Best Horror Films of 1986
- The Finest Reviewer
- Jun 6
- 9 min read
Updated: Jun 20
1986 was a glorious, grotesque carnival of horror creativity. With the genre fully embracing excess, this was the year filmmakers pushed boundaries in story, tone, and special effects. Horror in 1986 was often loud, chaotic, and weird—and that was its strength. From musical monsters to brain-hungry aliens, the films of this year embraced absurdity, practical effects wizardry, and fearless invention, resulting in one of the most boldly entertaining years in horror history.
The Horror Landscape in 1986
Postmodern Madness
Horror wasn’t just being spoofed—it was being remixed. Meta-humor, self-awareness, and genre-hopping became tools of both satire and scare.
FX Artists at Their Peak
Slime, puppetry, animatronics, and prosthetics dominated the screen. Horror of ’86 leaned into visual spectacle as a core part of its storytelling.
Weird is the New Normal
Many of the year’s standout horror films didn’t follow traditional rules. Instead, they got weirder, wilder, and more imaginative—earning cult status over time.
Top 10 Horror Films of 1986
The Fly
Runtime: 1hr 36min
David Cronenberg’s tragic and terrifying remake turned a sci-fi classic into a body horror masterpiece, with Jeff Goldblum’s unforgettable transformation.
The Fly (1986), directed by David Cronenberg, is a masterful blend of tragic romance and body horror that reimagines the 1958 sci-fi classic. The film follows brilliant but eccentric scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum), who invents a teleportation device. During an experiment, a common housefly is unknowingly trapped in the chamber with him—leading to a horrific genetic fusion. As Brundle’s body grotesquely deteriorates and mutates, his humanity slips away, horrifying both himself and his lover, journalist Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis). With groundbreaking practical effects, emotional depth, and an unflinching exploration of physical decay and loss, The Fly stands as one of the most poignant and disturbing horror films of the 1980s.
From Beyond
Runtime: 1hr 29min
Lovecraftian horror meets sleazy surrealism in Stuart Gordon’s gory, brain-melting follow-up to Re-Animator.
From Beyond (1986), directed by Stuart Gordon and loosely based on the H.P. Lovecraft short story, is a delirious blend of cosmic horror, grotesque body transformations, and sensual madness. The story centers on Dr. Edward Pretorius and his assistant Dr. Crawford Tillinghast, who invent a machine called the Resonator—designed to stimulate the pineal gland and allow humans to perceive other dimensions. But their experiment tears open the veil between realities, unleashing monstrous creatures and triggering horrifying mutations. As the boundaries of the flesh and mind dissolve, a battle for sanity and survival ensues. With its bold practical effects, lurid tone, and fearless performances, From Beyond is a prime example of 1980s Lovecraftian horror, dripping with slime, sexuality, and nightmarish invention.
Aliens
Runtime: 2hr 17min
James Cameron’s action-horror epic ramped up the dread and adrenaline, turning Alien into a franchise-defining juggernaut.
Aliens (1986), directed by James Cameron, is a landmark sci-fi action-horror sequel that brilliantly expands on Ridley Scott’s original Alien. Set decades after the events of the first film, it follows Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) as she joins a squad of space marines sent to investigate a colony that has gone silent on the planet LV-426—now overrun by the deadly Xenomorphs. What begins as a rescue mission turns into a desperate battle for survival against swarms of the relentless creatures and their terrifying queen. Combining pulse-pounding action, intense suspense, groundbreaking effects, and emotional depth, Aliens transformed Ripley into one of cinema’s greatest heroines and solidified the franchise as a towering achievement in genre filmmaking.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
Runtime: 1hr 23min
A bleak, chilling dive into a killer’s mind—raw, realistic, and deeply disturbing.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), directed by John McNaughton, is a stark, unsettling character study that strips the glamour from cinematic portrayals of serial killers. Loosely inspired by real-life murderer Henry Lee Lucas, the film follows Henry (Michael Rooker, in a chilling performance) as he drifts through life committing random, brutal murders with his unstable companion Otis. Shot in a raw, documentary-like style on a shoestring budget, Henry offers an unflinching look at violence, amorality, and the banality of evil—eschewing sensationalism for grim realism. The film’s disturbing tone and refusal to offer easy moral distance sparked controversy and censorship battles but ultimately earned it a place as one of the most harrowing and influential horror films of its era.
Night of the Creeps
Runtime: 1hr 28min
Alien parasites, 1950s flashbacks, and zombie frat bros—this horror-comedy hybrid is a genre love letter.
Night of the Creeps (1986), directed by Fred Dekker, is a loving, self-aware homage to 1950s sci-fi and zombie horror that became a cult classic. The film kicks off with alien brain parasites crash-landing on Earth in the 1950s, only to resurface decades later in a college town—where they infect humans, turning them into shambling, slug-spitting zombies. Two geeky students and a hardboiled detective (played with scene-stealing grit by Tom Atkins) must battle the outbreak on the night of the big fraternity formal. Brimming with genre references, sharp humor, inventive effects, and genuine heart, Night of the Creeps perfectly captures the fun of ‘80s horror while affectionately sending up its tropes. Thrill me!
Little Shop of Horrors
Runtime: 1hr 34min
A musical horror-comedy about a man-eating plant, combining dark humor, dazzling songs, and dazzling practical effects.
Little Shop of Horrors (1986), directed by Frank Oz, is a delightfully twisted horror-comedy musical based on the off-Broadway stage show and Roger Corman’s 1960 cult film. Set in a rundown flower shop on Skid Row, the story follows meek florist Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis), who discovers a strange, talking plant he names Audrey II—after his kind-hearted coworker and crush (Ellen Greene). But the plant thrives on human blood, and as it grows, so do its monstrous demands. With catchy songs, over-the-top performances, dazzling practical effects, and darkly humorous social commentary, Little Shop of Horrors blends doo-wop charm with gleeful horror, crafting a cult classic where ambition, love, and botanical mayhem collide.
TerrorVision
Runtime: 1hr 23min
A satirical, neon-soaked monster flick about a suburban family facing down an alien invader through their satellite dish.
TerrorVision (1986), directed by Ted Nicolaou, is a wild, tongue-in-cheek sci-fi horror-comedy that revels in 1980s camp and creature-feature excess. The film centers on the Putterman family, whose new satellite dish inadvertently beams an alien monster straight into their suburban home. The grotesque, shape-shifting creature—originally a pet from a distant planet—soon runs amok, devouring anything in its path. As the eccentric family and their punk-rock niece struggle to survive, TerrorVision satirizes TV culture, consumerism, and suburban life with garish sets, quirky humor, and gooey practical effects. Embracing its low-budget absurdity, the film has since earned cult status for its offbeat charm and unapologetically outrageous tone.
Chopping Mall
Runtime: 1hr 35min
Teenagers trapped in a mall with killer security robots—absurd, fun, and pure ’80s mayhem.
Chopping Mall (1986), directed by Jim Wynorski, is a gleefully cheesy blend of sci-fi, slasher, and mall-culture satire. The story unfolds in a high-tech shopping mall that installs a trio of security robots—nicknamed Killbots—designed to patrol after hours. But when a lightning strike scrambles their programming, the robots turn homicidal, trapping a group of teenagers partying in a furniture store overnight. Armed with lasers, claw arms, and a deadpan “Have a nice day” catchphrase, the Killbots unleash a mechanical massacre. Packed with inventive kills, synth-heavy score, and knowing B-movie charm, Chopping Mall is a quintessential ’80s cult favorite—embracing both the era’s consumerist anxieties and love of gleeful genre mashups.
House
Runtime: 1hr 33min
A horror-fantasy hybrid about a traumatized writer confronting ghosts, war, and bizarre interdimensional chaos.
House (1986), directed by Steve Miner, is a playful and inventive blend of haunted house horror and dark comedy. The film follows Roger Cobb, a troubled horror novelist and Vietnam veteran, who moves into his late aunt’s eerie Victorian home after her mysterious death. While attempting to write about his wartime trauma, Roger soon discovers that the house is a gateway to supernatural terrors—complete with grotesque monsters, spectral visions, and interdimensional portals. Balancing genuine scares with quirky humor and imaginative practical effects, House stands out for its offbeat tone and creative set pieces. It remains a beloved cult classic, offering a fun, unpredictable twist on haunted house conventions with a distinctly ’80s flair.
Critters
Runtime: 1hr 26min
Furry alien invaders with sharp teeth land on Earth in this fast-paced creature feature full of B-movie charm.
Critters (1986), directed by Stephen Herek, is a fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek sci-fi horror film that rides the wave of 1980s creature-feature mania. The story kicks off when a group of ravenous alien creatures—dubbed Crites—escape from an intergalactic prison and crash-land in rural Kansas. Small, spiky, and equipped with razor-sharp teeth and a voracious appetite, the Crites lay siege to the unsuspecting Brown family farmhouse. Meanwhile, a pair of shape-shifting alien bounty hunters arrive on Earth to track the creatures down. Blending practical effects, irreverent humor, and thrilling action, Critters balances scares and laughs, delivering a fun, kinetic ride that became a cult favorite and spawned a beloved franchise in its own right.
Underrated Picks Worth Your Time
April Fool’s Day
Runtime: 1hr 29min
A slasher that plays with the genre’s rules, delivering suspense with a clever twist ending.
April Fool’s Day (1986), directed by Fred Walton, is a clever and self-aware twist on the slasher genre that plays with audience expectations. The film follows a group of college friends invited to a secluded island mansion by their wealthy classmate Muffy St. John for a weekend getaway. As the festivities begin, a series of increasingly bizarre and deadly pranks—and actual murders—unfold, leaving the guests paranoid and desperate to survive. But nothing is quite as it seems. With its sly humor, well-drawn characters, and a final-act twist that upends slasher conventions, April Fool’s Daystands out as one of the more playful and inventive horror films of the 1980s, blending suspense with a knowing wink to genre fans.
Slaughter High
Runtime: 1hr 35min
A revenge-driven school-set slasher with a cult following and over-the-top kills.
Slaughter High (1986), directed by George Dugdale, Mark Ezra, and Peter Litten, is a cult slasher that delivers gleeful revenge-fueled carnage with an over-the-top ’80s flair. The story centers on Marty Rantzen, a nerdy high school outcast who is horribly disfigured in a cruel prank gone wrong. Years later, Marty lures his former tormentors back to their now-abandoned school under the guise of a reunion. One by one, the classmates fall victim to elaborate and gruesome traps orchestrated by Marty—now donning a jester mask. Filled with creative kills, synth-heavy music, and a sense of gleeful nastiness, Slaughter High is a quintessential example of the decade’s slasher excesses, embraced by fans for its campy tone and brutal set pieces.
Spookies
Runtime: 1hr 25min
A kitchen-sink haunted house movie where every monster imaginable shows up—messy, but unforgettable.
Spookies (1986), directed (in parts) by Genie Joseph, Thomas Doran, and Brendan Faulkner, is a gloriously chaotic and surreal low-budget horror oddity that’s earned cult status for its sheer strangeness. The plot—such as it is—follows a group of partygoers who stumble upon an abandoned mansion, unaware it’s inhabited by a sorcerer keeping his undead bride in suspended animation. As the night unfolds, they’re besieged by an onslaught of bizarre creatures, including farting muck monsters, spider women, grim reapers, and possessed dolls. The film’s fractured production history (two separate shoots spliced together) results in a narrative mess—but Spookies thrives on its relentless stream of practical effects, gonzo creature designs, and eerie atmosphere, making it a beloved midnight movie for fans of ’80s horror weirdness.
Blood Hook
Runtime: 1hr 51min
A horror-comedy about a killer targeting fishing tournament contestants with giant hooks. Yes, really.
Blood Hook (1986), directed by Jim Mallon (of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame), is a tongue-in-cheek slasher with an absurd and uniquely Minnesotan twist. The film follows a group of young people who travel to a small lakeside town for a popular annual fishing tournament—only to find themselves targeted by a deranged killer who uses giant fishing lures as murder weapons. Blending gory kills with deadpan regional humor and an intentionally campy tone, Blood Hook pokes fun at both slasher tropes and Midwestern culture. While it never takes itself too seriously, the film delivers inventive kills and offbeat charm, earning a cult following among fans of horror oddities and regional filmmaking.
Neon Maniacs
Runtime: 1hr 31min
A bizarre urban monster mash with each maniac styled like a different horror trope.
Neon Maniacs (1986), directed by Joseph Mangine, is a stylish and delightfully bizarre cult horror film that throws traditional slasher rules out the window. The story follows Natalie, a high school student who survives a massacre on the Golden Gate Bridge carried out by a gang of supernatural killers—each with their own distinct look and themed weapons, from a samurai warrior to a punk rocker to a medieval executioner. When no one believes her, Natalie bands together with a horror-obsessed younger friend to fight back against the Neon Maniacs, who emerge from their lair each night to hunt San Francisco’s unwitting citizens. Packed with colorful creature designs, wild practical effects, and a synth-driven soundtrack, Neon Maniacs is a gloriously weird, very ’80s slice of horror that revels in its own gonzo creativity.
Horror Highlights & Trivia
Jeff Goldblum’s performance in The Fly earned real awards buzz—and rightly so.
Aliens won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects and cemented Ripley as a horror-action icon.
Night of the Creeps coined “Thrill me,” one of horror’s best one-liners, delivered by the legendary Tom Atkins.
Little Shop of Horrors originally had a dark ending where the plant wins—restored in later releases.
Where to Watch These Today
The Fly: Streaming on Max and available in Criterion and Scream Factory editions.
Aliens: Streaming on Hulu and available in 4K sets.
Night of the Creeps: On Shudder and in a special Scream Factory Blu-ray.
Little Shop of Horrors: Streaming on Prime, with restored director’s cut on Blu-ray.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer: Available via Criterion and Arrow Video with pristine restorations.
Closing Thoughts
1986 was horror at its most inventive and unrestrained. It was a year where gore and humor danced together, where monsters had personality, and where even the most ridiculous concepts were embraced with fearless creativity. For fans of practical effects, offbeat stories, and boundary-pushing tone, 1986 isn’t just memorable—it’s a goldmine.
