Best 10 Year Run For Horror Films

Being bored one day, I organized all of my horror films in order, by the year they came out. It was no great mystery that the late 70’s and early-mid 80’s housed a vast majority of my all-time favorites, but there was something memorable about seeing them all lined up in front of me. One film after another was a bonafide classic, or at least a solid flick filled with the atmosphere you could only get from that period in film-making. What I mean by that is, most of the horror films of today are simply far too sleek and polished looking.



Maybe it’s all in my head and I’ve just become biased subconsciously over time, but if I’m at a store like Newbury Comics where there is an excellent selection of horror, I’ll read the synopsis of a film on the back of the case, and glance down at the year it came out, knowing it has a superb chance of coming from around that ten year timeframe. And I have no issues taking a chance on buying it. It happened the other day in fact. I finally got my hands on yet another good slasher film I wanted from the 80’s, The House on Sorority Row, and I found myself also intrigued by a little film called Hell High with a tagline that came out fresh out of the 80’s: “Where the students are dying to graduate.” Another caption was proudly plastered across the front, with clearly 80’s teenagers looking like their having a ball in their car: “The teachers are tough…but their exams are murder.” Lo and behold, the year was 1986, so armed with those great taglines and a price of $5.99, how could I possibly resist? On a side note, the film was a decent effort.

The House on Sorority Row was simply great. If you love slashers, it is impossible not to fall in love with this movie. The ingredients are all there: a memorable costumed killer with the usual sad backstory, pretty girls, interesting kills, and enough tense moments to make it one of the better ones.



Looking at the long list of great horror films, I got to thinking about what my personal favorite 10 year stretch of horror films is. Aided by the order of my films, there’s no question that it is from 1977-1986. Both an unbelievable quality and quantity of horror came out. Classic after classic, and if not, usually a good time at least. Being born in 1985, I didn't get to experience this golden age first hand and I envy those who did.

Personal Favorites from ’77-86:

1977: Suspiria

1978: Dawn of the Dead, Halloween

1979: Cannibal Holocaust, Phantasm, Tourist Trap, Zombi 2

1980: The Beyond, The Changeling, Christmas Evil, The Fog, Friday the 13th, He Knows You’re Alone, Inferno, Maniac, Motel Hell, Prom Night, The Shining, Terror Train

1981: Bloody Moon, The Burning, Evil Dead, Final Exam, Friday the 13th Part 2, The Funhouse, Halloween II, Happy Birthday to Me, The Howling, My Bloody Valentine, The Prowler, Student Bodies

1982: Creepshow, Friday the 13th Part 3, Pieces, Poltergeist, Tenebre, The Thing

1983: Evil Dead II, House on Sorority Row, Psycho II, Sleepaway Camp, Videodrome

1984: Friday the 13th Part 4: The Final Chapter, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Phenomena, Silent Night, Deadly Night

1985: Day of the Dead, Fright Night, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, Re-Animator, Return of the Living Dead

1986: April Fool's Day, From Beyond, Night of the Creeps, Slaughter High, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2



Man, just look at that list. That's not every great horror film, but damn...at least a handful of great movies in any given year. Years like 1980 and 1981 have a good dozen apiece. It's such a foreign idea to me, probably going to the theater to see a good horror flick month after month. Liking these films as much as I do, I'd likely be going every two weeks like clock work.

I didn't introduce a new topic or anything, but figured I'd do it a little different than just picking a particular decade.