While horror is still thriving today, the '80s were arguably the heyday for the genre, at least in terms of mainstream appeal. Slasher villains were everywhere, with some such as Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees going on to become pop culture icons. Like any decade, the '80s produced some absolutely massive horror films that have become staples of Halloween; unfortunately, not every movie can enjoy the same everlasting success as Evil Dead 2 or A Nightmare on Elm Street.
The "classics" are deemed as such for a reason, but ignoring everything else produced during the '80s would cause someone to miss out on plenty of great fright fests. Therefore, here are a few forgotten '80s horror films to add to the line-up this Halloween or to watch on a random Tuesday night.
10 Prince Of Darkness (1987)
In the late '80s, John Carpenter transitioned into slightly comedic territory with the fantastic Big Trouble in Little China and They Live. In between those two films, the esteemed director produced Prince of Darkness, a gripping tale about the arrival of Satan himself.
While not as celebrated as Halloween or The Thing, Prince of Darkness showcases Carpenter's stellar direction and penchant for exploring unique ideas and premises. During the next Carpenter marathon, make sure to include Prince of Darkness. 1980's The Fog is also great.
9 Rats: Night Of Terror (1984)
One of Bruno Mattei's most accessible productions, Rats: Night of Terror backs up its simple but effective concept with a purposefully slimy and dirty aesthetic. As its title suggests, the movie is all about a horde of rats, specifically ones who like that taste of blood.
A person's reaction to the titular animals will determine this film's fear level, but Night of Terror does an admirable job of demonstrating the dangerous nature of its rats. And, even if someone is fine with one rat, they might react differently to an army of rodents.
8 Pumpkinhead (1988)
One of the more well-known movies to make the cut, Pumpkinhead is a special effects masterpiece and features a creature that has aged better than most monstrosities born out of the '80s. Pumpkinhead's premise blends fantastical exuberance with a human core courtesy of the protagonist's personal loss.
Pumpkinhead's sets and effects take center stage, but the film pulls together a mostly likable cast of human characters. While there is one irredeemable teen, the majority of Pumpkinhead's targets are perfectly fine people.
7 Razorback (1984)
Get out of this boar's way! Every animal under the sun has been used as the villain of a horror film, and a wild board works shockingly well as a human killer. Razorback not only has a great (and massive) animatronic boar but the film is surprisingly atmospheric and visually unsettling. The cinematography is stellar, with the opening sequence being one of the strongest in any '80s horror movie.
The story doesn't deliver anything beyond the basics for a killer animal movie, although it gets the job done.
6 The Burning (1981)
Released shortly after Friday the 13th, The Burning is another slasher movie about a killer targeting teens at a campsite. The similarities do not end there, as The Burning does very little to stand out from the crowd, although it does show Cropsy's transformation into a killer in more detail than most of these types of movies.
While not especially original, The Burning is a highly competent slasher that does not hold back on its violence or gore. Jason Alexander also made his cinematic debut in this flick.
5 Puppet Master (1989)
Over the decades, Blade and company have featured in 15 movies, and that number will continue to grow in the coming months and years. Naturally, Puppet Master has plenty of fans, but the franchise is still a niche property mostly known to a select audience rather than the general public.
Gory, enjoyable corny, and capable of genuinely intense moments, Puppet Master is a fun and easy film to sit through, particularly for those who find dolls creepy. Some of the sequels are also pretty good.
4 Night Of The Comet (1984)
A delightful horror satire, Night of the Comet is built from the same mold of later films like The Blob and Shaun of the Dead. A comet eviscerates most of the population or turns them into zombies, leaving a handful of survivors to fend for themselves. The 18-year-old Regina is one such survivor, and she will have to get out of her comfort zone to make it through this chaos.
Night of the Comet upends expectations through its witty dialogue and clever deconstruction of genre tropes. This is the ideal film for a Halloween-themed watch party that wants to add a touch of sci-fi.
3 Monkey Shines (1988)
George A. Romero needs no introduction to horror fans, but the director's 1988 movie about a monkey who loves too much might. Monkey Shines centers around the (initially) beautiful friendship between Allan, a quadriplegic, and Ella, a monkey who helps him out. As often tends to happen in these films, Ella has been injected with human brains and becomes smarter than the average monkey in the process.
Monkey Shines is a slow-burner as Romero steadily ramps up the horror as Ella grows more possessive of Allan. The climax also goes for broke.
2 Psycho 2 (1983)
Psycho 2 doesn't need to exist. Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 classic stood on its own for more than two decades, and few people were demanding to know what Norman Bates had been up to over the years. Unnecessary as it might seem, Psycho 2 is an absurdly great horror sequel.
More of a slasher film than a thriller, Psycho 2 benefits from the returning Anthony Perkins delivering a performance just as riveting as the one in the original film. While not as memorable, Psycho 3 is also a good time.
1 The Stuff (1985)
Larry Cohen was the master of B-movie horror films during the '80s, and The Stuff is his magnum opus. Cleverly poking fun of consumerism and ads, The Stuff is named after an alien substance that is marketed as something akin to ice cream or yogurt.
Along with being incredibly addictive, The Stuff also comes to life to eat its consumers, turning them into zombies in the process. Great effects, a wacky but convincing premise, and a memorable final act, The Stuff is awesome.