The 1980s were arguablythe goriest decade for horror. This era saw the rise of slasher movies, alongside a proliferation in low-budget zombie films and the debut ofPeter Jackson’s comedic ‘splatter’ horrors. At the same time, established directors likeDavid CronenbergandTobe Hooperreached new heights of grisly terror.
Consequently, Redditors recently got together onr/movies, the largest film subreddit, to discuss which ’80s horrors are the goriest of all. They came up with a ton of bloody, macabre, and entertainingly gross picks, from Italian exploitation films to heavy metal zombie flicks.
10’Re-Animator' (1985)
This cult classic blends dark humor with gruesome, inventive special effects. Directed byStuart Gordonfrom anH.P. Lovecraftstory,Re-Animatorfollows medical student Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs) who becomes obsessed with the idea of conquering death. He conducts bizarre experiments in secret, eventually resulting in a serum capable of waking the dead.
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The film is a favorite of directorEdgar Wright,who has called itan “outrageous gem”. “[I] absolutely love [everything] from the great practical gore to the comedic beats of it and would love to see more like it,” saiduser Material-External531.
9’The Fly' (1986)
David Cronenberg is famous for his gross-out body horror, andThe Flymight be his defining achievement.Jeff Goldblumstars as eccentric scientist Seth Brundle, inventor of a teleportation device. When an experiment goes awry, Brundle inadvertently merges his genetic code with that of a common housefly. What follows is a gorier, funnier version ofKafka’sMetamorphosis.
There are many notoriously bloody moments, including a baboon being turned inside out. “This is the definitive body horror movie,” saidRedditor caulkglobs. “The effects are very good, they hold up well too, since they’re all (mostly?) practical, although the serious FX are more towards the end, not all throughout,” saiduser grumblyoldman.
Long before he scaled cinema’s heights withLord of the Rings, Peter Jackson made a name for himself with a string of whacky comedy horrors chock-full of carnage. One of the best is his feature debutBad Taste, about a host of aliens invading a New Zealand village with the aim of harvesting humans for fast food, and the motley crew of government agents sent to stop them.
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A micro budget cult classic, the film is famous for its over-the-top mayhem, distinctive aliens and creative set pieces. “[It’s] a great horror/comedy and, oh boy, is it gross lol,” saidRedditor crimshaw83. “If you like comedy, horror, and gore, you won’t be disappointed.”
7’Hard Rock Zombies' (1984)
This bizarro comedy-horror revolves around a heavy metal band who are murdered by a cult and inadvertently return as zombies. The revenant musicians set out for vengeance, but find that their music-playing seems to create even more of the living dead.
The film is decidedly rough around the edges but commendably wild, featuring Nazis, werewolves, and musical montages of zombies chomping people. “If you enjoyed[Peter Jackson’s]Braindead, you’ll probably get a kick out ofHard Rock Zombies,” saiduser grumblyoldman.
6’Zombi 3’ (1988)
Lucio Fulciwas a cult Italian director, specializing ingialloand horror. The bloodiest of his flicks might beZombi 3, co-directed withBruno Mattei. It takes place on a tropical island where a military experiment involving a deadly gas goes wrong, leading to a zombie outbreak. A group of survivors, including soldiers and tourists, must band together to resist the shambling dead.
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Zombi 3is quintessential Italian exploitation cinema, serving up a healthy dose of zombie carnage and unintentional humor. It’s all rather low-budget and cheesy, but the right kind of horror fan should get enjoy it. “Extremely gory zombie movie. One of the best really,” saiduser Island_Maximum.
5’Society' (1989)
Body horror meets social satire in this gonzo outing from directorBrian Yuzna. Bill Whitney (Billy Warlock) is a wealthy teenager living in Beverly Hills who becomes increasingly suspicious of his high-society family’s bizarre behavior after he discovers a frightening audio recording.
As Bill delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding his family’s exclusive social circle, he uncovers a shocking secret: his family and their elite friends are not human but a distinct, shape-shifting species. “[It] has a wonderfully disturbing climax,” saidRedditor Buffaluffasaurus.
4’The Thing' (1982)
The ThingisJohn Carpenter’sclaustrophobic masterpiece about an extraterrestrialthat terrorizes an Antarctic research station. The creature can take on any form and masquerades as members of the group, sowing distrust and paranoia.
The film succeeds in large part thanks to the phenomenal effects helmed byRob Bottinwith assistance from legendStan Winston, who also worked onTerminator,PredatorandJurassic Park. “The Thingis an amazing movie with some of the best practical creature/gore effects going,” saiduser Buffaluffasaurus.
The third entry inGeorge A. Romero’sNight of the Living Dadseries unfolds primarily in an underground military bunker where a small group of scientists and soldiers struggle to find a solution to the zombie epidemic that has overrun the world. Tensions run high as the scientists attempt to study and understand the undead while the military personnel grow increasingly authoritarian.
“Day of the Deadhas some intense gore moments,” saidRedditor Buffaluffasaurus. “Never gonna forget the scene where the zombies pull the guy’s head off while he’s still screaming,” agreeduser TrueLegateDamar. “I love the way they portray zombies and the practical effects,” addedRedditor Material-External531.
2’The Serpent and the Rainbow' (1988)
ThisWes Cravenzombie flick follows ethnobotanist Dennis Alan (Bill Pullman) as he is sent to Haiti by a pharmaceutical company to investigate a drug rumored to have the power to bring the dead back to life. There, Dennis is soon entangled in a web of superstition, political intrigue, and supernatural terror.
The film draws on Haitian folklore to serve up a creepy atmosphere and some truly unsettling imagery. “The Serpent and the Rainbow(probably [Craven’s] best film) features a couple of unforgettably violent scenes,” saidRedditor ZorroMeansFox.
1’The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2' (1986)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2picks up a decade after the events of the first film, with radio DJ Stretch (Caroline Williams), and former Texas Ranger Lefty Enright (Dennis Hopper), investigating a series of gruesome murders committed by the Sawyer family, led by the iconic Leatherface.
It might not be as potent as the original, but director Tobe Hooper is as audacious as ever, cranking the carnage up to 11. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2is sick fun,” saiduser ZorroMeansFox. “Great gore/comedy combo. Unlike its predecessor, this movie is not very scary, but it’s 100% gorier and plays it all for laughs,” said anotherRedditor.
