Unlike other horror movies,the main characters are likable and proactive heroes, albeit dumb teenagers.
And plenty of other sci-fi movies matchChopping Mall’sperfect blend of campiness and playful horror.
10Re-Animator (1985)
Dir.
Lovecraft novelette, “Herbert WestReanimator.”
The film made $2 million at the box office on a roughly $1 million budget.
The unrated version is still available as the director’s cut of the film.
Custom Image by Yeider Chacon
With its infamous gore and dry humor,Re-Animatorhas become a cult classic of 1980s horror.
Lovecraft’s short story, Herbert WestReanimator.
9Brainscan (1994)
Dir.
1985’s Re-Animator is a feature-length film based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story, Herbert West–Reanimator. The Horror and Comedy release follows a man that spends time attempting to create a reagent that will reanimate the dead.
Brainscanis a science-fiction slasher movie with a monstrous element in the form of the deformed Trickster.
8Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
Dir.
The Klowns plan to capture, kill, and eat the humans.
Part of this movie’s charm is the effects.
The Klowns were made practically, using rubber suits and puppets, but often to great results.
Though the Klowns don’t necessarily look real, they are believable more often than not.
1985’s Re-Animator is a feature-length film based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story, Herbert West–Reanimator. The Horror and Comedy release follows a man that spends time attempting to create a reagent that will reanimate the dead.
From that tent emerges “Klowns,” aliens with only one goal in mind - murder.
The head scientist is taken to their world and returns as a dangerous shapeshifting monster.
However, the gore borders on absurd, making it cheesier in that regard.
LikeRe-Animator, which Gordon also directed,From Beyondis loosely based on H.P.
Lovecraft’s story of the same name.The movie also features Barbara Crampton fromChopping Mall.
The movie had a $4.5 million budget, but only made $1.3 million at the box office.
From Beyond, directed by Stuart Gordon, is a 1986 horror film based on the story by H.P.
As the machine operates, it unlocks monstrous entities from a parallel universe, leading to terrifying consequences.
Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton star in this atmospheric exploration of scientific ambition and the unknown.
6Critters (1986)
Dir.
The Critters are little puppets with insanely sharp teeth that speak in a comically subtitled language.
5Brain Dead (1990)
Dir.
A 1980s satirical horror film, Killer Klowns From Outer Space, comes from the Chiodo Brothers; that takes place in a town being terrorized by alien “Klowns” that kill its residents by turning them into cotton candy and drinking their blood. When Mike Tobacco and Debbie Stone are enjoying a romantic evening at Lover’s Lane, they notice a strange object falling to earth, a peculiar circus tent. From that tent emerges “Klowns,” aliens with only one goal in mind - murder. Mike and his friends will band together to stop the menacing Killer Klowns before their town is wiped out and the “circus” stays forever.
BothChopping MallandBrain Deadare stories of man versus machine,thoughBrain Dead’splot is much more complicated and involved.
4The Stuff (1985)
Dir.
It’s a quasi-realistic horror movie that never really tries to terrify the audience.
(1984)
Dir.
Douglas Cheek
C.H.U.D.is a film about sewer-dwelling, fluorescent-eyed monsters living under New Yorkin the 1980s.
A few enlightened characters band together to figure out what the creatures are and how to stop them.
From Beyond, directed by Stuart Gordon, is a 1986 horror film based on the story by H.P. Lovecraft. The plot centers on Dr. Crawford Tillinghast and his invention, the Resonator, which allows humans to perceive alternate dimensions. As the machine operates, it unlocks monstrous entities from a parallel universe, leading to terrifying consequences. Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton star in this atmospheric exploration of scientific ambition and the unknown.
II: Bud the Chud came out five years later, in 1989.
Though, it’s more of a zombie movie and doesn’t contain any actual C.H.U.D.S.
The C.H.U.D.s, which stands for"cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers,“are scary enough without being terrifying.
Starring John Heard and Daniel Stern, C.H.U.D.
combines elements of horror and social commentary.
2Deadly Friend (1986)
Dir.
The film is based on the 1985 novelFriendby Diana Henstell.
BothDeadly FriendandChopping Mallfeature murderous robots, teen friendships and romances, and infamous head explosions.
The acting and kills in this movie are pretty exaggerated, though well done by Craven.
A massive ball of furry creatures from another world eat their way through a small mid-western town followed by intergalactic bounty hunters opposed only by militant townspeople.
The film also has a great twist ending that subverts expectations of the genre.
1Screamers (1995)
Dir.
Christian Duguay
Screamerstakes place on the planet Sirius 6B in the year 2078.
The alliance created small killing robots called Screamers to help their cause.
The movie is a novel of Philip K. Dick’s short story “Second Variety.”
The movie made $7 million on a $14 million budget.
C.H.U.D. is a 1984 horror film directed by Douglas Cheek that delves into the mystery of missing homeless people in New York City. The film follows a photographer and a police captain who uncover a government cover-up involving mutated creatures, known as Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers, living beneath the city. Starring John Heard and Daniel Stern, C.H.U.D. combines elements of horror and social commentary.
Screamers is a science fiction horror film directed by Christian Duguay, based on Philip K. Dick’s short story “Second Variety.” Set in a dystopian future, the film follows a group of military personnel on a distant planet who encounter self-replicating robots designed to kill. As the machines evolve and become more dangerous, the survivors must find a way to stop them while uncovering the truth behind their creation.
