# Classic Horror Movies, 1970-1990 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379 "2010-02-10T04:11:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/1 "2010-02-10T04:11:53Z")
**Shutter Island** looks scary, I think. I hope it’s good. (No spoilers, please.) So I was inspired to think about my favorite horror movies, most of which are from 1970-1990, because these were the easiest to rent or see at the movies when I was a teenager in the 80s. Public poll, multiple choices are allowed. Pick up to 10 (or more if you must :p). ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/2 "2010-02-10T04:22:05Z")
I see that “Aliens” is not represented. Much cooler than the original. And as “Tremors” (1990) is also ignored, I suspect this poll is tainted. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/3 "2010-02-10T04:34:26Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I see that “Aliens” is not represented. Much cooler than the original. > > And as “Tremors” (1990) is also ignored, I suspect this poll is tainted. 😉 Actually, I might agree on **Aliens.** It’s a close call. But I decided to go with originals, not sequels. Except **Dawn of the Dead** , which is included since it was filmed near my childhood home. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/4 "2010-02-10T05:09:12Z")
I don’t know how I ended up with “Hell Raiser” in there instead of “Hellraiser.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/5 "2010-02-10T05:44:45Z")
Somehow, I just can’t thnk of _Akira_ as “horror.” Nor even _Poltergeist,_ despite the subject matter. And I’m even kind of iffy on _Lost Boys._ Fine films in their way, but it seems odd to associate them with _Hellraiser_ or _Nightmare on Elm Street._ ---
**Author:** ![valleyofthedolls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a4c791/32.png) [@valleyofthedolls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/valleyofthedolls)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/6 "2010-02-10T05:58:24Z")
I like most the list, the exceptions being Phantasm, Re-Animator and Hellraiser. But where’s Profundo Russo, Alice Sweet Alice or Dressed to Kill? And nothing by Bava? The Horror! ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/7 "2010-02-10T06:18:06Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Somehow, I just can’t thnk of _Akira_ as “horror.” Nor even _Poltergeist,_ despite the subject matter. And I’m even kind of iffy on _Lost Boys._ Fine films in their way, but it seems odd to associate them with _Hellraiser_ or _Nightmare on Elm Street._ If **Poltergeist** isn’t a horror movie, what genre is it? It’s been a long time since I saw it, but I thought it was damn scary, and it’s a ghost story. It isn’t gory or a slasher flick, but I don’t think you’re suggesting either of those elements would be necessary (based on the movies you listed and omitted). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/8 "2010-02-10T06:19:47Z")
> [@Sidney Evgeni Jordan](#): > > If **Poltergeist** isn’t a horror movie, what genre is it? It’s been a long time since I saw it, but I thought it was damn scary, and it’s a ghost story. It isn’t gory or a slasher flick, but I don’t think you’re suggesting either of those elements would be necessary (based on the movies you listed and omitted). I think of it more as action-fantasy. Same genre as _ET_ and _Indiana Jones._ It’s **scary,** yes, but not **horrifying.** Same with _Lost Boys,_ despite all the blood spilled/drunk. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/9 "2010-02-10T06:23:47Z")
Well, OK, but I have to disagree. The clown was horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/10 "2010-02-10T13:39:31Z")
What about _Near Dark_ (1987)? That’s a classic. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/11 "2010-02-10T13:42:58Z")
You’re missing the best of the lot: Roman Polanski’s [The Tenant](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074811/). There also should be **Tremors** ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/12 "2010-02-10T13:45:35Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I see that “Aliens” is not represented. Much cooler than the original. > > And as “Tremors” (1990) is also ignored, I suspect this poll is tainted. 😉 While I would classify Alien as horror, I think Alien **s** would fall squarely in the Action category. Also, Young Frankenstein, which is one of my favorite movies, is definitely comedy, not horror. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/13 "2010-02-10T14:40:53Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > While I would classify Alien as horror, I think Alien **s** would fall squarely in the Action category. > > Also, Young Frankenstein, which is one of my favorite movies, is definitely comedy, not horror. I know it’s comedy, but based on my last movie poll (where **Spinal Tap** was the favorite choice), I knew that people here would want to vote for it. It’s one of the most popular answers so far. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/14 "2010-02-10T15:54:44Z")
A bit obscure but fantastic: Larry Cohen’s _God Told Me To_ Not so obscure: Tons of Cronenberg MIA. The only one you list is the excellent _The Dead Zone_; what about _The Brood, Scanners, The Fly_ or _Dead Ringers_? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/15 "2010-02-10T16:39:12Z")
Meh. I only chose three movies. For me, horror movies are pretty much from the '30s and '50s. The '80s and '90s? Not so much. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/16 "2010-02-10T16:39:56Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > A bit obscure but fantastic: Larry Cohen’s _God Told Me To_ > > Not so obscure: Tons of Cronenberg MIA. The only one you list is the excellent _The Dead Zone_; what about _The Brood, Scanners, The Fly_ or _Dead Ringers_? Can’t believe you left out [_Videodrome!_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videodrome) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/17 "2010-02-10T16:59:08Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Can’t believe you left out [_Videodrome!_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videodrome) :smack: Neither can I (but the OP left it out first! :p) ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/18 "2010-02-10T16:59:34Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Can’t believe you left out [_Videodrome!_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videodrome) OMG, it’s a Pittsburgh movie, too! I’ve never seen that one. I wasn’t sure how to classify a lot of those Cronenberg ones that were mentioned. I consider **The Fly** to be more science fictioney than horror, for example. Some of those others are less clear. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/19 "2010-02-11T07:09:11Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Meh. I only chose three movies. For me, horror movies are pretty much from the '30s and '50s. The '80s and '90s? Not so much. Only through 1990 isn’t really “the 90s” is it? Three is one more than I picked, and I don’t think Akira is a horror movie anyway. Other than The Lost Boys, of the 70s and 80s horror movies on the list that I’ve seen, I didn’t like them nor The Changeling, The Fog etc, so I’ve not gone out of my way to see the rest on the list. I’ve much prefered horror movies from the mid-90s through the present and ones from the 60s to anything I’ve seen in the two decades this poll covers. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379/20 "2010-02-11T07:24:20Z")
Long live the new flesh! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-horror-movies-1970-1990/528379.md?page=2)