What’s the obsession with the 80s? is the question on most people’s lips as TV shows likeStranger Thingsdominate Netflix, and movies likeITrake inhundreds of millions at the box office. It really is the never-ending decade, and for good reason, might we add. The 80s gave us many good things: music, fashion, and movies to name a few. And of the latter, the horror movies of that time particularly stand out.
Movies likeThe Evil Dead,Poltergeist, andA Nightmare on Elm Streetcontinue to be remade and talked about today simply because they’re awesome. But in addition to that, they have truly awesome posters, too; posters that any horror fan would recognize, and some would have hung in their bedroom. Here we look at those posters, and others of their kind, for fun-filled,retrotastic viewing.
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The Evil Deadis a cult-classic horror movie with a classic poster to match. Directed by Sam Raimi, it stars Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker, and Theresa Tilly as five friends who travel to a remote cabin in the woods where they find The Book of the Dead. Messing around with the ancient artifact, they unwittingly unleash a demonic entity and spend the rest of their trip fighting for survival.
The Evil Deadis a video nasty: one of 72 horror movies criticised for their violent content, and the US poster forThe Evil Deaddoes a good job of preparing viewers for just how nasty it is. In it, a woman cries for help as a zombified hand shoots up from the earth and throttles her. And if that wasn’t gripping enough (excuse the pun), the poster even includes an endorsement from the king of horror,Stephen King.
Poltergeist (1982)
Tobe Hooper’sPoltergeistis a horror movie with areal-life horror storyof its own. Pictured in the poster is Heather O’Rourke, one of the victims of the allegedPoltergeistcurse who plays Carol Anne Freeling in the movie. Carol Anne is the youngest Freeling, targeted by the ghosts which haunt her family’s new dream home. Conversing with the spirits through the TV, Carol Anne eventually goes missing, and a frantic search ensues.
Nothing says eerie quite like thePoltergeistmovie poster. Its chilling composition, paired with the ominous,immortal words, “They’re here,” is enough to scare the crap out of viewers before they’ve even seen the movie. And for added measure, the poster also employs not one but two classic horror tropes: evil children and haunted technology.
The Mutilator (1984)
Buddy Cooper’sThe Mutilatoris as violent and cheesy as its poster suggests. Originally titledFall Break, it follows a group of college students who travel to a beachfront property for a fun-filled vacation and arehunted downby a murderous madman. But this madman isn’t any old lunatic; he’s student Ed’s (Matt Mitler) father (Jack Chatham), avenging the death of his late wife.
The Mutilatormight’ve been a bit of a flop, but its poster is undeniably a work of art. It’s super retro,super 80s, and laughably corny. Whoever coined the tagline, “By sword, By Pick, By axe, Bye bye” is a comedy genius, and this wit is missing in the newMutilatorposter. That’s right, almost 40 years later, the slasher is getting a sequel. Buddy Cooper returns to directMutilator 2, which finished filming this year.
A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
Wes Craven’s cult classicA Nightmare on Elm Streethas an iconic 80s poster that many horror fans will recognize. In it, final girlNancy Thompson(Heather Langenkamp) clutches her bedsheet as Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) flashes his bladed glove at her.A Nightmare on Elm Streetis the inaugural movie in theElm Streetfranchise and introduces Krueger as the disfigured killer who preys on a group of Midwestern teens in their sleep.
Artist Matthew Joseph Peak was fresh out of art school when he was approached to design the originalA Nightmare on Elm Streetposter. It was hand-painted, and Peak toldBloody Disgustinghe had no direction from anyone. He had an idea, rolled with it, and they liked it so much that they asked him to create the posters for the next four sequels. All of these posters would be integral to the franchise’s success.
Fright Night (1985)
Fright Nightis an awesome movie with an awesome poster. Directed by Tom Holland, it follows a teenager named Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) who is convinced his new neighbor Jerry Dandrige (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire. Of course, nobody believes him, and with his life and relationship on the line, Charley enlists ex-TV vampire hunter Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall) to help solve his unique crisis.
TheFright Nightposter is fun and spooky, featuring the Dandrige residence front and center. A man stands at the window, silently watching, whilst a ghoulish cloud looms overhead. Fangs protrude from the title, adding to thefrightening atmosphere, and Charley Brewster is nowhere to be seen — probably making a garlic necklace as we speak.
Phenomena (1985)
Dario Argento movies have cool posters, clearly. His 1977 hitSuspiriahad a cool poster, and so does his 1985 releasePhenomena,which was a departure from the former, more artful movie, but a success nonetheless.Phenomenastars Jennifer Connelly as an American girl at a Swiss boarding school who discovers an ability to speak to insects. She then uses this ability to solve a string of murders.
There are several eye-catching posters forPhenomena, but the one above might be the best. It’s gorgeous and epic, with just enough details to intrigue viewers without giving away any spoilers. Plus, its futuristic artwork resembles other 80s releases likeE.T.andBack to the Future, which are both iconic movies in their own right.
April Fool’s Day (1986)
April Fool’s Dayis a polarising slasher, but nobody can deny its poster is brilliant. Directed by Fred Walton, it has a lot in common with the more recentBodies Bodies Bodies: a wealthy student, Muffy St. John (Deborah Foreman), invites her group of friends to her remote mansion for a weekend of partying and practical jokes to celebrate their final year of school; soon enough, however, lies are unveiled, and a brutal killer threatens the fun.
The poster forApril Fool’s Dayshows Muffy toasting her friends whilst holding a knife behind her back (pretty on the nose for a movie about backstabbing). The tagline is equally punny, reading, “Guess who’s going to be the life of the party,” and underneath the title, “A cut above the rest.” But the best bit about the artwork ishow sinister it is: how little the guests know and how much morewewant to know.
