80's Sleepers.
I find it interesting that some of the younger generation today asks us not to include films from "before 1990" when they're asking for recommendations. The 80's in film may have been the best decade since the 30's(though many of these flicks probably aren't the first one's used to support that argument, but they're all interesting and fun in their own right). Young Adults today should take more chances on 80's films they haven't seen as opposed to some geek-squad drivel found at today's theaters. If you're a fan of 80's film - you've probably seen most of these.
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- DirectorFred DekkerStarsJason LivelyTom AtkinsSteve MarshallAlien brain parasites, entering humans through the mouth, turn their host into a killing zombie. Some teenagers start to fight against them.Night of the Creeps will forever be a cult-classic. From its' dabbling in sci-fi, to its' comedy("the good news ladies is your dates are here - the bad news is... They're Dead!"), to the overall 'style' of the film with it's black and white opening segment and the fonts of the opening credits... Night of the Creeps is a blast!
"it's like freeze-dried coffee, you know, a corpsicle"... - DirectorRobert ButlerStarsTim MathesonJennifer RunyonStephen FurstBob McGraw is in his 12th year of college, goofing his way through life, until he has to win a river rafting race with three college buddies.For us 80's junkies, we have to buy the VHS. They still haven't released a DVD. A VHS copy in good shape can fetch between 20-50 bucks. It's actually one of the best "boob-comedies" from the 80's. Tim Matheson is hilarious here. Worth seeking out for anyone who like "Fast Times", "Porky's", or "Animal House".
- DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsJürgen ProchnowHerbert GrönemeyerKlaus WennemannA German U-boat stalks the frigid waters of the North Atlantic as its young crew experience the sheer terror and claustrophobic life of a submariner in World War II.The ultimate submariner adventure. At nearly 4 hours long it is a labor of love for the viewer, but it's also one of the most epic, underrated/under-viewed-by-today's-generation films of all-time. One of the most "intense" films ever made.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsMichael DouglasAndy GarciaKen TakakuraTwo NYC cops arrest a Yakuza member and must escort him when he's extradited to Japan.Not a flawless film by any means, but an under-viewed and definitely above average thriller.
- DirectorStuart GordonStarsJeffrey CombsBarbara CramptonTed SorelA group of scientists have developed the Resonator, a machine which allows whoever is within range to see beyond normal perceptible reality. But when the experiment succeeds, they are immediately attacked by terrible life forms.Weird before it became a cliche'. I love this movie.
- DirectorStuart GordonStarsJeffrey CombsBruce AbbottBarbara CramptonAfter an odd new medical student arrives on campus, a dedicated local and his girlfriend become involved in bizarre experiments centering around the re-animation of dead tissue.To this day - I think this is the best opening credit sequence ever made. The acting is suspect, the script lacks the comedy of "Night of the Creeps, and Evil Dead", but it's complete horror-escapism. Ridiculous, and ridiculously good at the same time.
- DirectorMichael MannStarsWilliam PetersenKim GreistJoan AllenFormer FBI profiler Will Graham returns to service to pursue a deranged serial killer dubbed "the Tooth Fairy" by the media.I'll sit here and argue for days that it's better than "Silence of the Lambs". Most folks think that "Silence of the Lambs" was the first Hannibal Lector film. Nope! Not the best either. This is Michael Mann at his artistic best. You can tell someone behind the camera really cared about what they were putting on film. The remake, "Red Dragon", isn't a pimple on Manhunter's arse. Awesome movie!
- DirectorSteve MinerStarsWilliam KattKay LenzGeorge WendtA troubled writer moves into a haunted house after inheriting it from his aunt.Here we are with yet another, original horror flick. One of the hardest films to compare to any other film because it's just so different. The weird thing is that the first 4 horror films on this list aren't very scary, but they're very entertaining.
- DirectorJoe DanteCarl GottliebPeter HortonStarsRosanna ArquetteMichelle PfeifferArsenio HallA spoof of low budget 1950s science-fiction movies, interspersed with various comedy sketches and fake commercials making fun of late-night television.One of the silliest films ever made. features a ton of future comedic stars. Some scenes are absolutely side-splitting.
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsCraig WassonMelanie GriffithGregg HenryA young actor's obsession with spying on a beautiful woman who lives nearby leads to a baffling series of events with drastic consequences.I don't know that I would call this Brian De Palma Noir piece a masterpiece, but it's pretty darn close. From the Di-Opt shots, to the music and storyline, it's a lesson in film-making.
- DirectorLawrence KasdanStarsWilliam HurtKathleen TurnerRichard CrennaDuring an extreme heatwave, a beautiful Florida woman and a seedy lawyer engage in an affair while plotting the murder of her rich husband.The 2nd great example of 80's noir film in-a-row. Another great director(Lawrence Kasdan) on top of his game here. The pacing is slow, but it's still a fine film.
- DirectorJames FoleyStarsSean PennChristopher WalkenMary Stuart MastersonReunited with his career criminal father, tough teen Brad thinks he's found his ticket to an exciting life of crime, only to find out he's wrong.I'm not sure why this film didn't explode at the box-office. Walken and Penn are fantastic. Madonna provides much of the soundtrack, and the story, which is dead on in terms of sticking to the real story of the Johnston gang, is as shocking and effective as it gets. In real life the guy got shot 9 times, twice in the head! The final scene in the kitchen is InTEnSe!
- DirectorBoaz DavidsonStarsLawrence MonosonDiane FranklinSteve AntinPizza delivery boy Gary, loudmouth David and hunky Rick are three high school students out to lose their virginity any way they can. Gary falls for transfer student Karen, who gets involved with Rick.There's something TOO realistic and hard-hitting about this low-budget, coming-of-age sleeper. The soundtrack is classic 80's front to back. Went relatively unseen - even by 80's film enthusiasts.
- DirectorHarold BeckerStarsJames WoodsSean YoungJohn KapelosA real estate developer who enjoyed short-lived success seeks to regain his edge by using cocaine, but takes himself to new lows as he gets lost in the downward spiral of drug addiction.James Woods gives a fantastic performance. Sean Young is good as well. The movie isn't great, but it's good. Shows life in the fast lane getting hit head-on.
- DirectorPeter YatesStarsTom SelleckF. Murray AbrahamLaila RobinsA man is framed by two corrupt cops for drugs. After he gets out of prison, he comes after them.An under-rated film. Tom Selleck is excellent here. SOme of the prison segments are hard to watch, and the viewer gets immersed in the simple but disturbing story.
- DirectorWoody AllenFrancis Ford CoppolaMartin ScorseseStarsWoody AllenNick NolteRosanna ArquetteA middle-aged artist obsessed with his pretty young assistant, a precocious 12-year-old living in a hotel, and a neurotic lawyer with a possessive mother make up three Gotham tales.Missed by the masses. A really good movie. Directed by Woody Allen.
- DirectorDon CoscarelliStarsJames Le GrosReggie BannisterAngus ScrimmMike, now released from a psychiatric hospital, meets with Reggie, and discover his dreams (the events of the original film) are real, and they both journey to find and stop the evil Tall Man from his grim work.I like the original better, but this kept some of the intrigue and campy-coolness. It's not as scary as the original, but compared to today's horror films - this is excellent.
- DirectorPaul FlahertyStarsJohn CandyJeffrey JonesAnnie PottsHarry Crumb is a bumbling and inept private investigator who is hired to solve the kidnapping of a young heiress which he's not expected to solve because his employer is the mastermind behind the kidnapping.You know, John Candy never really got that signature role. The closest he ever came was "Uncle Buck", but I think this is his best. A very funny film that is SEVERELY under-rated on IMDB at 5.4.
- DirectorMichael SchultzStarsTaimakVanityChristopher MurneyIn New York City, a young man searches for a Master to obtain the final level of martial arts mastery known as the Glow.I'm not sure how a film becomes one of the cheesiest and coolest films of all-time at the same time, but here it is. This is why we love and hate films from this era - all bundled into one.
- DirectorJohn IrvinStarsAnthony BarrileMichael BoatmanDon CheadleA very realistic interpretation of one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War.A lot of films come up when Vietnam Vets talk about realism in Vietnam War films, but this is one that comes up that many people haven't seen. It has it's share of flaws, but it doesn't have an agenda like many Vietnam films do.
- DirectorJohn SaylesStarsJohn CusackClifton JamesJace AlexanderA dramatization of the Black Sox scandal when the underpaid Chicago White Sox accepted bribes to deliberately lose the 1919 World Series.Great acting highlights the film about the legendary White Sox scandal. The pacing is slow, but the film is good.
- DirectorWilliam Peter BlattyStarsGeorge C. ScottEd FlandersBrad DourifA police lieutenant uncovers more than he bargained for as his investigation of a series of murders, which have all the hallmarks of the deceased Gemini serial killer, leads him to question the patients of a psychiatric ward.incorrectly listed as '90 here. The film saw limited release in '89. One of the most under-rated horror films ever made. Genuinely scary, and maybe the best third installment to any horror series.
- DirectorMartin RosenStarsJohn HurtChristopher BenjaminJames BolamTwo dogs escape from a laboratory and are hunted as possible carriers of the bubonic plague.Don't be fooled because this is an animated film. This IS NOT a kids film. This is a hard-hitting film about cruelty towards animals, and one of the best animated films ever made. Better than Watership Down! John Hurt provides on of the voice-overs. A gut-wrenching film!
- DirectorAndrew DavisStarsGene HackmanTommy Lee JonesJoanna CassidyExperienced Green Beret sergeant Johnny Gallagher is escorting a prisoner, Airborne Ranger Thomas Boyette, back to the US, but Boyette escapes and Gallagher must risk life and limb to catch him.Towards the bottom in terms of quality on this list, but I think it still deserves its' place. Probably as good as two similar films Hackman made(Narrow Margin, Company Business).
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsAdrienne BarbeauJamie Lee CurtisJanet LeighLocal legend tells of a ship lured on to the rocks of Antonio Bay being enveloped by a supernatural cloud as it sank; the myth says that when this mysterious fog returns, the victims will rise up from the depths seeking vengeance.Unbelievably stupid premise. The ending falls a little flat. BUT, this is from the golden age of horror films, and this film is creepy and stylistic. Much, MUCH better than the horrible remake.
