If there’s one thing we can appreciate the ‘80s for, it’s for being a horror movie gold mine. Some gems one might recall from the era include 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 bit more under the radar over the years. Yet overall, the ’80s saw the momentous rise of all types of horror, from creature features to slashers to psychological thrillers, into the mainstream film canon, permanently changing how we continue to see horror today.
Although the topic of remakes is often a touchy one, many of these ’80s gems are more than deserving of a 2022 revisiting. Whether it be their campiness, their innovative premise, or their idiosyncratic styles that made them stand out forty years ago, here are some ’80s horror movies that might be amazing to see on the big screen again in a fresh remake.
8 Sleepaway Camp (1983)
American Eagle Films
1983’s Sleepaway Camp is a subversive camp-horror classic. The original story follows quiet young Angela as she bears witness to a series of cruel, inventive murders at her summer camp following a family tragedy. The film, which was originally only made on a $350,000 budget, has now developed into a full-blown franchise, with a new installment in the works. However, while franchise add-ons always remain a welcome site, it is the initial installment of the Sleepaway Camp series that continues to remain the most memorable, due to its assortment of novel twists and even more novel killing mechanisms. The technology of 2022, compounded with maybe a more comfortable budget, could make Sleepaway Camp even more of a ruthlessly imaginative marvel than it already is.
7 Re-Animator (1985)
Empire International Pictures
1985’s Re-Animator is already a recreation of sorts. The cult classic is loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “Herbert West—Re-animator,” about a mad (by today’s standards) scientist who zomb-ifies corpses. While Lovecraft’s story is doused in seriousness and the occult, the film version is much more lighthearted and essentially humorous. Over the past few years, words have been thrown around about a remake more true to the original source. Regardless of how true it stays to the source, Re-Animator would be nothing less than a camp classic were it to be remade again in 2022. There are also certain problematic elements of the 1985 version that could definitely go for a revisit. For example, West’s character could be explored with more nuance, and maybe some of the female characters could be given a few more lines.
6 Society (1989)
Wild Street Pictures
1989’s Society is a hilarious social satire oozing with Cronenberg-level body horror. Although it did not get much attention upon release, over the years, the film has developed a cult-like following, noted by many as a subversive, surreal classic. The movie follows Bill Whitney, a rich Beverly Hills teenager, who begins to suspect that something is seriously wrong with his parents and sister. Bill then finds himself in the thrall of a gruesome orgy cult for the social elite. The movie is just about as wild as it sounds, yet never manages to become proselytizing or take itself too seriously. Were it to be remade today, it would be fascinating to see how the nature of this elitist cult has shifted and changed. “High society,” after all, has taken on a whole new meaning in today’s world, just like the term “networking.”
5 The Lost Boys (1987)
Warner Bros.
Even if he’s expressed profound regrets about his mullet, who doesn’t love seeing Kiefer Sutherland as the bleached-blond undead? For Sutherland and its myriad other charms, Joel Schumacher’s The Lost Boys has now become both a vampire classic and a cultural phenomenon for edgy teens everywhere. Despite the sweeping cult success of the first film, though, its two sequels, Lost Boys: the Tribe (2008) and Lost Boys: The Thirst (2010) were released direct-to-DVD and only starred Corey Feldman of the original cast. Perhaps what remains most enticing about the idea of a Lost Boys remake is its casting possibilities. The star-power of the original goes unmatched, so it would be interesting to see which young actors are up for the challenge today. And whether or not they choose to abandon the mullet.
4 They Live (1988)
Universal Pictures
34 years after its initial release date, They Live continues to be relevant in exciting — and slightly troubling — new ways. Starring former pro wrestler Roddy Piper, the movie follows a listless man who one day discovers a pair of sunglasses that show him the “truth” of the world amid the consumer hellscape of late-’80s Los Angeles. The film is remembered equally for its incredibly iconic scenes, most notably one involving bubblegum and some ass-kicking, as well as its funny and incisive cultural commentary. The seeds of They Live really run so deep that The Hard Times had fans fooled into believing there might be a sequel in the works. While there (luckily) is no known sequel happening, the possibilities for a remake seem truly limitless, considering today’s shifted, but altogether unchanged, cultural landscape. Instead of aliens, perhaps Nada, played by John Cena, could see the demonic underbelly of vegan TikTok influencers.
3 An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Brought to you by Animal House director John Landis, An American Werewolf in London remains unparalleled in its sexiness, goriness, and wit alike. It is perhaps one of Landis’ best and most creative efforts. While the film, whose title gives away the most important parts of its plot, is remembered today for its grisly aesthetics and on-the-nose use of Van Morrison’s “Moondance,” it is undoubtedly one of the most impressive werewolf movies of all time. Its wonderful subversion of genre and stunning usage of practical effects, most notably for the protagonist’s iconic transformation scene, definitely lets us wonder what possibilities remain for the film were it to be remade today. Although it’s difficult to compete with Landis’s superb style, David’s relatively flat character might benefit from some modern re-imagining, as well.
2 Creepshow (1982)
United Film Distribution
1982’s Creepshow marks Stephen King’s sadly-overlooked screenwriting debut, as well as one of George A. Romero’s most underrated efforts. The film is an homage to the EC horror comics of the 1950s, telling five separate horror stories over its runtime, each of which is dedicated to a particular “fear.” Most of these fears are amusing, but no less terrifying, in their outlandishness, taking imaginative looks at both classic and more modern versions of boogeymen and portents of evil. It would be quite interesting to see a modern retelling of these stories which revolve around more contemporary fears. These could also be tapped into in excitingly new hilarious ways by today’s stars.
1 Pumpkinhead (1988)
De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
From special effects wizard Stan Winston, 1988’s Pumpkinhead is an uncanny revenge story about a father who summons a demon to seek vengeance on the teens who killed his son. Complications ensue, and Pumpkinhead’s killing rampage soon spirals out of control. Although never achieving commercial success, Pumpkinhead has inspired both film and TV sequels, a comic book series, and a videogame called Bloodwings: Pumpkinhead’s Revenge. A modern remake might give Pumpkinhead renewed space to explore its creative premise to its full potential.
