Horror 101: Thoughts on the genre by a beginning viewer and a longtime fan, 1980's edition
Our intern Ellery is just starting to get acquainted with the horror genre, while Team Smarthouse’s Director of Marketing, Amie, is a longtime fan of horror films! Here are some thoughts from both of them on some 80’s selections.
An introduction by Ellery:
After our first blog post, Amie and I decided to explore other eras of horror. For this week, we dove into 80’s horror, which feels like its own genre. I was interested to see that none of these famously terrifying movies scared me much, which I attribute to the dated special effects. My ability to recognize the special effects in the films created a layer of separation between the intention and the fear actually evoked. Though the effects weren’t as scary 40 years later, I found the productions to be quite incredible.
The Shining (1980), Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Ellery: The Shining is such a special movie for me because it sparked my interest in horror. As someone who is endlessly fascinated by art and visual imagery, the shots in movies are always on the forefront of my mind. Every framing shot in this movie looks like a painting; it is actually quite astounding. This was likely easy enough because of the beautiful hotel space where the movie takes place but the cinematography also goes beyond spatial constructs. I think of scenes like the one in the kitchen early on when Wendy is cooking and the tv is placed so perfectly on the table in the frame. These quiet moments speak so loudly to me.
The Shining is the first “real” horror movie I saw and I can safely say the reason I fell in love with the genre. The experience of watching this movie is like being hypnotized and then consumed by the expansive world that Stanley Kubrick creates. I will always recommend this movie to anyone with deep conviction. Watch if you haven’t! Or watch it again!
Amie: I grew up knowing The Shining was the film that my dad took my mom to see on a date, and she found it so terrifying that she never wanted to see another horror movie again -- so my level of anticipation for this film was very high when I finally saw it in my teens. Since then, I’ve watched it countless times and it is, indeed, a work of art. Visually stunning, powerhouse performances from both Nicholson and Duvall, and the tension in every scene is so exquisite! It’s also so crazy to me that while the exterior and interior of the hotel was based on two different lodges; they built the entire set (including the hedge maze) on a sound stage. So impressive.
(Hot tip: Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of The Shining’s sequel, Doctor Sleep, features an exact replica of this set, built using the blueprints from Kubrick’s film!)
Poltergeist (1982), Directed by Tobe Hooper
Ellery: Wow! What a treat. I loved this movie for the same reasons I loved The Shining, first and foremost the visuals are amazing because the cinematography is incredibly specific. It feels odd to describe a horror movie as beautiful considering the subject matter, yet it’s the first word that comes to mind with this movie.
The film details the story of supernatural forces coming into a suburban home through the family’s television. The daughter, Carol Ann ends up disappearing and being terrorized by the “TV people.” I couldn’t help but fixate on the incredible critique of technology and consumerism as evidenced through the metaphor of the TV quite literally consuming the children as the villain of the film.
Amie: For sure this is one of those films that still holds up! Overlooking the conspiracy theory that Spielberg actually directed this and just let Hooper keep his name on it, Poltergeist is SOLID entertainment. So much of its dialog has worked its way into pop culture: “You moved the headstones, but not the graves!” - “They’re heeerreee!” and “This house is clean” are consistently quoted in my house. It’s also worth mentioning that a whole lot of 80’s kids now have an insane phobia of clowns thanks to Robbie’s murderous doll.
Poltergeist is full of favorite parts for me, but I’m really in love with the scene where the teen daughter pulls up to the house, which is full of paranormal activity, and just starts screaming, “What is happening?!?!” Brilliant.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Directed by Wes Craven
Ellery: Nightmares are an incredible horror movie device because they are inescapable and can feel so brutally real. Nightmares also are a great device because they often represent our biggest fears. The synopsis is admirably simple: if you fall asleep, something bad will happen. In my humble opinion, the premise is ingenious and everything else from acting to effects just build upon it.
The special effects were pretty incredible too, from the blood spurting out of the bed to Freddy Krueger’s prosthetics. I was also absorbed by the cinematography as well which was noticeably playful. By today’s horror standards I wasn't particularly scared, but I think the movie still aged exceptionally well and the plot remains iconic.
Amie: I have a whole story about this movie that I have repeated many, many times (and referenced in the first Horror 101 blog) - but I’ll keep it short here and just say that after growing up watching old Vincent Price movies, A Nightmare on Elm Street was my gateway into all kinds of great 80’s horror. As well as launching Freddy Krueger into our collective pop culture consciousness, this movie created a final girl ICON in Nancy Thompson.
The story was also designed to hit all of our little teen hearts where we live: DO NOT TRUST YOUR PARENTS. The whole reason Krueger is hunting down the kids of Elm Street is because of their parent’s vigilante justice -- RUDE. Also, the parents don’t believe what’s happening to them at all, because adults never listen to teenagers. Nightmare is my desert-island movie; if I had to choose only one film to watch the rest of my life, this would be it!
The Thing (1982), Directed by John Carpenter
Ellery: This movie felt particularly timely to watch after Ennio Morricone, the Italian composer passed away on July 6th. Since I also watched this movie around that time I was hyper focused on the music, which really does a great job of setting the scene.
I really wanted to like this movie. It is one of my dad’s favorite films and I began watching it with the expectation that I would thoroughly enjoy it. And it's not that I didn’t like the movie, but rather my expectations were so high that it fell short. The whole movie was incredibly high stress and nihilistic. It felt like the characters simply existed to be killed off by the thing. I was so stressed out by it that it was difficult to enjoy.
The thing that was most interesting to me though was researching the movie afterwards and finding that it had a pretty negative critical reception and yet it has aged to be one of the most iconic horror movies. I think it is a prime example of how the time a movie is released sets an important context for how people interpret it.
Amie: The Thing was released the same summer as Speilberg’s E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial and Hooper’s Poltergeist, so it had some stiff competition for ticket sales. I definitely wasn’t aware of this movie as a kid, but I did see ads for E.T. ALL over the place! Later, when I got into Carpenter as a director and saw this one, I was blown away. The themes of paranoia and mistrust are so incredibly interesting (and uh, that whole isolation thing is SO relevant to everyone living in our current COVID-19 times); the special F/X are great, and yes, that Morricone score is perfection. This is a go-to watch for me when I’m in the mood for something that’s both fun and scary. THAT PETRI DISH SCENE
Hellraiser (1987), Directed by Clive Barker
Ellery: What do hell, family, and a magical box all have in common? Hellraiser mixes marital issues with heaven and hell. The main character, Julia, moves into a previous home with her husband to discover her lover, Frank, hiding in the house. However, Frank has been to hell and back quite literally, and needs human blood to become fully himself again.
The plot is intriguing enough, but something kept stopping me from getting into the movie. While watching it, I kept waiting for something to draw me in and just never got it. Somehow the acting and story line fell flat for me. However, I will say that the box was pretty cool both as a prop and an idea. For me, the box stole the show and perhaps the problem was in that.
Amie: Hellraiser is one of my favorite films, and I respect the hell out of Clive Barker for DIY’ing it with an incredibly small budget (which he had to sell his soul for, in the form of all the rights for his Hellraiser story and characters). The idea of kinky pleasure seekers opening a door into a hell dimension full of demons who have “such sights to show you” via chains, hooks, and other various torture devices is fascinating!
Another fan favorite horror villain emerged from this film: Doug Bradley’s Pinhead -- and rightfully so, although I don’t think Claire Higgins as Julia gets nearly enough credit for her fantastic work in this movie! I am 100% here for a woman who turns to murdering creepy dudes who hit on her in bars in order to resurrect her passionate lover from the grave.
Although some of the creature effects don’t hold up well (see that incredibly small budget I mentioned above); most are still VERY impressive; including Frank’s resurrection scene. The art of those practical F/X still gets me, every time.
The Return of the Living Dead (1985), Directed by Dan O'Bannon
Ellery: I loved The Return of the Living Dead! I left this movie wanting to dress like I grew up in the 80s. The costumes were the most classic 80’s styles I could imagine and were so fun to look at, and it was such a joy to watch! The script was self-aware and fresh, with some great one liners. I loved the witty blend of comedy and horror which made for a very engaging film. Not only was the script awesome but it is also super innovative because it was the first movie where zombies specifically expressed their desire for brains (instead of just human flesh). The zombies also didn't feel cliche like other movies I've seen. All and all, a great watch!
Amie: As a teen who grew up in the 1980s, it’s pretty hilarious to look at the fashion in this and remember what our clothing was like back then. I say “then” as if there isn’t a ton of 80’s fashion in Seattle right now, which of course, there is! People sure do love their nostalgia (and I am not in any way exempt from that). Anyway; The Return of the Living Dead is one of the horror movies I watch when I need a laugh. Great premise; amazing effects; solid acting -- and the soundtrack is a dream. I remember being completely stunned the first time I watched it by the halved dogs coming to life, the tar man, and the pink-haired talking half-corpse.
Also hearing a zombie screech out, “Brraiinnnnnssssss!” and saying things like “Send more paramedics” over the radio is THE BEST. Even though you know it’s totally hopeless and no one is gonna make it out alive, it’s still just a really good time.