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If there’s one thing we can appreciate the 80’s for, it’s for being a goldmine of horror movies. Some gems that might be remembered from this period are A Nightmare on Elm Street, Aliens, Hellraiser and The Evil Dead – and that’s just getting started. There are countless others that have flown a little more under the radar over the years. Overall, however, the 80s saw the momentous rise of all types of horror, from creature features to slashers to psychological thrillers, into the mainstream film canon and profoundly changed the way we view horror today.
While the subject of remakes is often a touchy one, many of these ’80s gems more than deserve a revisit in 2022. Whether it’s their campiness, innovative premise, or quirky style that set them apart forty years ago, here are some ’80s horror films that could be back on the big screen in a fresh remake.
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8th Sleep Camp (1983)
1983 sleeping camp is a subversive camp horror classic. The original story follows quiet young Angela as she witnesses a series of gruesome, inventive murders at her summer camp following a family tragedy. The film, originally made on a budget of just $350,000, has now blossomed into a full-fledged franchise, with a new installment in the works. Although franchise add-ons will always remain a welcome site, it’s the first installment of sleeping camp Series that continues to remain the most memorable due to its array of novel twists and even more novel killing mechanics. 2022 technology coupled with perhaps a more comfortable budget could do the trick sleeping camp even more of a ruthlessly imaginative marvel than it already is.
7 Re-Animator (1985)
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1985 re-animator is a kind of relaxation. The cult classic is loosely based on HP Lovecraft’s short story “Herbert West – Reanimator‘ about a mad (by today’s standards) scientist who zombifies corpses. While Lovecraft’s story is steeped in seriousness and the occult, the film version is much more light-hearted and essentially humorous. In recent years, a more faithful remake has been making the rounds. Regardless of how true it remains to the source, re-animator would be nothing short of a camp classic if revisited again in 2022. There are also certain problematic elements of the 1985 version that would definitely lend themselves to an overhaul. For example, West’s character could be explored with more nuance, and maybe some of the female characters could get a few more lines.
6 Society (1989)
1989 company is a hilarious social satire filled with Cronenberg-style body horror. Though it didn’t garner much attention upon release, the film has developed a cult-like following over the years, with many calling it a subversive, surreal classic. The film is about Bill Whitney, a wealthy Beverly Hills teenager who suspects something is wrong with his parents and sister. Bill then finds himself under the spell of a cruel orgy cult for the social elite. The film is as wild as it sounds but never manages to get missionary or take itself too seriously. If remade today, it would be fascinating to see how the nature of this elite cult has changed and changed. After all, “high society” has taken on a whole new meaning in this day and age, just like the term “networking.”
5 The Lost Boys (1987)
Though he’s expressed deep regret over his mullet, who doesn’t love seeing Kiefer Sutherland as the bleached-blond undead? For Sutherland and his myriad other charms, Joel Schumachers The Lost Boys has now become both a vampire classic and a cultural phenomenon for edgy teens everywhere. Despite the resounding cult success of the first film, its two sequels, Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008) and Lost Boys: The Thirst (2010) were released straight to DVD and starred only Corey Feldman from the original cast. Perhaps what is most enticing about the idea of a Lost Boys Remake is its casting opportunities. The star power of the original is second to none, so it would be interesting to see which young actors are up for the challenge today. And whether or not they choose to give up the mullet.
4 They Live (1988)
34 years after the initial publication date, you live continues to be relevant in exciting — and slightly disturbing — new ways. Starring former wrestler Roddy Piper, the film follows a listless man who one day discovers a pair of sunglasses that show him the “truth” of the world amidst the consumer hell of late ’80s Los Angeles. The film is equally remembered for its incredibly iconic scenes, most notably one involving chewing gum and some ass-kicking, as well as its hilarious and incisive cultural commentary. The seeds of you live really run so deep that the hard times had fooled fans into thinking a sequel might be in the works. While there is (thankfully) no known sequel, the possibilities for a remake seem almost limitless when you consider that today’s changed but overall unchanged cultural landscape has changed. Instead of aliens, Nada, played by John Cena, might see the demonic underbelly of vegan TikTok influencers.
3 An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Presented by animal shelter directorJohn Landis, An American werewolf in London remains unparalleled in its sexiness, gorisiness and wit in equal measure. It’s perhaps one of Landis’ finest and most creative efforts. While the film, whose title betrays key parts of its plot, is popular today for its ghastly aesthetic and nose-directed use of Van Morrison’s “moon Dance‘, it is undoubtedly one of the most impressive werewolf films of all time. Its wonderful subversion of the genre and stunning use of practical effects, especially for the iconic protagonist’s transformation scene, definitely makes us wonder what the possibilities are left for the film if it were remade today. Although it’s difficult to compete with Landis’s superb style, David’s relatively shallow character could also benefit from a modern reinterpretation.
2 Scary Show (1982)
1982s scary show marks Stephen King’s sadly overlooked screenwriting debut, as well as one of George A. Romero’s most underrated efforts. The film pays homage to the EC horror comics of the 1950s and tells five different horror stories over its run, each dedicated to a specific “fear”. Most of these fears are amusing but no less frightening, as their absurdity throws imaginative looks at classic and more modern versions of boogeymen and omens of evil. It would be quite interesting to see a modern retelling of these stories centered around more contemporary fears. These could also be explored in exciting new, hilarious ways by today’s stars.
1 Pumpkin Head (1988)
By special effects wizard Stan Winston, 1988 pumpkin head is a chilling revenge story about a father who summons a demon to get revenge on the teenagers who killed his son. Complications ensue, and Pumpkinhead’s killing spree soon spirals out of control. Although he never achieved commercial success, pumpkin head has inspired both film and TV sequels, a comic book series and a video game called Bloodwings: Pumpkinhead’s Revenge. There could be a modern remake pumpkin head new space to fully exploit his creative premise.