The Eighties in America - Salem Press (2009)

King’s novel;The Fly(1986), a radical reinvention of
the Vincent Price film; andDead Ringers(1988), the
disturbing tale of twin gynecologists who descend
into a hell of identity loss, drug addiction, and bi-
zarre ideas that lead to suicide and murder.
The 1980’s also saw the rise of new visionaries
in horror cinema. Wes Craven’sA Nightmare on Elm
Street(1984) returned horror to the realm of the
fantastic by placing a killer inside young people’s
dreams. Neil Jordan’sThe Company of Wolves(1984)
was an innovative and stylish coming-of-age tale set
amid werewolf legends. Sam Raimi’s tale of demo-
niac possession,The Evil Dead(1981), compensated
for a low budget with stunning style, leading Raimi
and star Bruce Campbell to more prosperous ca-
reers.Hellraiser(1987) introduced Clive Barker’s tal-
ents as director to the screen, adding to his already

impressive literary accomplishments. Stuart Gor-

don’s H. P. Lovecraft adaptation,Re-animator(1985),

was among the best and most outrageous horror films

to emerge from the 1980’s. Meanwhile, the old guard

held up its end, as George A. Romero directed the

third in hisDeadseries,Day of the Dead(1985). Joe

Dante directed bothThe Howling(1981) andGrem-

lins(1984), the latter contributing to the creation of

the PG-13 rating, which would open a completely

new market for horror films to come.

Impact The 1980’s introduced the low-budget

slasher fad to the big screen. The decade also, how-

ever, saw the debut of many genre filmmakers who

would go on to prominence. These horror auteurs

directed intelligent, upstart films that would influ-

ence horror and supernatural cinema in future years.

The Eighties in America Horror films
487

Selected 1980’s Horror Films

Year Title Director

1980 The Shining Stanley Kubrick

Friday the 13th Sean S. Cunningham

He Knows You’re Alone Armand Mastrioni

You Better Watch Out(also known asChristmas Evil) Lewis Jackson

Prom Night Paul Lynch

1981 The Evil Dead Sam Raimi

Halloween II Rick Rosenthal

Hell Night Tom DeSimone

The Incubus John Hough

Ghost Story John Irvin

The Hand Oliver Stone

Wolfen Michael Wadleigh

The Howling Joe Dante

Scanners David Cronenberg

1982 The Thing John Carpenter

Poltergeist Tobe Hooper

Creepshow George A. Romero

Swamp Thing Wes Craven

1983 Cujo Lewis Teague

Night Warning William Asher

The Dead Zone;Videodrome David Cronenberg

The House on Sorority Row Mark Rosman

Psycho II Tom Holland

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