Countdown, Days 22 & 23: Early 1980s Body Horror

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There’s just something about early (and even mid-) 1980s body horror that I love. I haven’t put my finger yet on what it is about these films and their aesthetic, but I’ll figure it out at some point. Here are two of my favorites.

an-american-werewolf-in-london-movie-poster-1981-1020194534

Dart Player: Stay on the road. Keep clear of the moors.
Chess Player: Beware the moon, lads.

An American Werewolf in London (1981, dir. John Landis) is a fascinating mix of elements. There are the eerie moors, the romance narrative, the weird comedic elements (including its clever use of music), the werewolf transformation (the best!), the existential anxieties for the werewolf protagonist, and the bleak and surprising ending.

the thing movie posterSomebody in this camp ain’t what he appears to be.

The Thing (1982, dir. John Carpenter) is so brilliant that I loved it even though the first time I saw it I didn’t see it in the right order. My friends and I had a DVD technology issue where it skipped some significant scenes. We figured this out after a while when we were finding ourselves more confused than seemed warranted, at which point we went back to see what we’d missed. Then we skipped ahead to the point where we’d left off. So, basically, we watched it in the order of part 1, part 3, part 2, part 4. But it was still amazing! Even to my contemporary eyes, the body horror was upsetting and effective, the score was perfect, and I always love a good Antarctic setting. On top of all that, there’s Wilford Brimley and Kurt Russell’s beard to admire.

Earlier countdown entries:

  1. Night of the Living Dead, dir. George Romero (1968)
  2. Dawn of the Dead, dir. George Romero (1978)
  3. Invasion of the Body Snatchers, dir. Philip Kaufman (1978)
  4. Get Out, dir. Jordan Peele (2017)
  5. Hellraiser, dir. Clive Barker (1987)
  6. Psycho, dir. Alfred Hitchcock (1960)
  7. The Birds, dir. Alfred Hitchcock (1963)
  8. Jaws, dir. Steven Spielberg (1975)
  9. Teeth, dir. Mitchell Lichtenstein (2007)
  10. Candyman, dir. Bernard Rose (1992)
  11. Creep, dir. Patrick Brice (2014)
  12. The Wicker Man, dir. Robin Hardy (1973)
  13. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, dir. Tobe Hooper (1974)
  14. Cabin in the Woods, dir. Drew Goddard (2012)
  15. Suspiria, dir. Dario Argento (1977)
  16. The Witch, dir. Robert Eggers (2015)
  17. Rosemary’s Baby, dir. Roman Polanski (1968)
  18. The Babadook, dir. Jennifer Kent (2014)
  19. It Follows, dir. David Robert Mitchell (2014)
  20. Carrie, dir. Brian de Palma (1976)
  21. Ginger Snaps, dir. John Fawcett (2000)