"Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" (1986)

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is a cult classic that explores the depth of psychopathology.  Henry is a bonafide serial killer who, once released from prison, begins to show his new roommate/ex-prison partner Otis the ropes of serial killing.  They go on a crime spree together and Otis quickly loses his grip on any amount of morality he had left.  Meanwhile, Henry meets Otis's sister and begins to change... or does he?

While you can watch this film via Netflix instant, you should really go ahead and buy Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer for your own collection.  It is a thought-provoking, creepy movie that will make you think twice about going into a hotel with a strange man.

P.S. This movie was made with a measly budget of $110,000-- talk about super low-budget!

P.S.S. The character of Henry is actually based on the real-life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas.  He also befriended a man named Otis and became romantically involved with his sister in real life.

"Don't Go in the House" (1980)

There's no easy way to put this-- Don't Go in the House may be a classic slasher film, but it ain't pretty. In fact, the entire premise can be summed up in two sentences: a crazed construction worker was abused as a child by his sadistic mother, who always set parts of his body on fire.  His ideal coping mechanism involves picking up strange women at discos, taking them home, and setting them on fire. He would have been better off if he just practiced some meditation or scrapbooking, eh?

Lucky for you all, you can watch Don't Go in the House on YouTube for free.  No need to buy the movies, folks, unless you really, really like fire and/or disco....

P.S. The director hired dancers to play the parts of the burned women-- they looked just like the original actresses but were much slimmer.  Apparently, when a body is burned it shrinks drastically in size.  Interesting.

P.S.S. This film is mainly well-known due to Quentin Tarantino, who notoriously featured it at his first film festival in 1996.

"Night of the Comet" (1984)

Most of you readers (or, let's be honest, reader singular) know that I have a particular horror soft spot for cheesy 1980's flicks.  One of those films, Night of the Comet, is no exception.  Although it's technically more of a comedy than a horror movie, it nonetheless involves two Valley girls kicking zombie butt.  After a comet causes most of Earth's residents to turn into flesh-eating zombies, there are a few lone survivors who happen to be immune to whatever space germs are causing people to become undead.  Two teenage sisters, one of whom never changes out of her cheerleading uniform, team up with a hunky truck driver to stop evil scientists from stealing their blood.

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You can watch Night of the Comet instantly on Netflix, and I strongly recommend that you do!  Seriously, it's a great movie to complete homework to (guilty!).  I am probably going to purchase it if it ever leaves Netflix, but you can go ahead and buy it from Amazon if you like.  Also, check out this trailer:



P.S. The original title for this movie was Teenage Mutant Horror Comet Zombies.  That is no lie, folks.

P.S.S. Night of the Comet is a terrific and goofy film; it should come to no surprise that a huge cult following surrounds this flick.  Tons of websites, like this one, are dedicated to keeping its memory alive and kicking.

"The Lost Boys" (1987)

Vampire, the two Corey's... oh my!  What else could be better in a classic teen movie?  That's right-- nothin'.  If you haven't seen The Lost Boys, well, obviously you were born in the late 90's.  A comedy/horror hybrid, it is about two brothers who move to a coastal California town inhabited by bikers and missing people.  When the older of the brothers starts turning into a motorcycle-riding vampire, it's up to his younger brother (and a few amateur vampire slayers) to try to save his soul.  Unfortunately, that means going head to head with a gang leader/head of the vampires-- talk about a resume booster, right?

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You can watch The Lost Boys on Netflix instantly, or you can just buy a copy via Amazon (don't you love  that site?).  Regardless, get a sneak peek below:



P.S. Remember when I mentioned the two Corey's? This phrase is referring to the string of popular teen films that Corey Feldman and Corey Haim starred in together.  The Lost Boys actually is the first film they ever did together.... awwww! (Btw, RIP Corey Haim)

P.S.S. The two vampire hunters are named Edgar and Alan.  This is actually a reference to horror writer Edgar Allan Poe.  Clever, eh?

"Poltergeist" (1982)

"They're heeeeeere...."

Seriously.  Am I the only one who gets goosebumps when I hear this phrase?  Thanks to Poltergeist, a film directed by Tobe Hooper (of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre fame) and written by Steven-frickin'-Spielberg, millions of people worldwide now fear snowy television sets, scary clown dolls, and closets that suck you into another life.  When the Freeling family moves into a cheap ol' house (seriously, people need to read up on this real estate gimmick), they soon learn that their abode was built over an Indian burial ground.  Now, the spirits torment their family and even stole their youngest daughter, and the only person who can stop them is a little person with a loud, squeaky voice.....

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You can rent Poltergeist from Netflix or you can buy it from Amazon.  Know what else?  You can also check out this trailer:



P.S. The infamous Poltergeist house was an actual house in Simi Valley, California.  Apparently, it's not at all haunted, since the people who lived there during the filming still reside in it.

P.S.S. While Poltergeist is technically directed by Tobe Hooper, the film cast and crew state that Steven Spielberg actually directed the majority of the film.  Since he was directing E.T. at the same time, he had a clause in his contract that disallowed him from directing any other film at the same time.  Therefore, I guess you could call him a "backdoor director."

P.S.S.S. There is speculation that a "Poltergeist curse" exists.  Heather O'Rourke, who played the youngest child, died at the age of 12 from congenital intestinal stenosis.  Dominique Dunn, who played the oldest sister, was sadly murdered by her boyfriend the same year the movie was released.  Oliver Robins, who played the brother, also almost died on the set from being choked by the clown doll.  When his face finally turned blue, Steven Spielberg rescued him.

"Aliens" (1986)

As much as I love Alien, its sequel is just as good-- if not better.  Aliens is a terrific sci-fi thriller directed by none other than James Cameron.  When Ripley arrives at Earth after tons of years of floating through space in an ageless sleep, she discovers that not only is her daughter long dead, but also that a whole slew of people are occupying the planet where she originally discovered the alien.  Of course, they have now lost contact with the planet, and force Ripley to go to the colony to face the entire race of evil space creatures.

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While you can't watch it instantly, you can still rent Aliens from Netflix.  You can also purchase it directly from Amazon (I found mine at a Goodwill, but that's a whole other story).  In the meantime, check out this rad trailer:



P.S. A lot of people seriously questioned the decision to replace original director Ridley Scott with newcomer James Cameron.  At the time of filming, The Terminator, Cameron's first hit, had yet to be released.  The assistant director had to be fired because of his hostile attitude towards Cameron.

P.S.S. One of the eggs from Aliens is actually displayed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

"The Howling" (1981)

The following exchange from Scream best describes The Howling:

Girl Customer at Video Store: Hey, what's that movie with the werewolf and E.T.'s mom in it?
Randy: The Howling... 2nd aisle on the right (something like that).

Yup, that pretty much describes the entire movie-- just add in a vicious serial killer and you've got it.  Dee Wallace (y'know, E.T.'s mom) almost gets killed by a serial killer, but is rescued last-minute by the police.  Her shrink suggests that she and her husband go on a "spiritual retreat" to help her deal with her issues of almost being stabbed to death.  When they arrive at the resort, they start to suspect that they may not only be dealing with werewolves, but also the supposedly dead serial killer....

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You can watch The Howling instantly on Netflix, or you can go ahead and bite the bullet (preferably silver, if you're dealing with werewolves!) and purchase it at Amazon.  In the meantime, check out this nifty trailer:



P.S. The director of this film was really big into wolf references.  From books titled Howl to Wolf-brand chili, there are tons of those subtle hints in the movie.

P.S.S. The special effects was originally going to be done by Rick Baker, but he left this to do An American Werewolf in London.  His assistant, however, stayed on and became the head designer.  Both films were released in the same year and received tons of praise for the effects.  What's with werewolves and 1981, eh?

"The Evil Dead" (1981)

The Evil Dead is one of those films that everyone knows about, regardless of whether or not they consider themselves to be a horror movie fan.  It singlehandedly launched two celebrities into fame-- star Bruce Campbell and director Sam Raimi-- with its campy, yet creepy, storyline.  When 5 teenagers go to a cabin in the woods, they discover an ancient book (the Necronomicon) and a corresponding tape recording of the text.  When they get nosy and play the tape, they release an ancient spirit that possesses 4 out of 5 of the teens.  Making them into zombies, there is only one kid that remains, and uses a chainsaw in a bizarre way to stop it....

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You can watch this gem on Netflix instantly, or you can man up and simply buy the film from Amazon.  Regardless, you won't be sorry.  Don't believe me?  Check out this cool trailer, then:



P.S. Bruce Campbell apparently really, really believed in this film.  He put up his parents' house as collateral for the film to be released.

P.S.S. Stephen King was one of the first people to watch the film.  He publicly expressed his liking of The Evil Dead, and soon it was bought by New Line Cinema.

"The Thing" (1982)

I'm super excited to see The Thing in theaters this Friday.  However, I'm slightly disappointed, too, since I am a die-hard fan of the original.  Before the remake, John Carpenter directed The Thing, a film set in the Antarctic.  When an innocent-looking dog arrives at the scentists' campsite, a vicious alien creature is unleashed on the unsuspecting fellows, which include Kurt Russell.  It can take anybody's form after murdering them, and the men who are left are constantly wondering which one of them is "the thing."

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You can watch The Thing instantly on Netflix, or you can buy it directly from Amazon (this is on my wish list!).  Check out the cool preview:



P.S. While this is the predecessor for The Thing (2011), this is actually a remake of The Thing from Another World (1951).

P.S.S. According to director John Carpenter, who is famous for Halloween, this film is actually his personal favorite.

"Videodrome" (1983)

I won't lie, y'all-- Videodrome is one creepy, weird film.  Directed by David Cronenberg (the same man responsible for Shivers and Crash), it tells the story of a television network's CEO, who is constantly searching for better material.  Although he's got lots of gratuitous violence and sexuality on his programming, he wants more shock value.  After discovering a remote show seemingly from Malayasia called Videodrome, he decides to air it-- with terrible consequences.  Basically a snuff film, Videodrome captures the attention of the masses, and James Wood starts to hallucinate.

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You can watch Videodrome instantly on Netflix for free, or you can buy it from Amazon for dirt cheap. Before you dedicate 1 1/2 hours to this, check out the following trailer:



P.S. Andy Warhol was apparently a huge fan of this flick.  He called Videodrome "A Clockwork Orange of the 1980's," likely due to its underlying message of violence in society.

"Inferno" (1980)

A sequel of sorts to his masterpiece, Suspiria, Infero is a creepy thriller directed by Dario Argento.  A young poet buys a rare book from a used bookstore entitled "The Three Mothers."  Written by a deceased architect, it tells the story of three witches and their corresponding covens.  Convinced that her apartment building is one of the witches' homes, she enlists her brother Mark for help.  Before he arrives, however, his sister is beheaded, and he is left behind to try to solve the mystery that ultimately took his sister's life.

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Watch Inferno instantly on Netflix, or purchase it directly through Amazon.  In the meantime, satisfy your horror cravings with the following clip:



P.S. Famed Italian horror director Mario Bava, famous for movies such as Black Sunday, actually participated in a great deal of the making of Inferno.  He was in charge of special effects, scenery, and, according to the lead actress, directed almost all of her scenes.  Apparently, Dario Argento was rarely seen, likely due to the fact that he was bedridden with severe hepatitis.  Sadly, Bava passed away shortly before the film was released.

"My Bloody Valentine" (1981)

My Bloody Valentine is a movie that is more about blood and violence than roses and chocolate.  20 years before the film begins, a terrible mining accident took place on Valentine's Day.  The only survivor, a miner named Harry, kills the security guard who let the accident occur, and vows to kill anybody who ever throws a V-Day party again.  20 years later, a bunch of teens decide to throw a party anyway, and pretty soon Harry returns (or at least somebody posing as Harry), mining gear and all....

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Rent My Bloody Valentine from Netflix, or buy it from Amazon.  Not gonna lie, I totally have this film myself in my collection.  Check out the following trailer in the meantime:



P.S. Most of the film's mining scenes were shot in real coal mines-- 900 feet underground!  They had to use extra safety precautions to properly shoot these scenes.

P.S.S. During the filming of My Bloody Valentine, the director never told anybody who the killer actually was until the very end.  Talk about suspense!

"Basket Case" (1982)

In my very unprofessional opinion, you won't find a much stranger film premise than Basket Case.  Kind Duane Bradley arrives in a motel room with only a basket in tow.  Instead of packing a picnic, he's carting around his severely deformed (and tiny) Siamese twin brother.  Since the two were surgically removed against their wills, the tiny brother is seeking revenge on the doctors responsible for their separation.  Duane, however, starts to get a taste for normality when he meets a nice girl and falls in love with her.  As he decides to embrace life (and not cold vengeance), the little fellow escapes and wrecks havoc.... in general.

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Hallelujah!  You can watch Basket Case on Netflix instantly, or you can buy the DVD directly from Amazon (I know what's going on my wish list...).  Check out this trailer for the flick, as well:



P.S. This film had such a small budget that the crew had to become extremely creative to make the movie work.  Most of Basket Case was shot in a S&M club in Manhattan.  They used it as several different scenes for the flick, including a regular bar and basement, but they had to hide tons of kinky sex toys out of the camera's view.

P.S.S. The ending of the film requires Duane to streak down a New York City sidewalk.  Having no money, the crew decided not to get any permits or permission-- instead, they dropped the naked actor off in a moving fan on one side of the block and met him on the other.  Classy, eh?

"The Entity" (1982)

Some ghosts possess young children; other, more friendly spirits do crazy things, like stack chairs in your kitchen.  Then, there is the ghost in The Entity, a 1980's movie that focuses on Carla, a single mother who is targeted by a malicious spirit.  This entity doesn't just torment her by following her around and making loud noises.  Instead, it beats, rapes, and sexually abuses her.  Based on a supposedly true story, this film is certainly controversial and will forever alter the way you look at the term "haunted house"....

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The Entity was previously available to watch instantly on Netflix, but unfortunately isn't available in DVD or streaming form.  Make sure to keep an eye out for its return, or you can buy it straight from Amazon.  To get a taste of the movie, check out the following clip:



P.S. As stated previously, The Entity was based on the true story of Carla Moran.  In one particularly violent instance, her teenage son attempted to intervene when the ghost was sexually assaulting his mother.  In the process, his arm was broken.  Strangely enough, when filming the scene for the film, the actor who played the son actually broke his arm, as well.

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984)

A Nightmare on Elm Street isn't just one of Wes Craven's first horror movies, or Johnny Depp's introduction into cinema.  Instead, it is a pioneer in the genre known as "slasher films."  What makes this film so frightening is that, as opposed to other slashers of the day such as Halloween and Friday the 13th, is that it has a supernatural twist.  Years ago, Freddy Kreuger, a pedophile/child murderer, was burned alive by disgruntled parents who feared for their children's safety.  As the children become teenagers, Freddy, adorned in an ugly striped sweater and metal claws reminiscent of X-Men's Wolverine, haunts their dreams, killing them both while asleep and in real life.

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Rent A Nightmare on Elm Street on Netflix, or buy it on Amazon.  Regardless, if you consider yourself a horror fan, you must add this classic to your collection.  Check out the following trailer for a sneak preview:



P.S. Unlike other famous film killers, like Jason or Michael Meyers, Freddy Krueger is not simply a large, silent monster.  Instead, he is dark, demented, and somewhat funny.  Originally, Freddy was supposed to follow the others' examples, but actor Robert Englund successfully created a novel character.

P.S.S. Freddy Krueger was named after Wes Craven's schoolyard bully.  He apparently tormented him relentlessly during their shared paper routes.  Talk about poetic justice....

"Pumpkinhead" (1988)

Most non-horror fans have heard of several famous villains throughout their lives: Jason, Freddy, Michael Meyers... however, even a good percentage of horror geeks have not heard of Pumpkinhead.  Although his head is technically not shaped like a pumpkin, the film Pumpkinhead deals with a father's thirst for revenge for his dead son.  A group of teenagers accidentally kill the boy in a dirt bike accident, and soon the father seeks the aid of a local witch for vengeance.  They both unleash Pumpkinhead, a monster who is buried in the local pumpkin patch and will stop at nothing to kill its targets.  However, when the father has a change of heart, he must go to incredible lengths to stop the monster....

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Rent Pumpkinhead from Netflix, or take a gamble and buy it directly from Amazon.  Before you make a decision, check out the trailer below:



P.S. The punk band The Misfits actually released a song called "Pumpkin Head" in 1999.  It basically told the same story, and was even on an album entitled Famous Monsters.

"The Hunger" (1983)

What do you get when you combine Susan Sarandon, David Bowie, and vampires?  Well, ladies and gents, you actually end up with The Hungry.  While a lot of vampire movies deal with the bloody, gory aspects of immortality, this one actually deals with the frisky side of these blood suckers.  A seductive vampire Miriam lives with her previously-human lover, John, until she grows tired of him and searches for another mate (apparently, this is a routine of hers).  Knowing he will waste away-- literally!-- without her, he seeks the advice of premature aging doctor Sarah Roberts.  However, soon Sarah falls under Miriam's spell, leading to one complicated David Bowie-fused love triangle.

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You can rent The Hunger from Netflix, or you can go ahead and buy it from Amazon.  Before you do, check out this trailer below:



P.S. The producer of this film, who was very involved, actually also produced Breakfast at Tiffany's, as well.  Talk about a diverse portfolio....

P.S.S. The film is most famous for the lesbian sex scene between Catherine Devenue (Miriam) and Susan Sarandon.

"Puppet Master" (1989)

At first glance, Puppet Master seems like a film that has no redeeming factors-- I mean, puppets?  That come to life?  Really?  However, it's campiness is its saving grace.  Basically, a puppeteer learns some Egyptian trick to give life to inanimate objects, so he tries it out on his clan of puppets.  However, when the Nazis try to sieze his powers, he kills himself and buries the puppets in an old hotel.  Years later, four psychics arrive at the hotel to mourn the suicide of their friend, another psychic.  Soon, though, the puppets awaken and apparently have all sorts of evil goodies, including a drill for a head, a leach that pops out of a doll's mouth and into a person's, etc.  Considering I am deathly afraid of worms, you can guess what the most horrifying part for me is....

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Luckily for all you killer doll lovers, you can watch Puppet Master instantly on Netflix.  However, if you really, really like funny horror flicks from the 1980's, you can buy it directly on Amazon.  In the meantime, check out this spooky trailer:




P.S. Apparently, to avoid an X rating, the director had to replace red blood which supernatural-esque green blood.  Yuck!

"American Gothic" (1988)

What do you get when you combine two genres of horror movies-- the survival island theme and the deranged family living off the grid-- into one?  Well, if you add in Yvonne De Carlo from The Munsters fame you get American Gothic, a 1980's slasher film that is still one of my favorites.  A bunch of teenagers get stranded on an island when their plane crashes unexpectedly.  Unfortunately for them, the island is less Gilligan's Island and more like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, with the teenagers as mere toys for the island's overgrown, crazed family.

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Sadly, you can't even rent this movie on Netflix, since it is so rare.  However, Amazon has this DVD for sale for ultra-cheap-- $6.49!  If you love campy flicks, then make sure to keep this in mind.  Additionally, check out this clip for a preview:



P.S. In case you can't tell, this movie's poster is based on Grant Wood's famous painting, American Gothic.

"Hellraiser" (1987)

I won't lie, folks-- I am slightly partial to all the Pinhead movies, especially the original Hellraiser.  Perhaps it's because it is an original, semi-intelligent horror movie involving supernatural elements and S&M-obsessed demons; or, it could be that I met Doug Bradley (a.k.a. Pinhead himself) once and he was super nice and complimented me on my top.  Regardless of the reason, I think Hellraiser is a horror film that even non-scary movie fans should watch.  The premise is slightly confusing, so let me try to put it in layman's terms: a sociopathic man fiddles with a magical box, gets sucked into the inner realms of Hell, is tortured excessively, escapes, and now is on the run from Pinhead, the leader of these crazy demons (a.k.a. Cenobites).  However, since he is literally just a pile of bones and blood, he hides out in his brother's attic, where he has an affair with his sister-in-law, kills some neighbors, and ultimately has to face his captors.  Are you exhausted yet?  Yah?  Me too.

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Rent Hellraiser on Netflix, or do yourself a favor and buy it from Amazon.  Watch the following trailer if you don't believe me on how supremely awesome this film is:



P.S. This movie is actually based on a novella by Clive Barker called The Hellbound Heart.  Additionally, the working title of this movie was Sadomasochists From Beyond the Grave.  I'm thinking they made a good choice....

P.S.S. Pinhead wasn't the character's official name until the second movie-- originally, it was simply The First Cenobite, but fans dubbed the character fondly as "Pinhead."  The rest is history.

P.S.S.S. Guess who has a signed, framed picture in her room that reads, "Dear Katie, See you in Hell.  Love, Doug Bradley." Oh yah, that's right... it's this girl!