6. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Friday the 13th might have popularized slashers in the ’80s, but A Nightmare on Elm Street added some much-needed creativity into the subgenre. After managing to avoid a prison sentence, the child-killing custodian Freddy Krueger is burned alive by a mob of vengeful parents. Years go by, and all seems safe in Springwood, Ohio. That is, until Freddy Krueger, now sporting a leather glove affixed with razor blades, returns to Springwood by infiltrating the dreams of the town’s youths. Kids begin dying gruesome deaths left and right while they sleep — never to wake again. When members of highschooler Nancy Thompson’s friend group start falling prey to Krueger’s nightmares, Nancy rushes to avoid both sleep and death on her journey to solve the mysteries of Springwood’s dark past. 

While A Nightmare on Elm Street still racks up kills using brutal methods, it’s a far more thoughtful slasher than other films of the period. Freddy isn’t just a silent killer with a big knife; he’s a sadistic, intangible psychopath who toys with his victims. Combine that with the film’s surreal sequences, and A Nightmare on Elm Street becomes something truly special — and truly terrifying.

5. The Evil Dead (1981)

An indie horror flick that even Stephen King found unsettling, The Evil Dead revolves around Ash Williams and four of his college friends as they vacation in rural Tennessee. Their rental cabin might look like a fixer upper on the outside, but the inside is even worse. Waiting within the cabin’s cellar is the Naturom Demonto, a.k.a “The Book of the Dead.” When one of the students unknowingly plays a taped recording of an incantation from the book, it awakens a series of demonic spirits that make life a living hell — literally — for the five vacationers. 

Sam Raimi’s following entries in this franchise were far more comedic in tone. The Evil Dead, however, is played completely straight despite its modest budget. This supernatural story makes for a dark and demented film; the possession scares and subsequent body horror ensures that the cast of characters is tortured up until the film’s final frame. 

4. An American Werewolf in London (1981)

1981 was apparently a very strong year for horror. John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London is a horror-comedy that follows David and Jack, two American college students backpacking across England. While traversing the wilderness, the duo is attacked by a monstrous wolf. Jack is mauled to death, but David manages to escape with a serious bite wound. David’s recovery from the injury is far from easy. While his memories of previous nights become incoherent and his body goes through painful changes, David begins to have nightmares about Jack. The deceased friend warns David these strange symptoms are all a part of his transformation into a werewolf. 

An American Werewolf in London is one of, if not the, best werewolf movies ever made. It’s grim and grisly but still strangely comedic. It was also the first film ever to win the Academy Award for Best Makeup thanks to artist Rick Baker.

3. Hellraiser (1987)

This 1987 horror flick from visionary Clive Barker brings pain and pleasure — indivisible. When a hedonist named Frank solves a mysterious puzzle box, the device summons a group of demonic beings called Cenobites. The creatures tear Frank’s corporeal form asunder, leaving little more than a husk behind in the attic where the torture took place. Frank’s remains are eventually found by Julie, Frank’s sister-in-law and ex-lover; she discovers that the only way to restore her former flame to his former glory is to feed him the blood of others. Julie begins to lure men into the attic for Frank’s use, but these heinous murders won’t go unnoticed by the Cenobites.

Hellraiser almost feels like a soap opera at times, but when the terror hits, it hits hard. It’s a legitimately disturbing film that ventures to some truly imaginative places. In the world of ’80s horror movies, few narratives think this far out of the box — pun intended.

2. The Thing (1982) 

John Carpenter had already cemented his place in horror history with 1978’s Halloween, but the director decided to push the genre’s boundaries once again in 1982 with the sci-fi monster film The Thing. Remaking and expanding upon the 1951 classic The Thing from Another World, The Thing follows a group of American researchers stationed in Antarctica. When a lone sled dog arrives at their isolated base, the group takes the seemingly innocent animal in. All hell breaks loose when the researchers discover that the canine is actually host to a shapeshifting alien that can instantly assimilate any life form it touches. With nowhere to go and nobody to trust, pilot R.J. MacReady has two options: weed out the imposter hiding among his crew or die trying. 

The Thing certainly wasn’t a success upon release, but it is now recognized as one of the best sci-fi and horror films ever made. The film’s mysterious atmosphere and intense violence keep the audience’s heart pounding, even past its climax. The Thing continues to stand the test of time due to Carpenter’s masterful direction and mind-melting creature effects from Rob Bottin.

1. The Shining (1980)

Stephen King might have a high level of disdain for this adaptation of his 1977 novel, but Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is consider one of the greatest, most intricately crafted horror movies ever made. Jack Torrance, a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic, starts this story by agreeing to work as a caretaker at the Overlook Hotel during its off-season. Jack brings his wife, Wendy, and his son, Danny, along to the isolated hotel, but Danny’s hidden connection to the supernatural world places him in mortal danger. The spirits associated with the Overlook’s dark past come out of the woodwork to hunt the young boy down. Will the evil entities claim the souls of Danny and his parents, or will an ally forged through Danny’s psychic abilities be enough to save the day?

The Shining might feel slow-paced compared to the other entries on this list, but its methodical approach to building tension is unlike anything else out there. Haunting images, frequent child endangerment, and fervent performances from Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall make this film a harrowing experience that viewers will never forget. The Shining is not only an amazing horror film, but it is still revered as one of the greatest movies ever made.