The 80s was an excellent period for movies of all genres: horror, romance, action, etc. While marked heavily by the period's iconography, slang, and fashion, a vast array of these 1980s movie sensations remain relevant today. Movies such as Pretty in Pink, Top Gun, and Dirty Dancing are referenced in modern films and television shows because of their impact on Gen X, but what about those movies that slipped under their radar?
Many fantastic movies filmed in the 1980s didn’t garner the success they deserved, whether because of advertising issues, a strange subject matter, or just being ahead of their time. Whatever the reason, these unknown films deserve a chance to shine.
10 The Darkest Teen Movie Of All Time (River’s Edge)
Given the number of stars stuffed into this teen drama, it’s a wonder that more people haven’t heard of it. Starring Keanu Reeves, Crispin Glover, and Dennis Hopper, River’s Edge should have been an instant sensation.
Referred to by some critics as "the darkest teen movie of all time," River’s Edge is a bleak look at small-town teenage life and morality. The film begins with the murder of a teenage girl and how the murderer’s friends grapple with the knowledge. While certainly a far cry from most popular teen movies, River’s Edge is an intriguing look at the darker side of being a teenager, and tackles themes such as alienation, morality, and neglect.
9 Cult Horror Is Often The Best Horror (The Changeling)
The Changeling tells the story of a music professor suffering the sudden loss of his wife and child, and his relocation to a large, haunted manor. As he investigates the haunting, he begins to uncover a horrific mystery, the roots of which go frighteningly deep.
Despite its underground status, The Changeling is considered one of the best horror films of all time. An excellent example of a Gothic horror film, The Changeling’s haunted house, class criticism, and grotesque crimes perfectly illustrate the hidden darkness of society. With homages paid in more recent horror movies such as The Others and Insidious, any horror fan would be remiss to ignore such a hidden gem.
8 A Psychological Look Into The Director’s Psyche (Possession)
Possession is director Andrzej Żuławski’s only English-language film, starring Sam Neill and Isabelle Adjani. Although it has become a cult classic and critical darling in the years since its release, the film was a commercial flop. Fortunately, the world’s eyes have opened regarding Żuławski’s masterpiece.
The film follows the relationship between an international spy and his wife, who begins behaving as if possessed after asking for a divorce. The film is a prime example of a psychological horror – filled with screams, disturbing imagery, and confusion. Possession is perfectly frightening. It may even reflect Żuławski’s own divorce, which he was in the process of at the time, proving itself to be truly psychological in its essence.
7 Forbidden Intimacy In Early 1900s England (Maurice)
While British cinema was an abject failure for most of the 80s, a saving grace was Merchant-Ivory, a writer-director pair famous for their period dramas. A Merchant-Ivory film could be relied on to be beautiful, romantic, and tender, all staples of the modern period romance. Despite their popularity, their 1989 film Maurice managed to slip below the radar.
Maurice is a coming-of-age film following a young man named Maurice in early 1900s Britain. He finds love with various suitors, and confronts his homosexuality in an era where such a thing could get him arrested. The film is gorgeous, tender, and breathtakingly intimate, unafraid to show love stripped down to raw feeling.
6 A Beautiful Tragedy About Innocence (Grave Of The Fireflies)
Studio Ghibli has been behind numerous successful animated films, with My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service coming out in the 1980s. However, one of its films never quite reached those popular peaks despite being arguably the most poignant.
Grave of the Fireflies is a Japanese war tragedy following two young siblings struggling to survive in Japan during World War II. After their mother dies when their house is bombed, Seita and Setsuko are sent to their aunt’s home to live. However, when their aunt becomes resentful, the two children decide to strike out independently. Filled with tragedy, siblinghood, and a heartbreaking look at innocence, Grave of the Fireflies deserves every praise.
5 Twins Are Tied Too Closely Together (Dead Ringers)
While David Cronenberg has gained remarkable cult status in recent years, chances are most people still don’t know him – much less his films. Cronenberg, known for his sexual, bloody horrors and thrillers, touts the nickname "King of Venereal Horror" proudly. Dead Ringers is no exception to the Baron of Blood’s frighteningly physical filmography.
Following a pair of twin gynecologists, both played by Jeremy Irons, this psychological thriller investigates the twins’ odd relationship with women. One twin, Elliot, seduces women and then gives them to the other twin, Beverly, when he tires of them, the women oblivious to the substitution. However, when Beverly grows attached to one woman, things begin to spiral out of control.
4 Vampires Meet Americana (Near Dark)
Compared to the popularity of The Lost Boys, Near Dark is like an ugly vampire movie stepchild. While both gained cult followings and critical success, The Lost Boys commercially soared, whereas Near Dark flopped. Despite its lack of popularity at the box office, however, Near Dark is a refreshing take on the concept of vampires that viewers will not want to miss.
Near Dark tells the story of a young teen from Ohio who is forcibly turned and welcomed into a traveling family of vampires. Directed by Katherine Bigelow, Near Dark is an exciting blend of the vampire and neo-western genres. Beautifully shot and filled with humor and frightening scares, Near Dark should never have flown under the radar.
3 An Absurdly Comedic Look At Capitalism (Brazil)
Brazil is an absurdist British black comedy set in a dystopian future, and is often viewed by the British as one of their greatest films of all time. Starring an ensemble cast featuring Robert De Niro, the film was a great success in Britain, only to end up a financial flop in North America.
Brazil is a satirical look at bureaucratic society and the industrial world. The film follows a low-ranking bureaucrat, Sam, as he tries to find the woman he’s been seeing in his dreams. Working a low-paying job and living in a world that relies on dysfunctional, ridiculous machines, Sam acts as a reflection of the viewer, asking audiences to consider the flaws in their society.
2 This Dating Horror Story Takes The Cake (After Hours)
Despite popular films Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy being tucked under Martin Scorsese's belt, his 1986 film After Hours didn’t reach the same popularity levels his previous films did. After Hours received high praise for its dark comedy and performances, but such praise only led to eventual cult status – the film itself was a box office failure.
The film, a black comedy, follows an ordinary data entry worker as he goes to meet a girl he met in Soho that evening for a date. What follows is the worst night of his life. Full of adventure, a wry sense of humor, and a hard-to-predict plot, After Hours is a film that should never have been missed.
1 Whimsical, Charming, And Wickedly Witty (The Tall Guy)
Richard Curtis is famous for directing popular romantic comedies such as Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Love Actually. Before these classics, however, came The Tall Guy, a film that, despite its praise from critics, never quite made it in the box office.
Starring Jeff Goldblum and Emma Thompson, The Tall Guy is full of intelligent humor and a charming cast of characters. The film follows a comedic actor, Dexter, as he seeks out a solution for his bad case of allergies. He quickly falls in love with his nurse, Kate, and misadventure abounds. Whimsical and endearing, The Tall Guy deserves much more love and attention.