As we work to restore images and add features following our server move, Brandon Engel has crafted a great list of the best Monster Movies of the 80s for you to enjoy. How many on the list have you seen and which titles would you say make honorable mention?
Top 5 80’s Monster Movies
The 1980’s were all about excess and the movies released during this decade were no exception. The horror films of the 80’s were filled with groundbreaking gore and plenty of cheesy moments—just take a look at our list of the top monster movies of the 80’s to see for yourself!
The Deadly Spawn (1983)
This coming-of-age gorefest is the tale of teens (and one tween) who must band together to battle flesh-hungry slugs from space. The Deadly Spawn features plenty of disgusting, slimy slugs that devour faces and bodies and leave lots of blood, slime, and body parts in their wake. Expect plenty of cheesy moments, including a bit of teen romance among the slimy, gooey massacre. This movie has everything you’d expect from an 80’s horror film—excessive blood, guts, gore, and amateur acting.
C.H.U.D. (1984)
One of the best things about C.H.U.D. is the presence of now-noteworthy actors including Christopher Curry, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and John Goodman—to name just three. This film is based around a photographer who joins forces with a journalist, a priest, and a police officer to wage war on “cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers,” or C.H.U.D. Special effects are nothing to write home about, but the gratuitous use of blood and gore makes this film one of the best horror films made in the 80’s. In fact, it can still be seen on television today on the El Rey Network (check here for listings).
Deadly Friend (1986)
Directed by horror movie master Wes Craven, Deadly Friend is the strange story of a robot named B.B. and his super-nerdy owner, Matthew. After both B.B. and Matthew’s sexy teenage neighbor (portrayed by Kristy Swanson) are killed by her abusive father, Matthew puts the “brain” of his robot into the body of his neighbor, making himself a robot girlfriend. Swanson’s robot character becomes a murderous monster out for blood, and exacts her revenge on not only her father but some high school bullies as well. This film makes the list for its outlandish plot, less-than-impressive effects and of course, because it was directed by a legend in the industry.
The Thing (1982)
The Thing (starring Kurt Russell) is a film directed by John Carpenter about a shape-shifting monster that takes on the appearance of its victims and makes host bodies explode for no particular reason. While doing research in the Arctic, a team of scientists encounter the “thing” in the body of a dog they rescued from helicopter gunfire. Russell’s character teams up with the scientist doctor to battle the monster, which jumps from body to body, causing gooey carnage. This film is sure to please any 80’s horror movie buff who enjoys plenty of gratuitous blood and guts.
Alligator (1980)
Alligator is the story of a murderous mutant reptile that lives in the sewers and craves the flesh of the living. After eating dogs that contain an experimental growth hormone, the gator starts munching on people as well. When a New York City police officer goes down to the sewers to investigate, his partner is devoured by the gator. Long story short, the cop teams up with a group of people (including his love interest) to hunt and destroy the flesh-eating reptile. This film offers glimpses of alligator “parts” but due to the special effects of the 80’s, never the entire gator at once. Horror movie buffs are sure to enjoy the bad effects, corny lines, and abundance of stomach-turning gore offered by this film.
