In the years since its release, 1985’s horror comedy House has become a beloved cult classic among genre fans. Viewers flock to its weird mix of humor and inventive practical effects. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s part of its allure.
While House has carved out its own space in a decade filled with horror hits, there are plenty of movies from the same era that deliver the same chaotic energy. Many horror movies of the time promoted creative effects and included comedic elements. For new and old fans alike looking for that same vibe, there are some great cult classic horror films, like Evil Dead II, that fit the tone perfectly.
Dead Heat Brings the Buddy Cop Element to Horror
For fans of House looking for horror films that match its playful energy and practical effects, 1988’s buddy cop fusion Dead Heat is a perfect match. Directed by Mark Goldblatt, Dead Heat is known among genre fans as a fun blend of horror and humor. The film stars Treat Williams and Joe Piscopo, respectively, as detectives Roger Mortis and Doug Bigelow.Mortis and Bigelow work for the LAPD and are investigating a string of jewelry store robberies where the culprits are immune to bullets. Together, the two detectives discover that the robbers are actually reanimated corpses brought back to life by a mysterious resurrection machine.
Outside of leads Piscopo and Williams, Dead Heat features a star-studded cast that genre fans will especially enjoy. The film marks one of the final performances of legendary actor Vincent Price, and the primary antagonist is portrayed by prolific character actor Darren McGavin. Their presence adds credibility and classic horror charm that strengthens the film’s cult appeal. Since its release, Dead Heat has amassed a loyal fanbase, and it even matches House in its use of surreal and comedic creatures and an unpredictable spirit that make House so attractive to viewers.
From Beyond is Campy Horror Fun
The late director Stuart Gordon followed up his success with Re-Animator by loosely adapting yet another H.P. Lovecraft story with From Beyond. The film returns most of the creative team from Re-Animator and brings Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton back together. Their creative chemistry gives the movie a familiar energy, and their performances add to the mayhem that unfolds around the film’s extreme practical effects.
From Beyond features some of the best practical effects of the era and used no fewer than four teams to create them. The story follows scientist Crawford Tillinghast, played by Jeffrey Combs, who works alongside his mentor, Dr. Edward Pretorius, on a machine called the Resonator.
The device stimulates the pineal gland in the human brain and allows those exposed to it to see creatures living in an alternate dimension. During an experiment, one of the creatures bites Pretorius, and he is assumed to be dead. While impressive, both the cast and crew have spoken extensively about how difficult filming From Beyond was due to the amount of effects used on the set and the hours of makeup the cast endured.
Society is a Masterclass in Body Horror
The body horror classic Society was the directorial debut of producer Brian Yuzna, famous for his collaborations with Stuart Gordon. After being shot in 1988, the movie became an instant cult classic in Europe, but received a delayed release in the United States. Billy Warlock plays Bill Whitney, an outsider in his wealthy family and social circle.
The somewhat typical set serves to subvert audience expectations before completely diving into the realms of social commentary and paranoia. Society is a slow burn that eventually boils over into one of the most extreme examples of body horror of its time.
The story focuses on Bill discovering that the upper class is literally feeding off the lower class in grotesque and surreal ways. As the plot develops, Bill’s suspicions are confirmed. He eventually discovers his own family takes part in these rituals after discovering them in the act himself. The climax of Society features a scene that defines the use of practical effects of the ’80s. The sequence was created by effects legend Screaming Mad George and his team, and the final scene of Society is often cited among fans of the genre as one of the most inventive and extreme effects sequences ever.
Evil Dead II is an Essential Horror Comedy Hybrid
Often regarded as one of the best horror comedy hybrids of all time, Evil Dead II remakes and surpasses the story set up by Sam Raimi’s original film. Initially, the distribution rights to the first movie were sold individually to dozens upon dozens of independent studios. In order to legally use footage of the original, Raimi and Robert Tapert would have to reach out to each studio, many of which had since gone out of business, and to bypass the legal issues, they decided to reshoot the necessary sequences from the first movie.Bruce Campbell returns in Evil Dead II as Ash Williams. The plot rehashes a lot from the original movie, revisiting the isolated cabin, the Necronomicon, and the unleashed demonic forces. Despite the familiar setup, the film amplifies the horror and comedy. Campbell delivers a memorable physical performance, and the film features its bar setting and over-the-top special effects.
Evil Dead II is also memorable because of its action and Sam Raimi’s camera techniques. The shaky cam and fast zooms are a staple of what makes the movie feel immersive, building tension and panic. The combination of Campbell’s performance, the special effects and Sam Raimi’s creativity makes Evil Dead II one of the best genre-blending movies of all time.
The Return of the Living Dead Turns Horror into Punk Rock Party
Directed by Dan O’Bannon, The Return of the Living Dead is a perfect example of a horror movie that knows how to be fun without losing its edge. The movie is self-aware and subverts the typical zombie tropes seen in previous films. It willingly embraces its B-movie roots, which has led to it becoming a beloved cult classic that upended the zombie genre forever.
The film follows a group of trouble-raising teens and warehouse employees, Frank and Freddy, who accidentally release a dangerous chemical. Frank, portrayed by the late James Karen, even gives a backstory, tying it to Night of the Living Dead and highlighting the self-referential parody aspects of the film.
After releasing the gas, the dead rise from the nearby cemetery and unleash havoc. Special effects artist William Stout designed grotesque, highly detailed zombies that remain iconic today. While the movie uses humorous dialogue from both the living and the dead, the traits of the zombies are terrifying. These are not the slow, lumbering zombies of the past. The undead in The Return of the Living Dead are fast and don’t succumb to headshots.
Fright Night Pays Homage to Classic Horror
Before Child’s Play, Tom Holland made his directorial debut with the 1985 vampire classic Fright Night. Holland had previously worked as an actor and screenwriter, penning the scripts for films such as Psycho II. The film stars William Ragsdale as Charley Brewster, a typical teenager who begins suspecting that his new neighbor, Jerry Dandrige, played by Chris Sarandon, is a vampire.
After his friends and family dismiss his concerns, Charlie reaches out to his personal hero and television horror host, Peter Vincent, portrayed by Roddy McDowall. The character’s name is an ode to genre icons Peter Cushing and Vincent Price.
A majority of the film’s more comedic aspects come from Vincent’s involvement as he uses typical tropes and techniques to discover if Dandridge is, in fact, a vampire. Fright Night works so well because the humor comes from the characters’ reactions to the supernatural and not from the vampires themselves. The vampires never become the joke. The effects and transformations were some of the best and most gruesome seen at the time. Much like House, Fright Night was not scared to balance its horror with genuine laughs, keeping it all grounded with truly impressive practical effects.
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