There are critics and there are fans. Rarely do they have the same opinions. Growing up in the 80’s there was one year that literally blew this fan’s mind. Was it the best year for horror? I dunno. It damn sure was foundational to my love for horror.
1985 is also unique plethora of horror films that skewed their presentation towards younger audiences. While still horrific, these films were more approachable.
Finally, after walking you through the best horror movies of 1985, we’ll make sure that you walk away with a few Abominable Mentions and the Terrifying Turd of 1985.
10. Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
Often considered to be a radical departure from franchise roots, Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge was one of the most anticipated horror films of 1985. At the time of its release, it was largely panned by the already fanatical Freddy Kruger acolytes, but over time it has become not only a cult classic, but a flag bearer for the homosexual community.
The big shift that the sequel employs is that Freddy no longer inhabits the land of dreams. Mystique gives way to brute force as Freddy tries to posses the main character, Jesse Walsh (Mark Patton). The action shifts from the ethereal to more tangible body horror. One of the more controversial scenes involves a pool party massacre because it is tone deaf with respect to the original. However, it’s also arguably the point of no return for Freddy’s campy one-liner career.
To be honest, the homosexual overtones either escaped me, or failed to resonate with my younger self, but undoubtedly they are plainly visible. This makes Freddy’s Revenge more than just another horror film, but rather a statement on repression. This nuanced take an otherwise blunt force film and pushes it into subversive social commentary.
9. Day of the Dead
The final chapter in George A. Romero’s original zombie trilogy, Day of the Dead is the bleakest and most claustrophobic of the bunch. Set in an underground military bunker after the undead have overrun the world, it pits a handful of scientists and soldiers against each other as much as it pits them against the walking dead.
This is a film about total social collapse, mistrust, and the breakdown of communication. The living are divided between scientists, led by the cool-headed Sarah (Lori Cardille), and soldiers, under the unstable Captain Rhodes (Joe Pilato). The soldiers grow increasingly violent and paranoid.
The film’s pacing is slower and more dialogue-heavy than its predecessors, but it builds an oppressive, tension-filled atmosphere. Tom Savini’s special effects are some of the best of the era. His work is grotesque, detailed and uncompromising.
This is the weakest of the original trilogy. In fact, it wasn’t even the best zombie movie of 1985. Still, Day of the Dead brings a grim tone. The unforgettable zombie “Bub,” brings a bit of personality to the undead. It’s just good enough to squeeze into the Top 10 of 1985.
8. Silver Bullet
Silver Bullet is one of those films that might not be the most compelling piece of cinema, but it works as a vessel for pop culture. As a time capsule for a bygone era of attitudes, personalities and style, it is unassailable.
Silver Bullet holds a special place in the hearts of horror fans for a few reasons. First, it’s a story by Stephen King. Anyone that grew up in the 80’s knows for damn sure how important this man is to horror literature. Second, it stars Corey Haim as Marty Coslaw. Corey Haim might have been the single most recognizable child actor of the day.
The addition of Corey Haim seemed to soften the edges of this film; making is approachable by younger crowds. It’s not a kids movie though. An absolutely shocking scene that involves an attempted suicide of a pregnant woman interrupted by a visceral werewolf mauling is proof enough of this.
Not to be outdone, the film also stars 80’s legend Gary Busey as Marty’s slightly askew Uncle Red. Could it be anymore representative of an era?
Be sure to check out our full review of Silver Bullet (1985).
7. Phenomena
Phenomena is one of Dario Argento’s most eccentric films. It offers a strange fusion of giallo murder mystery, supernatural fantasy, and creepy crawlies. Starring a young Jennifer Connelly as Jennifer Corvino, a girl who can communicate telepathically with insects, the film slowly unravels a string of grisly murders at a Swiss boarding school.
As expected from Argento, the visuals are lush and stylized, soaked in vivid colors and surreal imagery. Argento turns even the most grotesque scenes into something hypnotic. The plot, however, is wildly uneven as it veers from psychic powers and chimpanzee sidekicks and underground lairs without much connective tissue.
The soundtrack features Goblin, Motörhead, and Iron Maiden, adding to the film’s bizarre tonal shifts while simultaneously being badass. The inclusion of Iron Maiden’s “Flash of the Blade” during the pursuit and demise of one of the victims is nothing short glorious.
Jennifer Connelly’s quiet performance grounds the madness, while Donald Pleasence offers the endearing weirdness he is know for. The film’s final act is bonkers even by Argento standards, and honestly makes it all worth the runtime. Phenomena is grotesque, absurd, and unforgettable.
Be sure to read out full review of Phenomena!
6. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
Let’s be honest, at the conclusion of Friday the 13th Part 4: The Final Chapter, we all knew that it wasn’t the end. It was never a matter of if, it was a matter of how. Telling the story of Friday the 13th Part5: A New Beginning requires the acknowledgment of an uncomfortable truth, horror hans can be little crybabies. A New Beginning doesn’t have Jason Voorhees in it (Sorry, not sorry for the spoiler), and people were incensed.
The truth is that time has been very kind to this film, and it never really deserved the hate. In fact, arguably, Friday the 13th Part 5 does some really good stuff and deserves to be considered among the best of the bunch.
With Jason Voorhees dead (or so we’re told), this entry follows a troubled teenaged Tommy Jarvis (John Shepherd). Still traumatized from his encounter with Jason, he checks into a halfway house for troubled youth. Right on time, the body count starts rising again. Weird.
The film doesn’t something the others struggled to do. It creates charismatic and interesting characters that resonate with the audience. Reggie (Shavar Ross) might one of the best protagonists in all of the franchise. His relationship with his brother (Miguel A. Nunez Jr.) and Pam (Melanie Kinnaman) forces the audience to invest in their well being. It is this emotional investment that makes a great horror movie.
Friday the 13th Part 5: A New Beginning is totally watchable despite the fact that it deviates from the formula.
Check out out our full review of Friday the 13th Part 5: A New Beginning here!
5. The Stuff
I’ll always be a sucker for Larry Cohen’s movies and The Stuff is no exception. This gooey, satirical blend of science fiction, horror, comedy and social critique still punches above its weight. Throw in some over the top practical effects and a heaping helping of Michael Moriarty’s most charismatic anti-hero performances and you have everything you need for 2 bucket pop-corn muncher on a Saturday night.
The story involves a white fluffy substance bubbling out of the ground. Of course, when confronted with such a curiosity there is only one thing to do… put it in your mouth. As it turns out, The Stuff is delicious. Soon it is found on the shelves of every supermarket in the country. Before long, people start acting strange. A band of liberators lead by David “Mo” Rutherford set out to free the population from what turns out to be a mind controlling alien parasite.
The entire film serves as a vehicle for skewering 80’s consumer culture while also making a statement about unchecked capitalism. It’s campy approach to horror and social commentary makes it unforgettable. It’s also one of the films that had me bubbling with anticipation as its fantastic full page ads in Fangoria beckoned.
Ultimately, The Stuff is both a cult horror curiosity and a biting piece of satire. It is messy, memorable, and strangely prophetic. If you like your horror with a scoop of social commentary and a bit of goop, The Stuff is worth a taste.
4. Lifeforce
Lifeforce is one of the most gloriously bizarre sci-fi horror films of the 1980s. It offers a mix of vampire mythology, alien invasion, and apocalyptic spectacle. It feels like a Quatermass film, and that is no accident. Tobe Hooper has been quoted on the influence that Hammer Productions had on him and how he was tickled to be able to make his own homage.
The plot is out of this world. Astronauts discover a derelict spaceship in the tail Halley’s Comet. What they find are both living humanoid and dead non-humanoid creatures. When brought back to Earth, the lead female alien (played by Mathilda May) awakens as a lifeforce draining space-vampire. This is the tip of the iceberg, triggering a zombie-like plague across London.
Tobe Hooper, provides unhinged energy that embraces the colossal plot. The film shifts from eerie space horror to full-on disaster movie without ever slowing down. Mathilda May, often nude and completely silent, is hypnotic. Steve Railsback delivers a manic performance as an obsessed astronaut trying to stop her. It is his best work since playing Charles Manson in Helter Skelter (1976).
The film is visually striking, with strong effects and atmospheric set design. Tobe Hooper leverages a dramatic score by Henry Mancini to provide an aural backdrop for the action. It can feel a overloaded and messy at times, but that’s part of its charm.
Be sure to check out our full review of Lifeforce.
3. Demons
Demons may be the most insane fun of this entire list. Directed by Lamberto Bava, Demons is a blood-soaked Italian horror rollercoaster that embraces style over substance, and does so with reckless abandon. Dario Argento lends a hand in the production department.
Demons tells a very thin story about some young co-eds being manipulated to go to the Metropol theater with a bunch of strangers. On the silver screen, a young group of adventures hunt for the demonic remains of the famed Nostradamus. As the group finds much more than they bargained for on screen, the lines between fantasy begin to blur with reality. The results are absolutely glorious.
Once Demons starts rolling it never stops until is absurdly awesome conclusion. For what this film lacks in character development and plot it compensates with blood, gore and total mayhem. Additionally, it packs a fantastic soundtrack that couples euro beats with rock and roll standards including Mötley Crüe and Billy Idol. In fact, it plays out much more like an extended music video packed with carnage than a piece of serious cinema.
The special effects in this one are so over the top that they border on unbelievable. Regardless, they are utterly fantastic. Special effects master Sergio Stivaletti pulls off his magnum opus with the demonic back-burster scene. It really is a must-see piece of horror brilliance.
Once again, this one one was an absolute must have at the video store after its multi-paged pictorial in Fangoria #52. Make sure to check out our full review of Demons here.
2. Return of the Living Dead
Dan O’Bannon’s The Return of the Living Dead presents the perfect combination of highbrow terror, top-tier special effects, subversive comedy, progressive music and all around horror cinema greatness. It also represents a reinvention of the zombie genre, one that had become quite stale by 1985. If you love fast zombies, this film made them cool. Even better, they are intelligent and they talk! It takes more than a bullet to the brain to slow these zombies down.
Set in Louisville, Kentucky, the film begins when two warehouse workers accidentally release a toxic gas that reanimates the dead. As one would expect, this leads to a chaotic night of zombie mayhem. The film stars Thom Matthews as Freddy Hanscom, a new employ at Acme Medical Supply. Clu Gulager extends his late career horror resurgence. It also stars Miguel A. Nunez Jr. and horror legend Linnea Quigley.
The practical effects are gloriously over-the-top, with memorable ghouls like the “Tarman” bellowing “Moooooooooar Brainzzzz” as he ambles towards his victims. The punk rock soundtrack, featuring bands like The Cramps and 45 Grave, perfectly complement the film’s punk rock attitude and frantic pace. At one point the soundtrack abruptly asks, “DO YOU WANT TO PAAAAARTAY”.
Despite the humor, the film doesn’t shy away from bleakness. One scene actually garners sympathy for the zombies as one explains that she eats brains to end the pain, “The Pain of Being Dead”. The ending is surprisingly grim, reminding viewers that even in the midst of the madness, the stakes remain deadly serious.
The Return of the Living Dead is a classic for good reason; it is smartly written, stylishly directed and packed with personality.
Be sure to read out full review of Return of the Living Dead HERE!
1. Re-Animator
Re-Animator is a wickedly dark and twisted horror-comedy that perfectly blends gory, over-the-top splatter with sharp, satirical humor. Loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft’s serialized story, the film follows ambitious medical student Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs), who creates a serum capable of reanimating the dead. However, his experiments spiral into chaos, leading to increasingly bizarre and gruesome results.
Jeffrey Combs’ portrayal of the eccentric, obsessive, and utterly unhinged Dr. Herbet West stands as one of the most iconic in all of horror. His manic energy drives the film, creating an unrelenting sense of tension and absurdity. While Herbet West’s obsession is comical, but this comedy is so subversive and dark that it never feels forced.
Barbara Crampton also shines as Megan Halsey in an early appearance in her long and storied horror career. Not to be outdone, David Gale portrays the only man crazy enough to top Dr. West in his maniacal drive, Dr. Carl Hill. His performance will ever be remembered for a scene that involves his own severed head and Megan’s naughty bits. It’s crude, exploitative, in poor taste and most of all laugh out loud hilarious.
The script that balances dark humor punctuated with waves of crimson drenched gore and it never concerns itself with going over the top. The practical effects, handled by the legendary John Naulin, are as gruesome as they are creative.
Re-Animator is unapologetically gory, hopelessly audacious
Re-Animator is a wickedly dark and delightfully twisted horror-comedy that perfectly blends gory, over-the-top splatter with sharp, satirical humor. Loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft’s serialized story, the film follows ambitious medical student Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs), who creates a serum capable of reanimating the dead. However, his experiments spiral into chaos, leading to increasingly bizarre and gruesome results.
The film’s most memorable element is Jeffrey Combs’ pitch-perfect portrayal of West—eccentric, obsessive, and utterly unhinged. His manic energy drives the film, creating an unrelenting sense of tension and absurdity. Barbara Crampton also shines as the heroine, adding depth to what could have been a typical damsel role.
With a script that balances dark humor with genuinely disturbing moments, Re-Animator delivers memorable set pieces, from decapitated heads to outrageous, blood-soaked confrontations. The practical effects, handled by the legendary John Naulin, are gruesome and creative, making the film a standout in 1980s horror.
Re-Animator is unapologetically gory and audacious. It provides an infectious energy that continues to make it a cult favorite. It’s a perfect example of horror that knows how to entertain by being intelligently grotesque.
Make sure to check out our full review Re-Animator here.
Abominable Mentions
It’s difficult making Top 10 lists. Some films easily assume their spots on the list, but others it’s not so straight forward. Here are a few really good movies from 1985 that could have made the list depending on my outlook on life and what I had for breakfast that morning.
Fright Night is one of the several films that deals with very mature and horrific things, but it also resonates well with younger audiences. Movies like Fright Night have a light enough touch to slip by the radar of mom and dad on movie night. This film deals with Charlie Brewster and his conflict with the vampire next door. It has every trope that you would ever want. Notable performances Roddy McDowell’s late night TV vampire hunter and of course Chris Sarandon’s vampire, Jerry Dandrige.
House is another one of those films that caters to younger audiences. Starring William Katt of The Greatest American Hero fame. Katt’s character Roger Cobb takes control of his Aunt Elizabeth’s home after his son mysteriously disappears. As it turns out, the home is a gateway to inter-dimensional spirits and ghosts. The special effects are fantastic in a comically twisted sort of way and the movie keeps the audience on its toes for the duration.
Cat’s Eye is a pulpy anthology that wraps a few Stephen King yarns together with a story of a wandering stray cat. The film contains three segments, the best of witch is a goblin terrorizing a young girl. The film contains great performance by Drew Barrymore and James Woods. The tone shifts from darkly comical to seriously suspenseful. Yet again, this brand of terror is fit for younger audiences that appreciate Stephen Kings penchant for darkness.
Terrifying Turd
Like a lot of bad movies, the 1985 Terrifying Turd has become somewhat of a cult classic. Nail Gun Massacre takes advantage of the slasher mania of its day. Directors Terry Lofton and Bill Leslie pulled together an ultra low budget rape revenge flick. After woman is assaulted by a group of construction workers, a mysterious killer with motorcycle helmet begins picking off the assailants. The acting is poor, the cinematography worse and the plot ridiculous. Still, its ridiculous premise is endearing and the kills are laugh out loud ridiculous. It’s a mess, but it’s ineptitude ultimately becomes part of its charm. Strangely, Nail Gun Massacre is a Terrifying Turd worth watching.
One Response
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. For me, Fright Night is my favorite among the 1985 crop of horror movies you listed.