Episode 72: ‘80 - ‘89 A Decade of Horror

What happens when nostalgia meets horror in the vibrant and fear-inducing era of the 1980s? Join us as we embark on a spirited journey through the decade's chilling cinematic landscape. We kick things off with a "sinister sip" of Long Island Iced Tea, a fitting tribute to an era that embraced both eclecticism and excess. From the technological terrors of "Maximum Overdrive" to the unforgettable chills of "The Thing," our conversation is a delightful mix of humor, critique, and fond memories. Sam, our fresh pair of eyes, brings a unique perspective as she navigates these classics, often for the first time.

Our discussion veers into the unexpected profitability and cult status of films like "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Possession," leaving us to ponder what elements set certain films apart from their peers. We chuckle over the outrageousness of a soda machine attack while contemplating the enduring charm of George C. Scott in "The Changeling." Not all films stand the test of time, however, and we don't shy away from expressing our disappointments with titles that missed the mark, such as "Final Exam" and "Return to Horror High." Balancing our nostalgia with a critical eye, we explore the reasons behind these films' successes and failures.

As we wrap up, it's all about sharing our personal ratings and rediscovering the decade's hidden treasures and missteps. From the bizarre allure of "Videodrome" to the cult classic charisma of "They Live," we share our candid thoughts on what made these films unforgettable or utterly skippable. Opinions vary widely, sparking lively debates on the horror credentials of titles like "Visiting Hours" and entries in the "Friday the 13th" series. With humor and passion, we reflect on our cinematic preferences, biases, and the ever-evolving landscape of horror films, inviting you to relive the most entertaining moments of 80s horror with us.

Sinister Sip

Long Island Iced Tea

From: Difford’s Guide

  • 1/2 oz White Rum

  • 1/2 oz Gin

  • 1/2 oz Vodka

  • 1/2 oz Tequila

  • 1/2 oz Triple Sec

  • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup

  • 1/2 oz Lemon Juice

  • 1/2 oz Lime Juice

  • 2 oz Coke

  1. Shake the first 8 ingredients with ice

  2. Strain into ice-filled glass

  3. Top with cola

Most Kills 

  1. The Blob – 58

  2. Friday the 13th VIII – 41

  3. Maximum Overdrive – 43 

  4. Honorable Mentions

    1. Lifeforce – 23 

    2. An American Werewolf in London – 22

Most Prolific Killers

  1. Jason Voorhees – 41 (part 8) 13 (part 3)

  2. Michael Myers (Halloween 5) – 14 

  3. David Keesler (An American Werewolf in London) – 13 (7 more indirectly)

  4. Honorable Mentions 

    1. (The Thing) The Thing – 11 

    2. (Final Exam) The Lanier College Killer – 9

    3. (Silent Night, Deadly NIght) William “Billy” Chapman – 8 

Best Killer/Villain

  1. Sam

    1. The Thing (The Thing)

    2. Freddy (A Nightmare on Elm Street)

  2. Mike 

    1. The Thing (The Thing)

    2. Richard Sullivan/Evil (New Year’s Evil)

  3. Chad

    1. The Thing (The Thing)

    2. Trucks (Maximum Overdrive)

Most Profitable Films (as a percentage)

  1. Possession: 3354% (82.9 mill on budget of 2.4 mill)

  2. A Nightmare on Elm Street: 3072% (36.7 mill on budget of 1.8 mill)

  3. Friday the 13th Part 3: 1568% (34.5 Mill on budget of 2.2 mill)

Biggest Box Office Takes

  1. The Changeling – 113 mill

  2. Jaws 3-D – 87.9 mill

  3. Possession – 82.9 mill

Box Office Bombs (as a percentage)

  1. Santa Sangre: -99% (9,000 on budget of 700,000)

  2. Videodrom: -65% (2.1 mill on budget of 5.95 mill)

  3. Lifeforce: -54% (11.6 mill on budget of 25 mill)

Lowest Box Office Takes

  1. Santa Sangre – 9,000

  2. Watchers – 900,000

  3. Return to Horror High – 1.2 mill

  4. Final Exam – 1.3 Mill

Most Expensive Films

  1. Lifeforce – 25 million

  2. The Shining – 19 million

  3. Jaws 3-D – 18 million

  4. Honoroable Mentions – 15 million

    1. The Fly

    2. The Thing

    3. Altered States

Best of the Decade

  1. Chad

    1. Re-Animator

    2. The Thing

    3. An American Werewolf in London

  2. Sam 

    1. Re-Animator

    2. The Shining

    3. The Thing

  3. Mike

    1. Re-Animator

    2. The Evil Dead

    3. Visiting Hours

Worst of the Decade

  1. Sam

    1. The Return to Horror High

    2. Dark Age

    3. Maximum Overdrive

  2. Mike

    1. Possession

    2. Dark Age

    3. Watchers

  3. Chad

    1. Dark Age

    2. Mutant

    3. Jaws 3-D

Sleeper Hits

  1. Mike

    1. Videodrome

    2. The Blob

  2. Chad

    1. The Blob

    2. They LIve

  3. Sam

    1. Videodrome

    2. The Blob

Favorite Moment from a Film

  1. Chad

    1. The cat scenes from Re-Animator

    2. The severed head oral sex scene from Re-Animator

  2. Sam

    1. The cat scenes from Re-Animator

    2. Freddy pressing against the wall in A Nightmare on Elm Street

    3. The twins from The Shining

  3. Mike

    1. The spinning room from Poltergeist

    2. The werewolf transformation from An American Werewolf in London

Favorite Kill/Death

  1. Chad

    1. Jason punching a person so hard that their head flies off, from Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan

  2. Sam

    1. The waterbed kill and the fountain of blood from A Nightmare on Elm Street

  3. Mike

    1. When Billy puts the babysitter onto the antlers from “Silent Night, Deadly Night”

Movies Covered from the Decade

Altered States
New Year's Evil
The Shining
An American Werewolf in London
Final Exam
The Evil Dead
Possession
Poltergeist
Friday the 13th Part 3
The Dead Zone
Jaws 3D
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Mutant
The Changeling
Visiting Hours
Re-Animator
Ghoulies
The Fly
Maximum Overdrive
The Entity
The Thing
Videodrome
Lifeforce
Dark Age
Return to Hororr High
Witchboard
The Blob
They Live
Watchers
Evil Dead II
Silent Night, Deadly Night
Santa Sangre
Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan
Halloween 5
Monkey Shines