1980s/90s horror

Popular horror films of the 80s

•Friday the 13th (1980)

•The Shining (1981)

•A Nightmare of Elm Street (1984)

•Aliens (1986)

•Hellraiser (1987)

•Childs Play (1988)

Popular horror films of the 90s

•Silence of the Lambs (1991)

•Candyman (1992)

•Scream (1996)

•The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Popular conventions of the time

The 80s saw excellence in special effects, and along with the materialistic culture that consumed the era, effects were made more realistic by using improved make-up and effects. As a result of these advancements, aliens, ghosts and wolves were used frequently: each as grotesque-looking as the next. Masks were common, for example, Freddy Krueger. Films became very visually graphic during this era.

Many popular films of the 1980s were re-made in the 1990s, such as Friday the 13th and Halloween, continuing the graphic development of the genre. Stephen King’s books were adapted into horror films in the 1990s, with good reception from audiences. Splatter films were also created in these years, but were often exaggerated for comedic effect.

How the genre developed

Popular directors include Wes Craven and John Carpenter.

Slasher films- known for featuring psychopathic killers performing violent murders, peaked in the 1980s. But soon, viewers became less interested in gore and serial killings, and moved on to more technologically sound films due to the increased use of the computer.