Top 10 Must-Watch Horror Movies from 1981

The year 1981 was a remarkable period for horror films, delivering a mix of chilling stories, innovative special effects, and unforgettable characters. This era shaped the genre in ways that still influence filmmakers today. If you are a fan of classic horror or want to explore the roots of modern scares, these ten movies from 1981 are essential viewing. They offer a variety of styles, from psychological terror to supernatural thrills, ensuring something for every horror enthusiast. Remember its only my choice of films.

1. The Evil Dead

Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead is a landmark in horror cinema. Made on a shoestring budget, it introduced audiences to a terrifying cabin in the woods where a group of friends encounters demonic forces. Word spread quick about the film (Raimi had the clever idea of have an ambulance outside early screenings in case it proved too much for the audience) . That and the fact Stephen King waxed lyrical about the film. Bruce Campbell is superb despite the ton of blood thrown on him (something he had to deal with in 1987's sequel) and the film’s inventive camera work and relentless pace create an intense atmosphere that keeps viewers on edge. Bruce Campbell’s portrayal of Ash became iconic, blending horror with dark humor. This movie set a new standard for independent horror films and launched a beloved franchise. The films reputation was enhanced even more when it made the UK "Video Nasty" list where morale crusader Mary Whitehouse went after the film with everything she had (miserable bitch) saying we shouldn't waste our time with something "so evil." She's not around anymore. The film still is.

2. An American Werewolf in London

While you can debate until the cows come home about what is the greatest horror film of all time, you cannot debate what is the greatest werewolf movie of all time. Though I give a nod to The Wolfman (1941), Silver Bullet (1985), Dog Soldiers (2002) and Howl (2015) , all good films, but John Landis’s An American Werewolf in London combines horror and comedy in a way that few films have matched. The story follows two American backpackers attacked by a werewolf while traveling in England. Central to the script and great acting from David Naughton, Griffin Dunne and a sexy Jenny Agutter is the simply sensational mid-film change from man to monster. Rick Baker's job in turning Naughton to a werewolf is simply astonishing. Even now, 45 years later, it set the benchmark for special effects. These days so guy on a pc would hit a few buttons for that effect but you REALLY feel the pain of the transformation (especially when the head shot) and it's worth it. Indeed it was a rare horror movie that was a huge critical and financial success earning a massive 62 million on a 5 million budget.

You'll never hear "Blue Moon" again without thinking of this classic.

The film is famous for its groundbreaking makeup effects, especially the werewolf transformation scene, which won an Academy Award. The mix of genuine scares and witty dialogue makes it a unique entry in the genre.

3. The Howling

Joe Dante’s The Howling offers a fresh take on werewolf mythology which is refreshing and added to the superb list of horror movies that came out in 1981. The plot revolves around a television news anchor Karen (Dee Wallace) who travels to a secluded resort (known as the 'Colony') with her husband Bill (Christopher Stone) to treat her amnesia after a brutal attack. At first glance the Colony is a scenic place of calmful bliss, where Karen can heal from her trauma. However, little do they know  the resort is inhabited by bloodthirsty werewolves.

Dante had been on a high after Piranha (1978) and gives a nod to the 1961's The Curse of the Werewolf by naming many of the cast after characters in that film, and the transformation scenes are a delight though much like An American Werewolf in London we get a downbeat ending with Dee Wallace's heartbreaking decent from human to monster among one of the saddest scenes in history, made worse by the fact it comes on air from her newsroom. Look, its dark, atmospheric complete with impressive creature effects and took a box office of 20 million for a film made for around $950,000. It was followed by some God awful sequels (8 to be exact, though you do get some great tit shots of Sybil Danning in Part 2 which criminally starred Christopher Lee in one of those "Jesus Christ,I've no money left and I need a fucking movie - now") none of which came close to the original.The Howling remains a favorite for fans of classic horror with a psychological edge.

4. Halloween II

Everyone will have their opinion as what is the greatest sequel to an original horror movie and though that accolade would firmly go to Aliens (1986) Halloween II reputation as a solid sequel has remained intact since it's 1981 debut. It's not easy following on from arguably the greatest horror movie of all time, especially when Carpenter isn't at the helm (though he was brought in to direct some of the more nastier scenes in this movie which Rick Rosenthal directed) but a bigger production, budget and backing of Dino De Laurentiis made sure the film brought in 25 million on a 2 million budget. The sequel picks up immediately after the first film’s events. It deepens the mystery around Michael’s motives and adds new layers of suspense. It's far from perfect. Halloween didn't spill hardly a drop of blood in the 1978 original, whist here we get needles in the head, a nurse's head being boiled alive and another completely drained of the blood in her body. It also gives us the link between Laurie Strode and Micheal (something Carpenter said he made up late at night over a six pack of Bud, but generally is a fine entry into a franchise that went downhill (Halloween 5,6, Resurrection notably) as time went on.

5. Wolfen

Whilst some may not classic this 1981 effort as a werewolf movie, there's no getting away with the fact Wolfen is a superb and almost groundbreaking film. A New York City detective (Albert Finney) and a criminologist attempt to unravel a sadistic series of animal maiming's in this gritty slice of ’80s genre work which highlights a POV (point of view) from the animal, tracking shots whilst the camera swoops down streets at the eye-level of a wolf, pausing, taking cover, following one track and then another.

It's certainly different if anything. The film narrative seems to work in that the killings may connect to a tribe of Manhattan-dwelling Native Americans, led by Edward James Olmos. It's a new, unexpectedly thoughtful approach to the genre; director Michael Wadleigh had heavier ideas in mind than the slash-em-up audiences may have believed they were getting. Sadly the 17 million budget only clawed back 10 million of that but it's worth it for its style, the slightly hammy acting from Finney (though Gregory Hines is fine in an early film debut) and there are some fun and gruesome kills. Defintely a good popcorn movie that people should look up.

6. My Bloody Valentine

If ever there was a one off horror movie that fully deserves a sequel, its this brilliant Canadian slasher. Shot on a budget of over 2 million, My Bloody Valentine is not only one of the best horror movies on 1981, but one of the best slashers ever made. The story is simple. Twenty years after a mine explosion in Valentine Bluffs, the town plans to reinstate its Valentine's Day dance. The tradition ended after the disaster, when a survivor named Harry Warden murdered two supervisors and warned the town never to hold the dance again.

When young, horny teenagers keep getting knocked off the ghost of Harry gets the blame. Of course the teenagers don't follow golden rule of horror movies. If you have sex, you die. In fact flashing a bit of tit during the movie would probably enough to get at least your head chopped off.

There's a real fear of dread throughout the film and the brilliant use of a mine helps to create a tense and claustrophobic mood. The film features creative kills and a suspenseful plot that keeps viewers guessing. It’s a solid example of early 80s slasher cinema. A 2009 remake followed by was lame in comparison.

7. Scanners

When looking for a horror movie, one thing that's needed is originality. Scanners is one such film who possesses that. David Cronenberg’s Scanners explores the horror of psychic powers gone wrong. The story centers on individuals with telepathic and telekinetic abilities, leading to violent confrontations. In a time of the infamous Video Nasty Phase (which Mary Whitehouse in Britain fronted to a point ever fan of any film hated her) it was inevitable Scanners was always going to end up on that list. And what for? Yep. That head explosion. The effects were astonishing for a film that is now 45 years old. Micheal Ironside has been acting since about 1837 and made about 5,000 films, but most fans will remember him from this. Call it a science fiction film, call it horror, it's still a groundbreaking film. Cronenberg would try equal the gore in 1982's Videodrome , though I think his best work is the 1984's The Dead Zone an adaptation of a Stephen King book.

8. Dead & Buried

Perhaps one of the best, but rather mean spirited, efforts in this chart is 1981's Dan O'Bannon inspired Dead & Buried. Right from the first unsettling kill a mere three minutes in you know this has bad news written all over it for most of the cast. Set in the small town of Potters Bluff where locals begin to die under strange circumstances, a detective (played by James Farentino) most try figure out what is happening. The arch villain is played by Jack Albertson (he off Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory) but considering Grandpa Joe, who was a lazy bastard who spent 20 years in bed doing fuck all to help the family, then gets up when Charlie wins a golden ticket to mooch off him, Albertson was already unlikeable. This movie does the same. Sadly he was riddled with cancer at the time and died shortly after the film wrapped. Key scene in the movie...… without doubt it's that needle in the eye, for which special effects God Stan Winston was responsible. The film was sold on the tagline of "From the makers of Alien" but Ridley Scott had nothing to do with it. Dan O'Bannon (who wrote the screenplay for Alien) was the main man here.

9. Friday the 13th Part 2.

One of the funniest quotes on Sean. S. Cunningham (creator of the original Friday the 13th (1980) was from a critic who said "The man couldn't direct a hosepipe to his front lawn" but one thing the New York native could do was take a standard "Halloween" rip-off , add some tits and ass (and Kevin Bacon) and make a ton of money. The 1980 original made an astonishing $59 million on a budget or 500k for one of the biggest hits of the year. Less then 12 months later and wisely cashing in on that hit, Cunningham let Steve Miner take the directors chair and produced an arguably better follow-up with some solid scares (that wheelchair death took me about 37 years to get out of my mind) and another shock ending.

Following the events of the first film, we find ourselves back at Camp Crystal Lake with fresh meat for a now magically grown adult Jason, (who cares if it makes sense) to seek revenge on some unsuspecting counselors for his mother’s death. With mommy slicing up everyone in the original it was time for Jason to get some payback. It also gives us a solid "final girl" as Amy Steel gets very creative as Ginny and foiling Jason by pretending to be his mom at the climax. To be honest Jason was an absolute dope so you could see how it worked. It's also the last of the series to have that sack cloth over Jason's head - replaced by the now famous hockey mask which he donned in the laughable Jason 3D. It remains a real favourite among fans of the franchise.

10. The Funhouse

Tobe Hooper was a main synonymous with horror. His 1974 classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is still revered over 52 years later with a film that stunned audience and divided critics. In 1976 he directed the fucked-up Eaten Alive but was back on form three years later with Salems Lot ,the greatest vampire movie ever made. (sorry Sinners - you're not that good) and was given a big budget for 1981's The Funhouse. However it never really came off at the box office. That said, it's a lot of fun. The story is based around four teenagers who become trapped inside a fun house that unfortunately has a deformed nutcase inside.

As usual the teenagers are absolute idiots. There parents warn them to stay away from the terror as two kids had been recently killed there but these kids are the type who would go swimming in the nude after being told there's a serial killer with a house nearby, so I actually took great delight in seeing some of them killed on screen.

It also got the attention as a "video nasty" but was unsuccessfully prosecuted by the people who wanted it banned. In fairness this never should have been the case as its relatively tame in comparison to something like Last House on the left or Maniac.

Unlike typical slasher fare, The Funhouse actually emphasizes tension and atmosphere over body count, making it a unique entry in early 80s horror. It’s an unnerving reminder that what amuses by day can terrify by night.

ese ten films from 1981 showcase the diversity and creativity of horror during that time. Whether you prefer supernatural scares, psychological thrills, or slasher chills, this list offers something memorable. Watching these movies provides insight into how horror evolved and why these stories still resonate with audiences today.