Sleepaway Camp (1983)

Every summer I like to watch a summer camp movie, I always like watching movies during the season in which they take place. This movie is famous for its "twist" ending, and it spawned several sequels. This movie is similar to the first two Friday the 13th films and The Burning, and in my opinion is better than the Friday films, but not as good as The Burning. The acting is pretty bad at parts, what makes this film interesting is its exploration of sexuality that you normally didn't see in films much around this time, let alone low budget teen horror movies (I speak of sexuality here as more of a gender/sexuality issue than just showing everybody sleeping around, which is what is more usually common in these types of films). All this being said the "twist" at the end while interesting and different, didn't really affect or change the incidents that occurred during the plot, in other words it's not hard to figure out who the killer is and the whole film makes you think the mystery and "twist" will change who you think it is, it doesn't and is a let down because of it. I give the film a 3/5; You can watch the whole film on Youtube here, and you can watch the trailer below: 

Stephen King's The Dead Zone (1983) original

 This one was really good, the story is very compelling and I can see why the novel was successful, as well as why both a remake and TV series (of the same name, lasted from 2002-06) were successful based off of this story. Everyone says it's one of Christopher Walken's best roles and I have to agree, plus I love movies/TV shows about psychics or psychic powers and connecting to "the other side" or predicting/altering the future. It's also nice to see Cronenberg direct a movie that doesn't have to be SO violent (unlike his other films), although it does have one very violent moment. I give the film a 4.75/5, (my ratings also take into consideration the genre of the film, so while the Funhouse I gave a 5/5 that's because it'a a perfect horror film to me, The Dead Zone is more of a mix of genres but overall a drama I'd have to say and not deserving of the highest ranked of dramas, even though it's still good, IMO). This film (along with several others I've reviewed) is on the list of Bravo's 100 Scariest Moments, as well as featured in the book Horror! by Kim Newman. Trailer below: 

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) AKA Buckaroo Banzai

 This is classic 80s cinema at its best. If you like the best 80s movies like Back to The Future, Top Gun etc., this is for you, great humor (always straight-faced even with ridiculous dialogue), cheap but effective effects, great 80s soundtrack and more. The main character is a martial arts studying brain surgeon, physicist, all around genius and leader of his very own rock band and star of video games comic books and more in his universe. This is the type of movie every six year old boy dreams of making.This movie helped launch the careers of Jeff Goldblum (as Buckaroo's cowboy brain surgeon sidekick lol), Peter Weller (Robocop), Jon Lithgow (3rd rock from the sun, Shrek), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future, The Pagemaster), Ellen Barkin (Diner, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), Billy Vera (of Billy Vera & the Beaters, an 80s one hit wonder band with the song "At This Moment"), and Clancey Brown (the bad guard from Shawshank Redemption and the frickin voice of Mr. Krabs from Spongebob).  This movie was tailor made for tons of spinoffs merchandise and sequels, but it never got ANY and I will never understand why, My only dissappointment with the film was the characters never went to outer space, or at least never showed it for lack of a bigger budget, even though the film deals strongly with aliens and stuff. Definitely quotable and a no brainer as far as why it has a cult following. I will give it 4.5/5 and say no more, cept watch the end scene of the movie SO good:

Dragonslayer (1981)

Dragonslayer is in the same vein as Ladyhawke (1985) Legend(1985), and The Neverending story (1984). But the best comparison I can give you is think of a much better version of Willow (1985) and if Disney made Conan the Barbarian (1982).But this film came before all of those though, so this really is the first epic 80s fantasy. But since so many epic fantasies  came after it in the 80s, and some of those being so good on their own, it has now become largely forgotten and is arguably the most underrated of them all. This one paved the way for the others so expect the best features of all the others here. I should also mention this was made by Disney though you'd never know that unless you watched the movie, or saw the DVD cover found here. It may not feel that original now but it definitely was in its time, the special effects are really good although there are some green-screening that could be done better, but the acting is great this movie launched Peter Macnicol (Ghostbusters II, Numbers [tv series])'s career, and features a knighted shakespearean actor (Sir Ralph Richardson) as the wizard. I give it a 5/5. Check out the trailer below:

The Toxic Avenger (1984)

The Toxic Avenger (1984) the king of 80s stereotyped, cult and so awful they're amazing movies. The Toxic Avenger is the movie that launched the creation of indie/cult movie company Troma Studios, an extremely successful movie franchise with 3 sequels a children's cartoon series (similar to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and a confirmed upcoming remake starring Arnold Schwarzenegger!, and the career of its creator and head of Troma studios, Lloyd Kaufman. Idk if this movie was made to be horrible and have people overact on PURPOSE, but it is almost inconceivable that the quality of this film could be so low without making it that way on purpose. At first glance it would look like a movie you and a group of friends could easily make with your own camera, heck with the quality of phone cameras you could probably make a BETTER looking film with your phone, but where this movie does spend it's money is on it's incredibly over the top gory death scenes. How this movie (easily one of the most gory movies I've ever seen and ever made. The violent aspects of the film, and the relationship some of the characters have with violence are seriously messed up) got a successful children's TV cartoon is beyond me. Also I'm not a fan of gore so IMO what makes this movie great is it's references and tributes it makes to Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein, The Three Stooges, Abbot & Costello, A Clockwork Orange, and Dr. Strangelove, and it's general over the topness in every way possible that makes it HILARIOUS, It also has the most stereotypes I've ever seen in one movie it I'm assuming that's part of the humor (but who knows?  ). The mexican restaurant is called "The Mexican Place" and they have samurai swords on the walls and a pizza oven in the kitchen lol. This movie is also so 80s it hurts, with random people dancing for no reason in most of its scenes, and MULTIPLE 80s montages. The film also has MILLIONS of noticeable errors (jump cuts continuity errors, over exposed lighting, bad lip dubbing, etc.) but they add to the fun of it, even though the quality is damn awful, this is seriously the most fun I've had watching a movie in a LONG long time, it's not hard to understand why this became as successful as it did (it's also referenced in TONS of movies and TV shows). So note I give this one a 5/5 not for quality by any means, but just because of how enjoyable/fun it is. 
P.S. the movie's available on instant on Netflix. 

It's Alive (1974) Original

It's Alive (1974) is the horror movie extreme of the white trash "I'm not the daddy!" baby nightmare It's Alive is about a killer baby (deformed baby that is a monster & kills people) and it spawned two sequels and a 2008 remake. The film is number 43 on Bravo's list of 100 Scariest Movie Moments. At first glance the film can seem boring or hoaky and dated, but it did several things well: the beginning scene is so calm that it makes the first and biggest scare of the movie all the more scarier. The movie has some cool 1st-person POV shots from the view of the baby, and the whole movie uses the father denying his relationship to the baby as an allusion to frankenstein, the father is worried that people will eventually equate this "thing" with him just as people get Frankenstein and Frankenstein's monster confused with each other. The movie finally picks up in the last twenty minutes or so with some great scenes of chasing the monster in the sewers, and a twist ending. I give it a 3.5-4/5 

Fright Night (1985) Original

Yet another original, Fright Night (1985) has a huge cult following, a sequel, a remake, and it's sequel had a remake as well.This 80s classic was written and directed by Tom Holland two years before he would go on to write and direct Child's Play (1987). This is arguably the first time the story of "my neighbor is a [insert supernatural beast here]" was filmed, though the story might be overdone and trite now, it even pre-dates The Lost Boys (1987). Once Bitten (1985) starring a young Jim Carrey, had a similar plot and came out the same 

 year, but Fright Night is by far superior. It is a perfect horror comedy, part parody and tribute of the horror genre featuring the main character teaming up with a washed-up horor movie star to slay the vampire. It also has a great 80s soundtrack and a well done dance sequence. The special effects are some of the best of all the 80s horror flicks, and it has a unique brand of humor that keeps it fresh to this day, as well as the vampire played by Chris Sarandon (Susan Sarandon's first husband and namesake). Sarandon's portrayal of the vampire is totally unique, at once terrifying and seeming like a regular joe you could hangout with. The film is also actually pretty scary in parts (most 80s horror flicks don't scare me). I really enjoyed the music and decided to post my favorite song from the film here (though this version is not actually in the film). There was a better vocal version of this song but that's from the sequel and can be heard here. Plus this movie has the best/scariest movie poster/DVD cover of all time, I remember seeing it in video stores and having nightmares about it when I was little. I give it a 5/5

The Original Willard (1971)

I've been watching a slew of originals lately: Willard (1971) for starters. The original is super hard to find due to the fact that it has never been released on DVD. It is a classic coming of age story about a boy who has the power to control rats, but he soon loses control of them, also a classic tale of revenge. There are some famous people in it, like Ernest Borgnine (gets killed by rats) and Elsa Lanchester (Bride of Frankenstein). The movie was huge in its day and has some pretty good production value, including music written by an oscar winning composer, and LOTS of rats. The sequel to Willard, Ben (1972) had a theme song which was Michael Jackson's first solo hit. I give Willard a 3.5/5 
Willard (1971) TV trailer