incomparable as Ripley, battling against alien xenomorphs in a bid for survival. This is one movie you can watch over and over again, without ever growing tired of it.
1. The Shining (1980)
There really was no other way to end this list. The Shining, based on Stephen King's book of the same name, features a world-class performance from Jack Nicholson, with Stanley Kubrick giving one of the best directorial features the planet has ever seen. Not a single person who has watched The Shining is able to do so without feeling an increased amount of dread, as a once-devoted father and husband stalks his family around their new home, with murder on his mind. Brilliant from start to very cold finish.
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