The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1983

1983 is a year that while not as strong as 1982, is still a solid year for the genre. For there are some genuine classics, including two that rank among the best work from one of the genre's greatest directors: David Cronenberg.

Honorable Mentions:
Twilight Zone: The Movie
Christine
A Blade in the Dark

10. Angst- This disturbing but slow Austrian, arthouse horror flick, will appeal to horror fans who are both open minded and prefer their genre material to be more on the more graphic side of things. It also features some very innovative camerawork.

9. Olivia- From director Ulli (The Boogeyman) Lommel comes this complex mix of drama, romance, and psychological horror. The suspense in certain scenes will have you fists clenched while you watch them. It also features some very strong acting especially from the absolutely gorgeous Suzanna Love, whose performance has pathos and is both innocent and sexy. While, there are exploitation elements, it might not be movie you think it is. In fact, there is a feminist undertone to it, as well as a well done romance. Highly underrated and not seen by nearly enough people, the excellent Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome is hopefully changing that.

8. Psycho II- Making a sequel to Psycho, a film rightfully thought of as one of the greatest horror films ever made as well as one Alfred Hitchcock's very best, is no easy feat. Yet, Richard (Patrick) Franklin does a damn good job with this enthralling flick. It's very well acted, especially by Anthony Perkins, has some bloody violence, and a very well done climax. The ending always leaves me a little torn on how much I actually like it. But, it's a damn good movie no matter how you cut it (pun intended).

7. The Deadly Spawn- This sci-fi/ horror flick accomplishes a lot despite its low budget. The monsters look fucking awesome, and there is some graphic and bloody gore. It's a lot of fun and way better than a bunch of flicks who just rip-off Alien. Plus, the ending is truly fucking awesome!

6. The Hunger- Tony (True Romance) Scott's bloodsucker movie is super stylish, beautiful, and sexy. In fact, I would go as far as saying that it is the sexiest mainstream/ big studio vampire movie ever made. The make-up FX by Dick Smith is excellent, especially when it comes to the old age make-up on David Bowie. The much talked about lesbian love scenes between Catherine Denevue and Susan Sarandon are hot and add to the proactive feel of this cult favorite.

5. Sleepaway Camp- This infamous, classic slasher is one of the best of the over-saturated sub-genre. The movie is alternately fun, mean spirited, and sleazy. It is also really easy to like, as it is filled with memorable characters and equally memorable lines. Plus, it has one of the greatest endings in all of cinema, not just horror.

4. The Dead Zone- It comes as no shock to anyone with a knowledge of horror and film that one of the greatest Stephen King adaptations ever made comes from David Cronenberg. This quiet, yet powerful and emotional mix of drama and horror works on multiple levels, far surpassing some of the more empty headed King flicks of its time. The mostly restrained and sympathetic performance by Christopher Walken ranks among his best work. Meanwhile, Martin Sheen's character is truly one of the best villains in King films. One that has become frighteningly timely, as a certain reality TV star became president of the United States in real life...

3. Cujo- Right off the bat, I have to tell you guys, that this is quite possibly my favorite Stephen King movie (the book's my favorite King novel). Even though, I am a tried and true dog lover, I still love this movie. The flick has a slow build that leads into one of the most absolutely nerve-shredding movies ever made. The dog attacks are jarring, and the acting, especially from Dee Wallace Stone (who gives her finest performance), are excellent. I firmly believe that all of this amounts to the scariest King movie ever made.

2. 10 to Midnight- This mix of psycho thriller, slasher horror, and cop action flick is the closest 80s Charles Bronson ever came to appearing in a genre film. Regardless, there are enough elements to count it as a genre film, including some really good suspense. The acting is also solid, with a creepy villain (inspired by a mix of real serial killers) and a badass hero in Bronson's character. The movie is pure Cannon film-making at its best, being violent, bloody, sleazy, and simply put, pure, high quality exploitation cinema. And, the ending is the very definition of fucking awesome!

1. Videodrome- One of David Cronenberg's absolute best films (which in, of itself, is saying A LOT!), this sci-fi/ horror classic was light years ahead of what others were doing at the time and. honestly, remains so. The movie is smart, complex, horrific, and very provocative. It is a profound work of art, whose messages become clearer with each viewing. These include the themes of sex and violence in entertainment, reality vs. video, the ever growing world of TV and movies, and much more. In short, this thought provoking masterpiece is truly 1983's best horror film.




What are your favorite horror movies of 1983? Let me know in the comments section below. And, be sure to see the years that I have already ranked movies in by following the links below:

The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1980
The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1981
The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1982

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The 30 Greatest Fangoria Covers of all Time Pt. 1, 30 - 21

The recently released Fangoria Cover to Cover book (the signing of which I attended on Thurs) has made me think about the best covers Fango has had. This three part series has me picking out the very best covers this world renown horror mag has had. The movies or TV shows featured on the cover may range in quality, but the eye catch ability of all of them is why they are here. These are some of the coolest, bloodiest, most beautiful, and, in some cases, even sexy covers the mag has had in its' 35 year run. Let know what you think about my picks! Anyway, let's get this countdown started already!

30. Fangoria #84- Tales from the Crypt- HBO's groundbreaking horror anthology series pops on the cover as the killer Santa takes center stage. This is one of the earliest issues that I ever bought. I think I recall the cover causing some controversy, too. The Ghostbusters II insignia being on the corner is an added bonus, even if the movie itself isn't all that...

29. Fangoria #83- Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th Pt. VII: The New Blood- The best looking Jason Voorhees (the first time the real Jason appeared on the cover, by the way) gets the cover here. This issue which interviewed the first half of the final girls of the slasher franchise is when I started to collect the mag and read it religiously. The combo of their sexy presence and Jason being on the cover made me decide that I NEED to own it!

28. Fangoria #88- Halloween 5:The Revenge of Michael Myers- Yeah, this era of Fango covers was really special to me, cause I was so into reading and collecting it,at this point. This is the best cover featuring Michael Myers by and far, I think. Even if the sequel itself is just OK and the Myers mask is actually one of the worst ones in the series. That fellow slasher icons Freddy and Leatherface are in the side filmstrip are icing on the bloody cake.






27. Fangoria #19- Poltergeist- Tobe Hooper's Steven Spielberg produced classic is featured. That the corpses are said to be real only adds a certain morbid coolness to it.

26. Fangoria #299- Black Swan- A beautiful and eye-catching cover has the psychological horror flick take the main place. I remember that I would stare at this cover every time I saw it for sale at a comic shop or bookstore. 

25. Fangoria #153- The Craft- I remember getting this cover in the mail (I was subcribed back then) and drooling over the girls on it. Especially Fairuza Balk, who I was totally in love with when I was in college. You can say this cover put a spell on me! To paraphrase ZZ Top, they got legs and know how to use them!

24. Fangoria #25- Videodrome- The first gore cover to make this list is from one of the David Cronenberg's finest movies, as a TV barfs some intestines. A cover with guts! Literally!

23. Fangoria #89- Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III- A touching and heartwarming picture of Leatherface and his family adorns this one. You know this proves it. Leatherface is a wonderful uncle!

21. Fangoria #127- The Beyond- Instead of featuring a current a movie, a trend the magazine had kinda slumped in at this point, it goes retro and features Fulci's finest movie. It was being re-released by Tarantino, at the time. The image is of the little zombie girl who gets her brains blown out thanks to a gunshot blast. It's a gore highlight in an ubber-gory classick and as such really stands out amongst Fango covers.

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A Videodrome Remake?! Seriously?! WTF?!

Remakes are, sadly, nothing new these days. And, I always groan when I hear of a new one. But, this latest one is perhaps the worst I've ever heard. It certainly would rank as one of the worst movie news I've heard this year, if not in fact THE worst. The dumbasses at Universal are remaking David Cronenberg's horror/ sci-fi masterpiece Videodrome. Wait what?! 

Videodrome has long been considered one of Cronenberg's best films (some years ago I picked his best work, check out my list here: http://themastergio.blogspot.com/2008/08/top-5-david-cronenberg-films.html). While, he has gone decidedly mainstream, he was, at this point in time, one of horror's most exciting, intelligent, and original directors. Videodrome is certainly a prime example of this. It tells of the tale of Max Renn (James Woods) who discovers a channel where violence and S&M are aired. He is determined to fined the source. His investigation will lead to fetishistic sex, hallucinations, and, literally, mind-blowing violence.

Smart, violent, shocking, and sexy, the movie was a box office bomb, at the time. It was way to ahead of it's time. It's a deep movie with comments on sex and violence, the effect it may have on us, TV & media, the video age, and what is real and fantasy. The gruesome effects, coupled with the lovely Debbie Harry's naked body, help to further push the limits on it. Today the movie is considered a classic, and it's one that you cannot just see once. Each and every viewing is better than the last, hence it always remains a fascinating watch.

The remake, to be helmed by first time director Adam Berg, promises to be a large scale action sci-fi thriller. Huh?! Seriously?! Have these fuckers even seen Videodrome?! The net is filled with the rage of Cronenberg and horror fans who wanna beat Universal's asses for this terrible, terrible idea. At this rate, they are aiming for the level of shit of remakes like The Omen, The Fog, and Psycho. In short: FUCK YOU UNIVERSAL!

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The Top 5 David Cronenberg Films

Recently, I have been watching a bunch of David Cronenberg films, including watching Shivers (the first time I am seeing that film). Cronenberg is one of my favorite, if not in fact, my favorite director. While, he has mostly abandoned horror, post A History of Violence (although that film has elements horror fans can appreciate) his movies are still graphic and outside of what the typical, mainstream filmmaker would create. Also, aside from the unwatchable, to me anyways, Naked Lunch, I have never seen a bad film from him. That said I have no desire toe ever see M. Butterfly (his first non-horror film) and have yet to see Spider and Eastern Promises.

Overall his body of work is comprised of many classics, and he is the thinking man's horror director. Plus, his main running theme of body horror, sets him outside of others in the genre. In all, the man is a master, and, to me, these are his five best films. All of which you need to see, or if you already saw them, watch over again.

1. - My absolute fav Cronenberg film is, also, the best remake ever made. Chris Walas' FX work ranks among the best the genre has seen, with great looking monster make-up and animatronics and gruesome and gross content (including- acid vomit, arm breaking arm wrestling, an exploding head, maggot birth, etc), the movie also works because of the excellent acting and writing. You really feel sorry for the two main leads, Davis and Goldblum. And, the ending is actually very tragic. This is the ultimate beauty and the beast story and remains one of Cronenberg's biggest and best known films.

2. The best of his work in the 70s, The Brood is undeniably gruesome (in particular the scene where Samantha Eggar bites into the sack that holds one of her brood births), but it is also smart and one of his most powerful films. The acting is strong, and once again despite the gross-out moments, there is a strong message about the horrors of child abuse and the cycle and after results they create. Plus, like The Fly, there is a role that seems to be a villain but then becomes a hero. Not only that but Cronenberg has a way, in this film in particular, to make the impossible seem realistic in a scientific sense. And, that is no mean feat there.

3. - If ever there was a film that defines the "body horror" of Cronenberg it is this one. It is also a film that only gets more and more fascinating with each repeated viewing. Commenting on the affects of sex and violence in entertainment (in a film that is chockful of them), the age of video, what is real and what is not. I mean there are themes upon themes here. The cast is great. The grotesque make-up FX are shocking (witness the gory squibs, exploding head, vagina-like stomach opening, flesh guns, TV's barfing out guts, etc.). The story is not for everyone, but smart audiences, horror fans, and well those with an interest in Debra' Harry's hot, naked body, need to watch this. But, not just once... "Long live the new flesh!"

4. - After it seemed that Cronenberg could not get back to excellent level he is known for; he delivers this. While, the gruesome and sexually charged Crash was a good film, it was not up on par with the films on this list. This one is. Playing like what it is, a mainstream film by way of Cronenberg, this graphic action/ thriller is the only non-horror film on this list. But, as I said before it does have materiel that horror fans can sink their teeth into. The shocking, brutal violence (bludgeoning, gory squibs, head-shots, etc) and the strong sexual content (including full frontal nudity by the absolutely gorgeous Maria Bello and her getting a brutal fucking on the stairs) should be more than enough to please them. The movie is also a fascinating character study, one that only gets better after each viewing.

5. - The last film on my list, may have the least amount of shocking content, but by no means is it a walk through the park. A horrifying dream scene and the bloody, depressing ending, as well as the sex make sure your grandma won't be asking to see this one. Jeremy Irons gives his best performance ever, I think, and so does Genevieve Bojuld. A powerful, dark, and downer mix of horror, drama, and thriller.

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