Horror Movies From the 1980s That Are Completely Unwatchable Today

The 1980s were a fantastic time for horror movies, with a surge in slasher films and those featuring impressive practical effects. This popularity caused studios and independent filmmakers to quickly produce and release movies to take advantage of what was trending. Unfortunately, this rush often led to films with poorly written scripts and very low budgets. As a result, many of these movies now feel repetitive or are simply difficult to watch, due to confusing editing and unoriginal storylines.

‘Hobgoblins’ (1988)

Rick Sloane’s low-budget monster movie tried to ride the wave of popularity created by ‘Gremlins’. The story centers around aliens that crash on Earth and fulfill people’s desires, but with deadly consequences. Unfortunately, the puppets lack movement and the acting is stiff. Many viewers and critics point to the strange dialogue and uninspired direction as reasons why the film is so poorly regarded. It’s become well-known as an example of a truly badly made movie.

‘Troll 2’ (1990)

This film, though released in 1990, feels like a product of the late 1980s B-movie scene. It’s about a family whose vacation takes a terrifying turn when vegetarian goblins in a town called Nilbog try to make them a meal. The acting is wooden, and the costumes are incredibly cheap-looking. Despite sharing a title, this movie has no connection to the original ‘Troll’ film, and it’s known for being illogical and full of confusing plot holes.

‘Jaws: The Revenge’ (1987)

The fourth ‘Jaws’ movie throws logic and science out the window, bringing the shark back for a personal grudge. It unbelievably chases the Brody family from New England to the Bahamas. You can even spot the mechanical parts operating the shark in some scenes. The movie feels slow and uses flashbacks to earlier films just to make it longer. Many consider it the film that ended the franchise, thanks to its weak story and uninspired writing.

‘Ghoulies’ (1985)

The movie tries to combine magic with scenes of monster action, but it mostly focuses on a boring story about a satanic cult. The monsters themselves don’t show up until the end and aren’t featured much. The trailers showed a monster in a toilet, which led audiences to expect something the film didn’t deliver. The story moves slowly, with the main character aimlessly wandering around a house, and it just doesn’t have the excitement or humor needed to make its silly idea work.

‘Don’t Go in the Woods’ (1981)

This horror movie features a mysterious killer stalking and murdering campers in the woods, with no clear reason for the violence. The film is visually rough, with blurry and dark shots that obscure what’s happening. Much of the movie consists of characters simply walking through the forest before they are killed. The sound quality is also very poor, making it hard to hear what anyone is saying. Overall, it’s a typical example of a low-quality film from the crowded slasher genre.

‘Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2’ (1987)

This sequel relies heavily on footage from the original film, making up almost half of its running time. The story begins with the main character reliving the events of the first movie while in a mental institution, before he starts causing trouble again. The lead actor’s performance is often criticized for being over-the-top, particularly his dramatic eyebrows and unusual way of speaking. Many viewers are disappointed that the film reuses so much old material instead of offering a fresh story, and it feels more like a collection of clips than a proper movie.

‘Things’ (1989)

This horror movie follows two friends who stumble upon a cabin and discover horrifying, mutated creatures emerging from a strange opening in the floor. However, the film is plagued with technical issues: the dialogue is poorly dubbed and doesn’t sync with the actors’ mouths, and the lighting is so dark that much of the movie is hard to see. The story itself is confusing and doesn’t seem to have a clear start or finish, leading many to consider it one of the most technically flawed horror films ever made.

‘Blood Cult’ (1985)

This film is notable as one of the first full-length movies made entirely on video and released for rental. It’s a horror story about a killer on a college campus who’s collecting body parts for a magical ceremony. However, the movie looks and sounds very low-budget, like a homemade film, with noticeable background noise throughout. The acting isn’t very polished, and the story unfolds very slowly. It really shows just how difficult it was to make a good feature-length movie using the video technology of that time.

‘Microwave Massacre’ (1983)

This movie centers around a construction worker who commits a terrible crime and develops a disturbing craving. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work. The attempts at humor aren’t funny, and the special effects are noticeably low-budget, even for when it was made. The main actor delivers a flat performance, unable to pull off the film’s intended dark comedy. Plus, the story takes place in just one location, which quickly becomes boring, and most viewers lose interest within the first twenty minutes.

‘Spookies’ (1986)

This film suffered from major production problems, ultimately resulting in a disjointed and confusing final product. It feels like two separate movies were awkwardly combined, with characters aimlessly moving through a haunted house and encountering monsters that don’t fit together. The movie can’t decide if it wants to be genuinely scary or a silly comedy, changing tone constantly. Because of conflicting footage from different directors, the story doesn’t make any sense, leaving viewers confused and frustrated instead of frightened.

‘Death Spa’ (1989)

A haunted health club becomes a terrifying trap when exercise machines turn lethal. A vengeful ghost is behind the chaos, manipulating the gym’s computer system to target its members. While the movie features both realistic gore and early computer effects, the visuals haven’t held up well over time. The attempts at modern dialogue feel forced and out of place, and the film has trouble blending its ghostly story with typical slasher movie tropes.

‘Munchies’ (1987)

This movie, produced by Roger Corman, involves creatures that grow back whenever they’re cut – a silly concept. The monsters themselves are obviously fake, looking like awkward rubber puppets with limited movement. The humor is geared towards very young kids, with lots of cheesy jokes and physical comedy, and won’t appeal to fans of scary movies. The film drags on, with characters spending too much time chatting in a diner. Ultimately, it’s an unoriginal movie that doesn’t capture the appeal of the films it’s trying to copy.

‘Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan’ (1989)

Despite the title suggesting a New York City attack, most of this film happens on a cruise ship where Jason Voorhees chases graduating students. The few scenes set in New York were actually filmed in Vancouver and don’t resemble the city at all. The movie ends with a strange event involving toxic waste that turns Jason into a child. Many fans don’t like this film because the title is deceptive and it clearly had a limited budget.

‘Rawhead Rex’ (1986)

Although based on a chilling story by Clive Barker, the film adaptation doesn’t quite capture the original’s horror. The monster looks unconvincing, resembling a stiff rubber suit, and this diminishes any potential for scares. While the rural Irish setting creates a good atmosphere, the film’s direction lacks energy. The creature’s attacks happening in daylight highlight the weaknesses of the special effects, ultimately turning a frightening mythological beast into a typical movie monster.

‘Maximum Overdrive’ (1986)

This film, directed by Stephen King, features machines that come to life and turn against people. It struggles to find its footing, attempting to blend horror with dark humor. The only truly standout part of the movie is its AC/DC soundtrack. The acting is exaggerated, and much of the dialogue feels awkward. Stephen King has even said he wasn’t thinking clearly while making it.

‘The Video Dead’ (1987)

A family finds themselves under attack by zombies that crawl out of a haunted TV. While the zombies themselves look good, the movie is let down by characters who make unbelievable choices. It also suffers from inconsistent rules about how the zombies work and how to defeat them. The acting isn’t very strong, and many scenes feel like the actors are making up their lines as they go. Ultimately, the film is slow-paced and doesn’t fully explore its interesting idea.

‘Neon Maniacs’ (1986)

A group of mutant creatures live beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and prey on teenagers after dark. The movie doesn’t bother to explain what these monsters are or why water harms them. Choppy editing makes the action sequences confusing, and the ending feels hurried and incomplete, leaving many questions unanswered. Overall, it feels less like a finished film and more like an unfinished TV show pilot.

‘Doom Asylum’ (1987)

A group of friends break into an abandoned asylum only to find a killer and a punk band already living there. The movie blends horror clichés with silly, over-the-top comedy, which unfortunately ruins any suspense. The jokes are consistently unfunny, and while there’s plenty of gore, it looks unrealistic because of the bright lighting. Ultimately, the film desperately tries to be a cult hit but comes across as irritating.

‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare’ (1987)

A hair metal band heads to a farmhouse hoping to record an album, but they encounter supernatural forces. The film’s lead singer, who also stars, used it as a way to promote his music and appearance. Unfortunately, the demons are unconvincing, and the climactic battle falls flat. Most of the movie is simply the band performing their songs, making it feel less like a horror film and more like a self-promotional project.

‘Zombie Nightmare’ (1987)

This movie follows a teenager who returns from the dead seeking revenge on the people who caused his death. While Adam West plays a police captain, he doesn’t seem very engaged in his role. The zombie effects are subtle, and the violence isn’t graphic. Loud heavy metal music often drowns out the characters’ conversations. Overall, it’s a slow-paced revenge story with surprisingly little focus on zombies.

‘Ghosthouse’ (1988)

This Italian-made horror film, shot in the US, centers around a haunted house and a disturbing clown doll. Unfortunately, the story feels disjointed and doesn’t flow well. Adding to the problems, the movie uses radio signals that create an annoying high-pitched sound. The actors’ performances come across as unnatural, likely due to language difficulties and poor dubbing. It also heavily borrows ideas from other well-known horror movies.

‘House II: The Second Story’ (1987)

This second movie shifts away from the scares of the first, becoming more of a lighthearted adventure comedy. It centers around a crystal skull and time travel happening inside a mysterious house. However, the humor is too over-the-top for those who enjoyed the original’s horror, and the story gets a bit too intense for younger viewers. The plot jumps around between different worlds without building much tension, and it doesn’t feel connected to the first film at all.

‘Creature’ (1985)

A spaceship crew finds a strange container on a moon of Saturn, accidentally releasing a terrifying creature. The movie’s setting resembles drab factories, and it’s often too dark to even see what’s happening. Unfortunately, the story closely copies the movie ‘Alien’ without offering any original ideas. The film moves at a sluggish pace, and the characters aren’t particularly memorable, making it a largely forgettable sci-fi horror experience.

‘Galaxy of Terror’ (1981)

A group of astronauts crash-lands on a strange planet, where a massive pyramid manifests their deepest fears. While the film looks good considering its budget, the story is relentlessly dark and unpleasant. The characters are difficult to root for, and spend most of the movie fighting amongst themselves before meeting grim ends. The film relies heavily on shocking and often disgusting scenes, and ultimately offers a hopeless experience with no characters to cheer for.

‘Inseminoid’ (1981)

This movie involves an alien that impregnates a woman on a space station, leading her to kill her fellow crew members. It prioritizes shocking and disturbing imagery over building genuine suspense. The film’s setting is a series of identical, cold, white hallways, and the acting is over-the-top, with characters frequently screaming. Overall, it’s a deeply unsettling film that focuses on disgusting and unpleasant ideas.

‘Saturn 3’ (1980)

This sci-fi thriller follows a couple on a space station who are stalked by a robot fixated on one of them. Despite a large budget and impressive sets, the film falls flat due to a slow pace, awkward robot design, and badly dubbed dialogue. Ultimately, it’s a disappointing and unexciting story that doesn’t live up to its potential.

‘Rats: Night of Terror’ (1984)

A group of motorcycle riders in a ruined world stumble upon a research lab overrun with rats. However, these aren’t genetically engineered monsters – they’re just ordinary rats tossed at the actors by the film crew. The movie is filled with cliché characters sporting awful outfits and wigs, and the voice acting is so bad it’s funny. The plot is confusing, and the ending features a twist that’s become famous for being completely illogical.

‘Burial Ground’ (1981)

A group of people staying at a countryside villa are terrorized by zombies brought to life by an archeologist. The zombies themselves are unusual, portrayed by short actors wearing masks. The film is well-known for a bizarre side story about a mother and her son who appears much older than he is. While incredibly gory, the movie lacks a substantial plot, and the action moves slowly as the characters simply try to survive.

‘Graduation Day’ (1981)

This thriller follows a killer targeting members of a high school track team, seeking revenge for a tragedy that occurred during a race. However, the film’s fast-paced editing, particularly the constant use of a stopwatch effect, quickly becomes distracting. The performances feel stiff, and the identity of the killer is easy to guess. Unnecessary musical sequences further drag out the story and disrupt the pacing. Ultimately, it’s a predictable slasher film that doesn’t stand out from others in the genre.

‘New Year’s Evil’ (1980)

This horror film follows a punk rock radio host who gets chilling calls from a serial killer intent on murdering someone in every time zone as the New Year begins. Unfortunately, the killer’s identity is revealed too soon, eliminating any suspense. The movie feels slow due to constant switching between scenes of the killer and a concert. The killings themselves aren’t very shocking or original, and the film doesn’t really take advantage of the New Year’s Eve setting.

‘Hospital Massacre’ (1981)

A woman’s routine hospital visit turns into a nightmare when she’s stalked by a murderous surgeon. The hospital itself is strangely deserted and shrouded in darkness, and the woman repeatedly makes poor choices that worsen her situation. The surgeon’s motive is eventually revealed to be a long-held resentment from his childhood, but the story pushes this simple idea too far, becoming unbelievable.

‘Visiting Hours’ (1982)

This thriller follows a journalist who is targeted by a killer motivated by hatred of women, all within the confines of a hospital. However, the film is unnecessarily cruel and spends too much time showing things from the killer’s point of view. It drags on for too long and features slow pacing, ultimately killing the suspense. Even with a supporting appearance by William Shatner, the movie fails to deliver and feels exploitative and unpleasant to watch.

‘Humongous’ (1982)

A group of teenagers finds themselves stranded on an island and stalked by a large, disfigured man. The movie is filmed so darkly that it’s hard to see what’s happening, and the story follows a predictable path with no unexpected twists. Due to a low budget, most of the violent acts happen out of view or are hidden in darkness, making for a dull and uninspired addition to the backwoods slasher subgenre.

‘The Final Terror’ (1983)

This movie pits forest rangers and campers against a dangerous man living in the wilderness. Unfortunately, it was made a long time ago and never released, and it really shows its age. The video and audio are both poor quality, and the story is predictable with characters you quickly forget. It’s a shame because the film features some actors who later became very famous.

‘Mountaintop Motel Massacre’ (1983)

A motel owner descends into madness and begins murdering her guests. While the movie aims for a creepy mood, it ultimately feels slow and gloomy. The characters are unpleasant and argue all the time. Though the ways people are killed are imaginative, the special effects look cheap. Overall, the film feels like a low-budget production lacking in quality and artistic value.

‘Killer Workout’ (1987)

A fitness club becomes the scene of murders committed with a surprisingly large safety pin. The movie relies heavily on lengthy aerobics sequences, seemingly to pad out the runtime. The story is thin, and the ending twist doesn’t quite make sense. The acting feels over-the-top and melodramatic, and overall, it feels more like a workout video than a scary movie.

‘Splatter University’ (1984)

This low-budget horror film follows a sociology professor at a Catholic university who is stalked by a psychiatric patient on the run. Shot with a raw, home-video aesthetic, the movie features unpolished acting, awkward conversations, and gory but unconvincing special effects. Overall, it’s a bleak and unpleasant film that doesn’t offer much in the way of enjoyment.

‘Boardinghouse’ (1982)

This horror movie, filmed on video, centers around telekinetic abilities and a haunted house. It’s visually strange, with warped images and overly bright colors. The story doesn’t make much sense, and includes odd, comedic scenes. The acting is unusual, and the film lacks clear direction. Many consider it one of the decade’s most bizarre and poorly made films.

‘Fatal Games’ (1984)

A sports academy is the setting for this violent film, where students are murdered using athletic equipment like javelins. The story features characters abusing steroids, leading to increased aggression. While attempting to address the dangers of drug use, the film’s message falls flat. It’s filled with unnecessary nudity and excessively cruel violence, ultimately proving to be a predictable and unoriginal slasher movie.

‘Twisted Nightmare’ (1987)

A group of teens wins a trip to a summer camp, only to become victims of a monster with ties to their shared history. The movie heavily borrows from ‘Friday the 13th’, essentially recreating many of its scenes. While the monster costume looks good, the film overall is poorly made. It’s difficult to see what’s happening because it’s too dark, and ultimately, it’s an unmemorable imitation of superior horror films.

‘Blood Diner’ (1987)

This movie follows two brothers who run a diner by day and collect body parts by night, all in an attempt to bring an ancient goddess back to life. It’s a wild, over-the-top horror film with plenty of gore and crude humor. While inspired by the classic ‘Blood Feast,’ it doesn’t have the same appeal. The acting is frantic, the story doesn’t make much sense, and the whole experience is loud, chaotic, and ultimately draining to watch.

‘Slaughter High’ (1986)

This horror movie follows a man who seeks revenge at his high school reunion, targeting those who bullied him. While meant to depict high schoolers, the actors are noticeably older. The film features gruesome deaths involving things like acid and electrocution, and is filled with unlikeable characters. It’s a fairly predictable revenge slasher with nothing particularly new to offer.

‘Sorority House Massacre’ (1986)

This horror movie follows a sorority sister who begins to have premonitions about an escaped mental patient stalking her. It strongly resembles the classic film ‘Halloween,’ even using similar music. Unfortunately, the acting isn’t very strong and the film fails to build genuine suspense. The story moves slowly, with characters spending too much time talking. Overall, it’s a forgettable, low-budget slasher film.

‘Hard Rock Zombies’ (1985)

This movie follows a heavy metal band who are murdered by a small, conservative town, only to return as zombies. It awkwardly attempts to blend comedy, horror, and musical elements, but the story feels disjointed and needlessly throws in elements like Nazis and gnomes. The film is overlong considering its simple story and ultimately fails to deliver either laughs or scares, resulting in a chaotic and unsuccessful experience.

‘Video Violence’ (1987)

A couple starts a video store in a town with a dark secret: the residents are making incredibly disturbing, low-budget snuff films. The movie itself looks cheap, features awful acting, and while the violence is realistic, it’s deeply unsettling. Attempts to comment on horror fans and the genre don’t really work, resulting in a bleak, unpleasant film that’s difficult to sit through.

2025-12-16 23:29