'80s cult movies appreciation thread

BrainGlutton · #1 09-20-2007, 11:55 AM

Meaning, cultish nonmainstream movies that definitely show the influence of '80s fashions, music, esthetics, zeitgeist, etc. (Even if they were made a few years before or after the actual decade.) Examples:

Liquid Sky -- a popular "midnight movie," once upon a time. Very grim and gritty and nihilistic. (I once recommended it to my brother; he took a date to see it and didn't forgive me for years.) Definitely shows the despairing punkish backwash of the '70s drugs-and-pleasure culture.

Doctor Caligari (no connection other than the title to the the German Expressionist classic) -- Fookin' surreal and absurdist, but somehow it works. As the Imdb comment states, "It's a shame that Steven Sayadian's career as a writer director never took off. He might have been recognized as a comic successor to David Lynch, or something. And, who knows, maybe we haven't heard the last of him."

Cafe Flesh -- nothing better, if you're into post-apocalyptic porn to which it would be flatly impossible for an even marginally mentally healthy person to masturbate. (Much more plot and richer characterization and better nonsexual acting, at any rate, than practically anything else you'll find at your local XXX shop.)

Got any?

Don Draper · #2 09-20-2007, 12:46 PM

"Liquid Sky" was the very first movie I thought of when I saw the thread title.

Off the time of my head, there's -

Eating Raoul, which probably wins some kind of award for forgotten cult film. It's about an uptight middle-American couple called "the Blands" who go about killing their free-swinging, hedonistic neighbors in an L.A. condo complex, and the illegal immigrant called "Raoul" who helps them dispose of the dead bodies as haute cuisine in a trendy restaurant.

Faces of Death, which was actually released theatrically in 1978, but didn't become a true cult sensation until it came out in video in the mid-1980s. Pretty much EVERYBODY in my high school saw this flick, if nothing else but to satisfy morbid curiosity.

And then there's Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Title says it all.

BrainGlutton · #3 09-20-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The New and Improved Superman

Faces of Death, which was actually released theatrically in 1978, but didn't become a true cult sensation until it came out in video in the mid-1980s. Pretty much EVERYBODY in my high school saw this flick, if nothing else but to satisfy morbid curiosity.

I heard about that for years and finally rented it a few years ago -- I was sooooooo disappointed that everything in it was so obviously faked; I was expecting, you know, reality death clips. Non-porn snuff.

twickster · #4 09-20-2007, 01:06 PM

How about Repo Man?

Push You Down · #5 09-20-2007, 02:33 PM

Return of the Living Dead is a classic.

The Monster Squad (just recently released on DVD) also has a pretty strong following.

BMax · #6 09-20-2007, 02:43 PM

Suburbia was one that had a limited Midnight Movie run and teen punks living 10 to an apartment used to watch on pirated VHS. I have it on DVD now.

Moirai · #7 09-20-2007, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMax

Suburbia was one that had a limited Midnight Movie run and teen punks living 10 to an apartment used to watch on pirated VHS. I have it on DVD now.

Damn, really? I still have the VHS I stole from a video store in the late 1980s.

TheMerchandise · #8 09-20-2007, 03:07 PM

The Apple.

There's absolutely nothing worthwhile or redeeming about this film at all... except that it's AWESOME. For pure WTF? value, it puts even Xanadu to shame.

UntouchedTakeaway · #9 09-20-2007, 03:15 PM

Making Mr. Right

http://imdb.com/title/tt0093477/

VCNJ~

What Exit? · #10 09-20-2007, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twickster

How about Repo Man?

Good one, I wonder if Tapeheads (1988) would count.

When the Op mentioned Midnight movies, I immediately thought of the Wall, Heavy Metal and Wizards. I see Wizards is from 1977.

Here is a rare one: Forbidden Zone (1980). It is a wild movie.

I just mentioned this one in another thread. "The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak" 1984. It was kind of the Barbarella of the 80s but not as well known.

ETA: Would Heathers (1989) count?

Jim

saoirse · #11 09-20-2007, 03:27 PM

You don't often hear about Brother From Another Planet anymore, but it was one those indie classics.

Don Draper · #12 09-20-2007, 03:42 PM

I just thought of another one - the Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

Tenebras · #13 09-20-2007, 04:31 PM

I just saw a screening of Forbidden Zone a few weeks ago, with Richard Elfman in attendance and answering questions afterwards. I was surprised how watchable it was, actually. They're planning on releasing a new version of it, colorized, with bonus footage. (The original intent was to colorize the movie, but they ran into money problems. That is, they started making the movie before they had any and went broke several times during production.)

Freudian Slit · #14 09-20-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

Cafe Flesh -- nothing better, if you're into post-apocalyptic porn to which it would be flatly impossible for an even marginally mentally healthy person to masturbate. (Much more plot and richer characterization and better nonsexual acting, at any rate, than practically anything else you'll find at your local XXX shop.)

This sounds like it's so bad it might be good. Is it available on DVD anywhere? Netflix doesn't have it.

Moirai · #15 09-20-2007, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenebras

I just saw a screening of Forbidden Zone a few weeks ago, with Richard Elfman in attendance and answering questions afterwards. I was surprised how watchable it was, actually. They're planning on releasing a new version of it, colorized, with bonus footage. (The original intent was to colorize the movie, but they ran into money problems. That is, they started making the movie before they had any and went broke several times during production.)

Wow- how cool (the screening and the plans!). I'll second that vote, and I'm sure Johnny L.A. will be in here to "third" it!

And for God's sake... I think I stole that one, too... that poor video store on Beach Blvd!

What Exit? · #16 09-20-2007, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EJsGirl

Wow- how cool (the screening and the plans!). I'll second that vote, and I'm sure Johnny L.A. will be in here to "third" it!

And for God's sake... I think I stole that one, too... that poor video store on Beach Blvd!

Man, how many of you have me on ignore anyway?

See the middle of post 10.

So I guess Johnny could go for a 4th.

Does a movie like Buckaroo Bonzai count? It has a cult following and was not really a big hit at the time. I think I saw it 3 times when it came out.

Jim

BrainGlutton · #17 09-20-2007, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoggie

This sounds like it's so bad it might be good. Is it available on DVD anywhere? Netflix doesn't have it.

Yes.

Apparently there's a sequel, too, but I'd rather not know anything more about it.

BrainGlutton · #18 09-20-2007, 05:46 PM

After Hours -- very '80s, very urban, very nocturnal.

There's one I remember that I'm trying to think of -- there's this teenage girl with a cliche teenage yuppie-wannabee boyfriend who wears a business suit and yellow tie while he's still in high school (she breaks up with him in the first scene), a father with whom she's always striking bargains (going to college, etc.), and a slightly-less-cliche Bad Boy who comes into her life . . . that's all I can remember . . . I thought the girl was played by either Rosanna Arquette or Patricia Arquette, but nothing in either's filmography seems to fit.

[doonesbury, late '80s]

BENJY DOONESBURY/SAL PUTRID: *sigh* I miss the early '80s, man!

MIKE DOONESBURY: Hey, I know what you mean, that was a great time.

[d,l'80s]

BrainGlutton · #19 09-20-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by What Exit?

Does a movie like Buckaroo Bonzai count?

Definitely!

(When are they gonna give us Buckaroo Banzai vs. the World Crime League?!)

FriarTed · #20 09-20-2007, 06:46 PM

Of all things, FORBIDDEN ZONE was on FLIX a few weeks ago- I rented the video WAY back in the day & forgot how much it was either a-

a.) classic of Fleischeresque surrealism

b.) piece of sh**

c.) both.

Bryan Ekers · #21 09-20-2007, 06:56 PM

The Blue Iguana is a personal favourite of mine. No connection to the later film Dancing at the Blue Iguana.

Moirai · #22 09-20-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by What Exit?

Man, how many of you have me on ignore anyway?

See the middle of post 10.

So I guess Johnny could go for a 4th.

Does a movie like Buckaroo Bonzai count? It has a cult following and was not really a big hit at the time. I think I saw it 3 times when it came out.

Jim

Hell yes, Buckaroo Banzai counts. And sorry about missing post 10... you know we love you!

delphica · #23 09-20-2007, 09:18 PM

There's Videodrome, which I believe was a fairly mainstream release but I think it jumped to cult status rather quickly. It's funny to think back on it, the idea of a quaint 80s bulgy video monitor seems decidedly unmenacing these days. Ooooooh, my TV is sinister! But it did have Debbie Harry, who embodied "edgy" in the early 80s.

My favorite underappreciated movie from the 80s was Dogs In Space, which I would argue had a cult following, if you consider teenage INXS fangirls to be a cult.

Freudian Slit · #24 09-20-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

Yes.

Apparently there's a sequel, too, but I'd rather not know anything more about it.

Sweet, thanks, BrainGlutton. Not sure if I'm going to shell out twenty big ones for a used copy, but maybe if I can get a bunch of people together, Mystery Science Theatre style...

What Exit? · #25 09-20-2007, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphica

There's Videodrome, which I believe was a fairly mainstream release but I think it jumped to cult status rather quickly. It's funny to think back on it, the idea of a quaint 80s bulgy video monitor seems decidedly unmenacing these days. Ooooooh, my TV is sinister! But it did have Debbie Harry, who embodied "edgy" in the early 80s.

My favorite underappreciated movie from the 80s was Dogs In Space, which I would argue had a cult following, if you consider teenage INXS fangirls to be a cult.

Was it Scanners or BrainStorm that had Natalie Woods and exploding heads? Maybe I am mixing up all three films. I always paired it with Videodrome for some reason.

Some Cult or small movies that reflected small portions of the 80s culture in America included Valley Girl, Purple Rain and Body Double that included the one hit wonder Frankie Goes to Hollywood performing Relax.

RoboCop was a bit of a cult movie. Especially the too often heard quote "I'd buy that for a dollar!"

Jim

FriarTed · #26 09-20-2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphica

There's Videodrome, which I believe was a fairly mainstream release but I think it jumped to cult status rather quickly. It's funny to think back on it, the idea of a quaint 80s bulgy video monitor seems decidedly unmenacing these days. Ooooooh, my TV is sinister! But it did have Debbie Harry, who embodied "edgy" in the early 80s.

Anything pre-The Fly with David Cronenberg's name on it automatically qualifies as a cult film.

To What Exit- BrainStorm had Natalie Wood, I don't know about exploding heads- though Scanners had that a-plenty, but no Natalie Wood.

Tool of the Conspiracy · #27 09-20-2007, 10:18 PM

From the late '80s, there's Cherry 2000 with Melanie Griffith and Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death with Bill Maher.

Siam Sam · #28 09-20-2007, 10:25 PM

Lethal Weapon! I watched it SO many times in the lobby of various guesthouses on Khao San Road here in Bangkok, big bottle or three of Singha beer in front of me. Guesthouses still show movies today to attract customers, and about 1988, for some reason every one of them was showing Lethal Weapon. Some good memories.

Edit: The wife has come to love it, too, and we watch it every year in December as one of our Christmas movies. (You forgot the Christmas theme in it, I'll bet.)

BrainGlutton · #29 09-20-2007, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by What Exit?

Was it Scanners or BrainStorm that had Natalie Woods and exploding heads? Maybe I am mixing up all three films. I always paired it with Videodrome for some reason.

Scanners had exploding heads. Brainstorm had Natalie Wood. Videodrome had neither but there were . . . other things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by What Exit?

RoboCop was a bit of a cult movie. Especially the too often heard quote "I'd buy that for a dollar!"

Inspired, I'm sure, by the cliche-line "Would you buy that for a quarter?!" from the 1951 dysgenic-pressure SF short story "The Marching Morons," by Cyril Kornbluth.

Rufus Xavier · #30 09-20-2007, 11:13 PM

Almost all of my favorites have been mentioned already, so I'll just add:

Humanoids From the Deep

and

Xtro

and

The Hidden

in the category of Sci-Fi/Horror, and

Bagdad Cafe

in the category of quirky character movie.

Little Nemo · #31 09-20-2007, 11:22 PM

Some that haven't been mentioned:
Akira (1988)
Better Off Dead (1985)
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Blade Runner (1982)
Blood Simple (1985)
Blue Velvet (1986)
Brazil (1985)
The Company of Wolves (1984)
Excalibur (1981)
Gates of Heaven (1980)
Hairspray (1988)
Henry - Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
House of Games (1987)
The Killer (1989)
The King of Comedy (1983)
Koyaanisqatsi (1983)
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1981)
Local Hero (1983)
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)
Manhunter (1986)
Meet the Feebles (1989)
Mommie Dearest (1981)
Ms. 45 (1981)
My Best Friend's Birthday (1987)
Near Dark (1987)
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982)
Raising Arizona (1987)
Real Genius (1985)
Re-Animator (1985)
Return of the Secaucus 7 (1980)
Scarface (1983)
Sid and Nancy (1986)
Stardust Memories (1980)
Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987)
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
The Toxic Avenger (1985)
UHF (1989)
Weird Science (1985)
Withnail and I (1987)

blondebear · #32 09-20-2007, 11:28 PM

Basket Case

FriarTed · #33 09-21-2007, 12:55 AM

I think I opened a thread on this a while back which was D.O.A., but has ANYONE but me seen Dead Beat (made in 1994, granted)?

Nutty Bunny · #34 09-21-2007, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Nemo

Some that haven't been mentioned:
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1981)

Damn you! I was almost to the end of this thread and was happy to be the one to post this movie. Why did you have to ruin my fun?

Ha! I have a link! Anyway, I watched this movie every time it was on USA's Night Flight. Every time I see Diane Lane in any other movie, I still associate her with this one.

I've got another one that I still feel compelled to watch when it's on. Night of the Comet

As a teenage girl, my favorite part was when they were at the mall and had it all to themselves. Was that movie ever MST3K'd? It would seem to be a good candidate.

What Exit? · #35 09-21-2007, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siam Sam

Lethal Weapon! I watched it SO many times in the lobby of various guesthouses on Khao San Road here in Bangkok, big bottle or three of Singha beer in front of me. Guesthouses still show movies today to attract customers, and about 1988, for some reason every one of them was showing Lethal Weapon. Some good memories.

Edit: The wife has come to love it, too, and we watch it every year in December as one of our Christmas movies. (You forgot the Christmas theme in it, I'll bet.)

Lethal Weapon was a huge mainstream hit in the US. Not a cult film at all here. As far as the Christmas theme, my brother and I have joked for years, that it is the second best Christmas film after Die Hard. I even saw a national comic strip run the same basic joke 5 or 6 years back.

Jim

Otto · #36 09-21-2007, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutty Bunny

Damn you! I was almost to the end of this thread and was happy to be the one to post this movie. Why did you have to ruin my fun?

Damn you, I was going to rail on Little Nemo for ruining my fun, and you ruined it!

Why is L&G, TFS not out on DVD? WHY?!

bbs2k · #37 09-21-2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Push You Down

Return of the Living Dead is a classic.

Yes, good God, I watch that movie every month. In fact...

Bridget Burke · #38 09-21-2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by What Exit?

....Does a movie like Buckaroo Bonzai count? It has a cult following and was not really a big hit at the time. I think I saw it 3 times when it came out.

Jim

As several others have replied--Of Course! Remember those 80's fashions? (Isn't it about time for skinny ties to come back in style?)

A personal favorite: Starstruck--an Australian film made in 1982 & just now available here on DVD. Silly (but not bad) New Wave styles, music & dancing. Will the young folks win that talent prize & save the family pub?

BrainGlutton · #39 09-21-2007, 09:52 AM

Naked Lunch, should count, though made in 1991. Perhaps the last of the '80s cult movies (in this case, adapted from a '50s cult novel).

Why don't they make movies like these any more?!

BrainGlutton · #40 09-21-2007, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoggie

Sweet, thanks, BrainGlutton. Not sure if I'm going to shell out twenty big ones for a used copy, but maybe if I can get a bunch of people together, Mystery Science Theatre style...

If you go to (1) an adult-video store or (2) a cult-video store, you might be able to rent it.

Not as artistically successful, but much more pornographically successful and just as '80s-cultish: New Wave Hookers. (Finding an unexpurgated original cut might be problematic; it had the underage Traci Lords in it.)

Judith Prietht · #41 09-21-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphica

My favorite underappreciated movie from the 80s was Dogs In Space, which I would argue had a cult following, if you consider teenage INXS fangirls to be a cult.

I Was a Teenage INXS Fangirl! I was not only in the fan club, but I remember scouring the shelves at Tower Video to find their sole copy of Dogs in Space. I also had the soundtrack on cassette.

Saturday the 14th (1981) was something I enjoyed, but I don't think I've seen it since.

A friend of mine in grad school had a copy of the original, unedited New Wave Hookers, and it's really worth a viewing. Chicks just dig that new wave music!

Don Draper · #42 09-21-2007, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bridget Burke

(Isn't it about time for skinny ties to come back in style?)

They already are back in style. At least I see a lot of the gay hipster kids on the L train from Williamsburg wearing skinny ties, white belts, vests and other 'Buckaroo Banzai' approved urban wear.

Anyway, other flicks I remembered that I haven't seen mentioned:the Hunger, Heathers and Wings of Desire.

Ferd Burfel · #43 09-21-2007, 03:43 PM

Night of the Comet

Sticky Fingers

Looker

Brainstorm

and, my son's favorite 80's movie Ghostbusters

Maybe not all strictly defined as cult movies, but some of my favorites nonetheless.

delphica · #44 09-21-2007, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judith Prietht

I Was a Teenage INXS Fangirl! I was not only in the fan club, but I remember scouring the shelves at Tower Video to find their sole copy of Dogs in Space. I also had the soundtrack on cassette.

Awesome! I have the soundtrack on vinyl (useless to me, because we no longer have a record player, but I'll go to my grave with it I'm sure) and it is one of my greatest regrets that my VHS copy got lost at some point when it was circulating around in college.

Vimp · #45 09-21-2007, 04:36 PM

Some faves not yet mentioned

Angel Heart which I remember as being one of the scarier films of the day

Prick Up Your Ears a fascinating examination of mid '60s London gay life

I have no idea why these films - especially Angel Heart - did not go mainstream

NailBunny · #46 09-21-2007, 04:48 PM

Not sure if these are all '80's, but I thought I'd contribute:
Frankenhooker
Flesh Eating Mothers (so ludicrous even the actors kept cracking up during their lines)
Lair of the White Worm (love this movie! It was on recently but was so edited down for TV I gave up and stopped recording it)

Aholibah · #47 09-21-2007, 05:02 PM

Can I get approval on Roadhouse, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, and They Live?

Unauthorized Cinnamon · #48 09-21-2007, 05:23 PM

First thing I thought of was Night of the Comet. Hmm, maybe that's where my zombiphilia started.

Re: Brainstorm - I've been in the house they used for the pool scenes; it belonged to one of my law professors! Also, having seen the movie, it's a little weird to drive by the Glaxo building in RTP. It's funny, it was obviously used because it looked "futuristic," but now it looks like "what they thought of as futuristic in the 70s."