By Ali Datko, ReMIND Magazine
The ’80s shine an undeniable beacon on horror comedy mastery. It’s the decade that delivered wildly out-of-the-box yet marketable villains, comical but relatable protagonists, and some of the most quotable lines of film history. Ready to reminisce?
Gremlins (1984)
This deceivingly innocent-looking horror comedy introduces a friendly, furry Mogwai named Gizmo who spawns evil versions of himself when wet. And when the mischievous Mogwai eat after midnight, things go from bad to shockingly worse. Gremlins fans may recall the infamous scene featuring an ill-fated exploding gremlin, who met his gooey demise in the family microwave. Unsurprisingly, this scene is one of the reasons the MPAA created its PG-13 rating.
Ghostbusters (1984)
This is the movie that brought us supernatural, fridge-dwelling universes, vacuum canister-esque “unlicensed nuclear accelerators” and a city “headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.” It also featured the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, arguably the best, if not the most s’more-worthy, silver-screen monster ever. Giant edible monster wreaking havoc in your city? You know who to call.
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
In this musical comedy, the financial success of a New York City flower shop depends on the growth of a blood-sucking, flesh-eating plant named Audrey II. The film follows the plant and its owner, flower shop employee Seymour, as well as Seymour’s love interest Audrey (after whom the plant is named). And if the premise of violent vegetation wasn’t kooky enough — of course it wasn’t; this was the ’80s — the plot also is colored with a mysterious solar eclipse, aliens, a sadistic dentist and a doo-wop-rockin’ soundtrack.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)
Killer Klowns is a story about carnivorous aliens that is painted in demented circus imagery. When a farmer spots what appears to be a comet crashing into the Earth, he investigates — only to be captured and turned into a cocoon of human-flavored cotton candy. The extraterrestrial Klowns hunt using popcorn guns, kill by tossing acidic pies, and lure victims with insidious shadow puppets. The film’s theme song “Killer Klowns,” performed by the punk band The Dickies, helps lift this film onto its pedestal of cult acclaim.
Beetlejuice (1988)
A young, newly deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) summon the help of a wacky “bio-exorcist” named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to rid their home of its new inhabitants — and dark, whimsical antics ensue. Keaton’s deathly manic performance is a perfect match for the funhouse optics of director Tim Burton. Somehow, the bizarre, the comical and the horrible all come together here perfectly.
Brought to you by the publishers of ReMIND magazine, a monthly magazine filled with over 95 puzzles, retro features, trivia and comics. Get ReMIND magazine at 70% off the cover price, call 844-317-3087 or visit remindmagazine.com
