# '80s cult movies appreciation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877 "2007-09-20T16:55:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/1 "2007-09-20T16:55:14Z")
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_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_Sky) – a popular [“midnight movie,”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097228/) (no connection other than the title to the the [German Expressionist classic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cabinet_of_Dr._Caligari)) – 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_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/2 "2007-09-20T17:46:47Z")
“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](http://imdb.com/title/tt0083869/), 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](http://imdb.com/title/tt0077533/), 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](http://imdb.com/title/tt0095444/). Title says it all. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/3 "2007-09-20T17:56:58Z")
[QUOTE=The New and Improved Superman] [Faces of Death](http://imdb.com/title/tt0077533/), 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/4 "2007-09-20T18:06:19Z")
How about _Repo Man_? ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/5 "2007-09-20T19:33:13Z")
Return of the Living Dead is a classic. The Monster Squad (just recently released on DVD) also has a pretty strong following. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/6 "2007-09-20T19:43:31Z")
[Suburbia](http://imdb.com/title/tt0086589/) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/7 "2007-09-20T19:55:39Z")
[QUOTE=BMax] [Suburbia](http://imdb.com/title/tt0086589/) 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. [/QUOTE] Damn, really? I still have the VHS I stole from a video store in the late 1980s. ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/8 "2007-09-20T20:07:47Z")
_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. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/9 "2007-09-20T20:15:11Z")
Making Mr. Right > **[Making Mr. Right (1987) ⭐ 5.5 | Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093477/)** > > 1h 38m | PG-13 VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/10 "2007-09-20T20:16:13Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] How about _Repo Man_? [/QUOTE] Good one, I wonder if [Tapeheads](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096223/) (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](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080752/) (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”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087903/) 1984. It was kind of the [Barbarella](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062711/) of the 80s but not as well known. ETA: Would [Heathers](http://imdb.com/title/tt0097493/) (1989) count? Jim ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/11 "2007-09-20T20:27:47Z")
You don’t often hear about [Brother From Another Planet](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087004/) anymore, but it was one those indie classics. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/12 "2007-09-20T20:42:07Z")
I just thought of another one - [the Adventures of Baron Munchausen](http://imdb.com/title/tt0096764/). ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/13 "2007-09-20T21:31:18Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/14 "2007-09-20T21:35:41Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] [_Cafe Flesh_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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.) [/QUOTE] This sounds like it’s so bad it might be good. Is it available on DVD anywhere? Netflix doesn’t have it. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/15 "2007-09-20T21:51:48Z")
[QUOTE=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.) [/QUOTE] 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! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/16 "2007-09-20T21:56:50Z")
[QUOTE=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! 😉 [/QUOTE] Man, how many of you have me on ignore anyway? :mad: 😉 See the middle of [post 10.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=8998685) 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 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/17 "2007-09-20T22:37:56Z")
[QUOTE=Zoggie] This sounds like it’s so bad it might be good. Is it available on DVD anywhere? Netflix doesn’t have it. [/QUOTE] [Yes.](http://www.amazon.com/Cafe-Flesh-Starring-Nichols-Classic/dp/B000Q3XTRW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-7378375-4489240?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1190327757&sr=8-1) Apparently there’s a [sequel,](http://www.amazon.com/Cafe-Flesh-Starring-Nichols-Classic/dp/B000Q3XTRW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-7378375-4489240?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1190327757&sr=8-1) too, but I’d rather not know anything more about it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/18 "2007-09-20T22:46:18Z")
[_After Hours_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Hours_%28film%29) – 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](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosanna_Arquette) or [Patricia Arquette](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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] ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/19 "2007-09-20T22:49:31Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Does a movie like Buckaroo Bonzai count? [/QUOTE] Definitely! 🙂 [(When are they gonna give us _Buckaroo Banzai vs. the World Crime League?!_)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=261423)☹ ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877/20 "2007-09-20T23:46:15Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-cult-movies-appreciation-thread/419877.md?page=2)