Tired of the same ol' "Friday the 13th" sequels and wanna discover some of the more underrated '80s slashers? This is the list just for you, then.
These are not your run-of-the-mill horror movies – each packs a unique twist and enough gore to keep even the most seasoned horror fan on the edge of their seat, hopefully.
1. "Sleepaway Camp" (1983) Who said summer camp was all s'mores and canoeing? "Sleepaway Camp" gives us Angela, a shy and introverted teen who goes to Camp Arawak with her cousin Ricky. Soon after they arrive, a wave of gruesome murders starts plaguing the camp. Counselors and campers meet their doom in increasingly inventive ways – beehives, boiling water, you name it.
The kicker? The timid Angela's behind all of it! This film raked in about $11 million at the box office – not too shabby for a low-budget slasher.
2. "The Prowler" (1981) This one's got all the elements: a masked killer, a small town, and a holiday. It's set in Avalon Bay, which is hosting its first Graduation Dance in 35 years, since the last one ended in a double homicide. Enter our killer in WWII combat gear, who seems to think it's still 1945 and goes on a killing spree with a pitchfork.
College kids just can't catch a break, can they?
3. "The Burning" (1981) Cropsy, the caretaker of Camp Blackfoot, gets horribly burned in a prank gone wrong and, understandably, holds a grudge. Five years later, he's out of the hospital and ready for revenge. Armed with a pair of giant garden shears, Cropsy makes his way back to the camp to wreak havoc.
Kids get snipped left and right as they venture into the woods, go skinny-dipping, or just try to have some good ol' camp fun.
4. "April Fool's Day" (1986) A group of college friends are invited to a weekend getaway at their friend Muffy's island mansion. Weird stuff starts happening – pranks go from harmless to deadly, and people begin disappearing. The guests start suspecting each other, but guess what? It's all an elaborate setup by Muffy, who wants to turn the mansion into a mystery resort.
5. "Happy Birthday to Me" (1981) Virginia, a high-schooler, suffers from memory blackouts due to a traumatic accident. As her birthday approaches, her friends begin to die in bizarre "accidents" like weightlifting mishaps and shish kebab impalings.
Everyone starts suspecting Virginia, but the truth is even wilder. It's actually her best friend Ann, who's stealing her life due to a weird case of friendship envy. She even goes to the extent of using Virginia's unconscious body to lure the victims.
6. "Visiting Hours" (1982) Television journalist Deborah Ballin becomes the target of Colt Hawker, a deeply misogynistic man who doesn't like her advocacy for women. After surviving an attack in her home, she's taken to a hospital. You'd think hospitals are safe, right? Wrong! Colt follows her there and goes on a hospital murder spree just to get to her. Nurses, random patients, no one's safe from this guy's scalpel.
7. "Chopping Mall" (1986) A group of teenagers decides to have an after-hours party in a furniture store (because why not, apparently). Unbeknownst to them, the mall's new robotic security system malfunctions, turning the robots into killers. Cue a deadly game of cat and mouse as the teens navigate the mall, dodging lasers and explosions.
8. "The Funhouse" (1981) Carnivals are supposed to be fun, but "The Funhouse" turns that idea on its head. Four friends double-date at a local carnival and decide to spend the night in – you guessed it – the funhouse. What starts as a dare turns horrific when they witness a murder committed by the carnival barker's deformed son, Gunther.
Trapped inside the maze-like funhouse, they have to avoid becoming his next set of victims. One by one, they're hunted down in a setting that's anything but fun.
9. "Just Before Dawn" (1981) Seriously, though, what's with the '80s and camping? This time, five friends venture into the Oregon wilderness for some good old-fashioned nature fun. Little do they know, they're trespassing on the land of a murderous, inbred family.
We're talking machetes, impalings, and even a killer waterfall scene. Nature really is out to get you in this one, as they find themselves stalked and slashed in increasingly creative ways.
10. "Intruder" (1989) Taking place entirely in a grocery store, this film showcases the overnight crew becoming prey to a mysterious killer. With meat hooks and bandsaws at his disposal, the killer gruesomely takes out the employees. Just when you think it's the creepy ex-boyfriend, bam, it's actually the store manager, who's gone insane because the store is about to be sold.
