Editorials
30 Years Later: A 1990 Theatrical Horror Retrospective
The ‘90s are widely regarded as the worst decade for horror, but in 1990 the spirit of the ‘80s was still alive and well. Big budgeted blockbusters were still the rage, but the continued popularity of VCRs meant home viewings could be just as successful, thus inspiring independent filmmakers and studios to release smaller budgeted options.
This, along with the fact that it was still too early to have formed its own identity, meant 1990 was all over the map in horror offerings. Notable horror sequels, over the top creature features, and bold entries of original horror; 1990 was accessible to all tastes in genre fare. 1990 might also be the year of Brad Dourif, who appeared in four different genre theatrical releases alone.
In order of release, these theatrically released horror films are all turning 30 this year.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
Surprise! This horror film might technically be an ‘80s child, but it wasn’t until 1990 that it finally received a limited theatrical release on January 5. Directed by John McNaughton and starring Michael Rooker as the eponymous Henry, this film is unflinching in its depiction of a serial killer committing a series of murders without a care or second thought. It’s harrowing and gritty, and it set a new standard for thrillers of this ilk.
Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III
Released on January 12, this sequel marked the first entry of the franchise not helmed by Tobe Hooper. It also marked the lowest grossing film of the franchise (at the time), both a critical and commercial failure. As for plot, the third entry opted for a more straightforward slasher approach, featuring new characters that fight for their lives against Leatherface and new members of the Sawyer clan. Look for Caroline Williams in a small cameo as final girl Stretch, Viggo Mortensen as the maniacal Tex Sawyer, and Ken Foree as formidable hero Benny.
Brain Dead
This is it, the film that likely caused Peter Jackson’s Braindead to be rebranded as Dead Alive in the states. Starring Bill Pullman and Bill Paxton, it’s man versus machine in this ambitious mind-bender. The plot follows Pullman as Dr. Martin, who’s enlisted to extract vital information from the mind of a mental patient but finds himself caught up in a corporate nightmare in the process. Psychological horrors ensue in this Corman production, released on January 19.
Tremors
A horror comedy of massive proportions, Tremors won critics over with its charm, humor, and cool creature work. Between the residents of Perfection, Nevada, led by Kevin Bacon’s Val McKee and Fred Ward’s Earl Bass, and the instantly memorable Graboids, Tremors launched an ongoing franchise. Released on January 19, where it was only a modest at best success, it eventually found its audience on home video.
Nightbreed
Written and directed by Clive Barker, based on his novella Cabal, Nightbreed pits the troubled Boone (Craig Sheffer) against his psychotherapist Dr. Decker (David Cronenberg), a serial killer looking for a fall guy in his murders. Caught in the middle are the monstrous residents of Midian, a mythical haven for the inhuman. Though not commercially successful upon its theatrical February release, Nightbreed received video game and comic book tie-ins, and would eventually receive a restoration of the Director’s Cut Barker always intended.
The Witches
It’s fitting that a new adaptation of Roald Dahl’s dark fantasy novel is set to arrive in theaters this year, exactly 30 years after director Nicolas Roeg’s (Don’t Look Now) take. The story sees a little boy teaming up with his grandmother to thwart a coven of witches after he’s been turned into a mouse, with Anjelica Huston turning in an iconic performance as the Grand High Witch. Many childhood nightmares were instilled by the witches in this gateway horror film.
Spontaneous Combustion
Sam (Brad Dourif) discovers he has pyrokinesis as a result of atomic bomb experiments performed on his parents prior to his birth. He can control it, but the power comes with unpleasant side effects. It was a serious commercial flop for writer/director Tobe Hooper, fresh off his disastrous three-picture deal with Cannon Films. In other words, the ‘90s weren’t exactly kind to Hooper, and the theatrical failure of this film set the tone.
The First Power
Detective Russell Logan (Lou Diamond Phillips) teams up with a psychic (Tracy Griffith) to take down the Pentagram Killer (Jeff Kober). When the killer is executed, he’s granted demonic powers to seek revenge. The critics hated this Satanic neo-noir thriller upon its April theatrical release, though it was successful regardless.
The Guardian
A young couple hire a nanny to care for their newborn, unaware that she’s really a Druid with a penchant for sacrificing babies to an evil tree. Based on a novel called The Nanny, about a baby snatching nanny, of course, Universal Pictures reportedly pushed for a more supernatural slant once director William Friedkin (The Exorcist) came on board. The previous director? That would be Sam Raimi, who departed from the project to helm Darkman instead.
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
After four seasons, anthology series Tales from the Darkside finally made it to the big screen. Directed by anthology expert John Harrison (Creepshow), no less. A modest success upon its May theatrical release, this anthology weaves three tales together with a wraparound that features Deborah Harry as a witch looking to prepare her paperboy for dinner. With a stacked cast and solid segments all around, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie did both the series and anthology horror proud.
Def by Temptation
Written, directed, produced by, and starring James Bond III, Def by Temptation pits an evil succubus against a minister-in-training, an aspiring actor, and a cop who specializes in the supernatural. Troma acquired the film in the late ‘80s and tailored it to fit its brand, which accounts for many of the B-movie horror moments. Samuel L. Jackson plays Minister Garth, but more importantly, Ernest Dickerson (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight) was the cinematographer.
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Joe Dante tapped Rick Baker to handle creature effects for this highly unconventional sequel, which took the gremlins out of the small town and into the Big Apple. Poor Gizmo is used as a guinea pig at a media-mogul’s skyrise, unleashing a slew of colorful new gremlins. It’s up to Gizmo and his human pals Billy (Zach Galligan) and Kate (Phoebe Cates) to stop them. Released in theaters early June, audiences and critics didn’t know how to handle the more cartoonish direction and the film underperformed. Naturally, it’s much more widely embraced and adored now.
Arachnophobia
How do you make a PG-13 horror-comedy scary? Add spiders. Lots of them. Produced by Amblin Entertainment and Steven Spielberg, Arachnophobia starred Jeff Daniels as a small town’s new doctor dealing with an influx of mysterious deaths. The culprit is a deadly South American spider that’s hitched a ride in a coffin to America and bred with a local species. John Goodman steals scenes as the overzealous exterminator. Released in July, these spiders won over audiences in a big way.
Flatliners
Five medical students experiment with death to see if there’s an afterlife, but the more they dabble the more dark secrets from their past threaten to physically destroy them. An ambitious psychological sci-fi horror film by director Joel Schumacher (The Lost Boys) with an A-list cast featuring Julia Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin, and Oliver Platt, Flatliners won the box office upon its August release.
The Exorcist III
William Peter Blatty adapted his own novel, Legion, as well as directed the third entry in the Exorcist series. A worthy sequel that didn’t just erase the bitter taste left by the previous entry, but rivaled the chilling effectiveness of the original film. This time, a police lieutenant is investigating the crimes of the Gemini Killer, which leads him to the patient of a mental hospital; none other than Father Karras (Jason Miller). The Exorcist III also stars George C. Scott and Brad Dourif, and delivered one of horror’s greatest jump scares. It spooked up a decent audience upon its August release.
Darkman
Between the favorable reviews and box office success, it looks like Sam Raimi chose the correct project with his own comic book movie creation. Released in theaters on August 24, Darkman starred Liam Neeson as Peyton Westlake, a brilliant scientist hellbent on revenge when a laboratory explosion leaves him permanently disfigured. His synthetic skin allows him to become anyone for a short period of time, making for a fun action thriller with appearances by Larry Drake, Ted Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Frances McDormand.
Hardware
The 2020 release of Color Out of Space feels all the timelier in that it comes thirty years after writer/director Richard Stanley made his feature debut with a lean, mean cyberpunk thriller. After an artist’s lover gifts her with the head of a cyborg for her current work in progress, it rebuilds itself and goes on a violent, homicidal spree. Stylish and vicious, Hardware was a small release in September, but has long since grown into a cult favorite.
Night of the Living Dead
George A. Romero sought to remake his own film for rights purposes, and though Tom Savini was hired originally to handle the effects, Romero persuaded him to direct instead when he got tied up with obligations to The Dark Half. The result is a refreshing new spin on a classic that still retains the core values of the original while making necessary modern updates with self-awareness. Tony Todd stars as Ben, and Patricia Tallman imbues Barbara with the ferocious backbone she never had before. It failed to resonate, sadly, making this one of horror’s more underappreciated remakes.
Graveyard Shift
A textile mill with a rat infestation has something far more dangerous lurking in the basement, in this outlandish horror movie based on Stephen King’s short story. Brad Dourif turns in an insane performance as the exterminator, rivaling John Goodman for scene-stealing exterminators in 1990. Released in October, this bonkers creature feature didn’t win over critics, but it did at least earn back its budget at the box office.
Jacob’s Ladder
Grieving over his deceased child, a Vietnam vet (Tim Robbins) struggles to get a grip on reality the more dreams, nightmares, and hallucinations bleed over into his waking life. A moderate success upon its early November theatrical release, Jacob’s Ladder quickly became a cult favorite thanks to its surreal imagery and disorienting horror.
Child’s Play 2
Set two years after the events of the first film, killer doll Chucky is reassembled and resuscitated. His only goal: take down Andy Barclay, who’s now in foster care. This sequel marked the franchise’s shift from United Artists to Universal Pictures, with John Lafia -a co-writer of the first film- picking up the directorial reigns. Don Mancini penned the screenplay. Child’s Play 2 opened number one at the box office upon its November 9 release.
Predator 2
The titular alien hunter ventured into the concrete jungle in this sequel, cleaning up the streets and leaving a body trail amidst a gang war. Only Lieutenant Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) stands in the Predator’s way. Though it still made a strong showing in theaters upon its November release, this sequel didn’t make as big of an impact on audiences and critics as its predecessor.
Misery
Written by William Goldman and directed by Rob Reiner, this adaptation of Stephen King’s novel marked one hell of a way to close out the year’s horror releases. James Caan stars as Paul Sheldon, a popular novelist rescued by his biggest fan, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), after a car crash. His savior quickly becomes his tormentor, subjecting him to nightmarish abuse. Misery didn’t just pull in a strong showing at the box office, it earned the praises of critics and slew of award nominations, including an Academy Award win for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Bates.
It’s been 75 years since The Thing From Another World first warned us to “watch the skies”, and filmgoers have done just that by showing up to multiple instances of extraterrestrial contact on the big screen. This makes sense, as a recent CBS news poll estimated that 63% of Americans believe in intelligent life on other planets, and the ongoing disclosure movement aims to raise that number with each passing day.
With Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day leaving many genre fans hungry for more alien footage (preferably of the spooky variety), today I’d like to share a list recommending six underrated alien invasion thrillers for your viewing pleasure. After all, regardless of whether or not you believe that we’re alone in the universe, it can be fun to dream about the worst-case scenario if our cosmic neighbors ever decide to visit.
For the purposes of this list, we’ll be focusing on lesser-known invasion stories rather than the popular extraterrestrials of franchises like Alien and Close Encounters of the Third (or even Fourth) Kind. That being said, don’t forget to comment below with your own alien favorites if you think we missed a particularly thrilling movie.
While it won’t be featured in this article, I’d highly recommend checking out Dean Alioto’s UFO Abduction/The McPherson Tape if you’re up for some ufology-inspired found footage thrills.
With that out of the way, onto the list!
6. The Arrival (1996)
Not to be confused with Denis Villeneuve’s Academy Award-winning Amy Adams vehicle about learning to communicate peacefully with extraterrestrial life, David Twohy’s The Arrival is a much more straightforward (but no less entertaining) genre romp where Charlie Sheen faces a global conspiracy involving hostile alien invaders.
It’s not exactly up there with Close Encounters or even Independence Day, but Twohy’s conspiratorial thriller plays out like an exceptionally fun episode of The X-Files that I’d recommend to sci-fi/horror fans who don’t mind a little bit of wonky CGI and 90s excess alongside their alien thrills.
5. Extraterrestrial (2014)
The Vicious Brothers made a name for themselves with the success of 2011’s Grave Encounters, but that was far from the Canadian duo’s only collaboration. And while it’s not exactly a fan favorite, I always point out 2014’s Extraterrestrial as one of their most underrated projects simply because I agree with the filmmakers’ opinion that there aren’t enough ‘cool alien abduction movies’ out there.
Admittedly, the majority of the picture functions like a run-of-the-mill creature feature with paper-thin characters and familiar horror tropes, but I’d argue that the cosmically-terrifying final act elevates the experience to new and memorable heights. The movie also boasts great performances by both Michael Ironside and Emily Perkins – a combination that more than makes up for the occasionally janky CGI.
4. Alien Raiders (2008)
Director Ben Rock has gone on record lamenting how his John-Carpenter-inspired creature feature was forcefully renamed from Supermarket to the painfully obvious Alien Raiders (a change which likely resulted in many potential viewers skipping out on the experience), but the new title doesn’t change the fact that this single-location thriller is something of a hidden gem.
Taking place entirely within a supermarket, Alien Raiders tells the story of an ensemble of customers and employees who are taken hostage by a group of armed men looking for something far more dangerous than an easy payout. I won’t get into details in order to avoid spoiling the experience, but I’d highly recommend this criminally underseen flick to fans of John Carpenter and the Resident Evil games.
3. Phoenix Forgotten (2017)
You’d think that a Ridley-Scott-produced retelling of one of the most infamous real-life UFO sightings of all time would have a bigger following, but I rarely see Justin Barber’s Found Footage period piece brought up during discussions about extraterrestrial-focused horror movies.
This is a huge shame, as Phoenix Forgotten is just as spooky as it is convincing, with this well-researched dive into the Phoenix Lights incident benefiting from surprisingly believable special effects as well as an appropriately horrific finale.
2. Communion (1989)
I wouldn’t blame you for disregarding Whitley Strieber’s controversial book about his alleged close encounter as sensationalist slop, but I’d argue that Phillipe Mora’s 1989 adaptation of these events is much better than the source material. After all, the movie works as a standalone piece of speculative fiction while also benefiting from an incredible performance by the one and only Christopher Walken!
Mora’s take on Communion may not be particularly scary, but the film is still an unforgettable character study regardless of whether or not the abduction really happened. Not only that, but the flick also paved the way for plenty of future sci-fi stories where the extraterrestrial invaders aren’t as evil as they initially appear.
1. Altered (2006)
Originally envisioned as a Sam Raimi-style horror-comedy titled Probed, Eduardo Sánchez (of The Blair Witch Project fame) eventually realized that it would be much more interesting to turn the film into a serious exploration of the emotional aftermath of a traumatic abduction incident.
That’s how we got Altered, a clever inversion of the standard abduction narrative that follows a group of troubled friends as they capture and experiment on an alien in order to enact revenge for their own abduction years prior.
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