Born out of themonster movie boom of the ‘50sand hitting new highs in the ’70s with the likes ofJawsandAlien, thecreature featuregenre hit a weird and wonderful stride in the1980s—supercharged by the body horror craze that accompanied it.
Before CGI was really a thing, the ’80s saw filmmakers utilizing the practical effects and animatronic technology they had at their disposal, creating some of the wildest and most memorablecreaturesever committed to film.
As a result, the ’80s produced some of the greatest and best-known creature features of all time, includingThe Thing,The Fly,Aliens, andGremlins. Here, though, we’re focusing on those that were left to gather dust in bargain bins and midnight cable slots. Whether they flew under the mainstream radar or were overshadowed by bigger and better films, these are 10 forgotten creature features from the 1980s.
10’The Kindred’ (1987)
The Kindred
The Kindredfollows the story of a young man who discovers he has a hidden, mutated monster of a brother—created by his mother before her death. Suffice to say, it’s not the family reunion he’d hoped for, and he and his scientist colleagues soon find themselves being hunted by the creature and gruesomely picked off one by one.
A Fun but Flawed Throwback
A quirky blend of sci-fi and horror,The Kindredoffers impressively gooey practical effects and a creative creature design that will appeal to die-hard fans of the genre. While the plot is muddled and uneven, its campy charm and mad monster moments make it a flawed but fun throwback movie.
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9’The Being' (1983)
After a series of unexplained disappearances and gruesome murders, a small-town detective discovers a terrifying mutant creature—born from toxic waste—that has been stalking the area. With the government in denial, it falls to him to put an end to the deadly being once and for all.
There Is an Audience for Everything
The movie was lambasted by critics at the time of its release, who criticized its clumsy approach to what is essentially anAlienrip-off, with wooden acting, poor special effects, and a meandering plot. However, the film has since found a small cult following who findhumor in its ham-fisted handlingof the creature feature genre.
8’The Nest' (1988)
Set in a small New England town, a local lawman finds himself teaming up with his ex-girlfriend and a pest control agent to take down an infestation of giant, flesh-eating cockroaches wreaking havoc in their town.
While It Certainly Has Legs, ‘The Nest’ Lacks the Staying Power of Its Cockroach Stars
As far asmovies about killer bugs go,The Nestcertainly isn’t the worst. Fully committed in every sense, there’s enough action, gross-out effects, and carnage to make it feel fresh and exciting. While it certainly doesn’t possess the staying power of the cockroaches it’s based on, it’s definitely worth a watch for those looking for a late-night schlocky shock-fest to enjoy with some pals and a few buckets of popcorn.
7’Dark Age' (1987)
Set in the Northern Territory of Australia, a park ranger is tasked with hunting a massive crocodile responsible for killing a young Aboriginal boy. Teamed with an Aboriginal leader determined to protect the animal, the ranger learns of the natives' spiritual connection to the creature.
Who Is the Real Villain?
At first, this Australian film might seem like many of the others on this list—a fun movie about a killer creature—butDark Ageis actually an interesting and intelligent look at environmental and cultural issues, leaving the audience questioning who the real monster really is.
6’Cellar Dweller' (1988)
Cellar Dweller
Written byChild’s Playcreator Don Mancini,Cellar Dwellerrevolves around a demonic beast who is inadvertently summoned from the pages of a comic artist’s sketchbook into the real world.
The Movie’s Special Effects Were Praised
Made on a shoestring budget of around $850,000, the special effects are surprisingly effective. The creature, in particular, is both creative and genuinely menacing, brought to life using practical effects that still stand up today. Elsewhere, clever makeup, lighting, and camera angles work in tandem to create a solid horror movie worthy of far more recognition than it gets.
5’Monster Shark' (1984)
Set along the Florida coastlines, a popular tourist spot is being plagued by a peculiar hybrid sea creature—a cross between an octopus and the prehistoric Dunkleosteus—which has escaped from a secret military testing laboratory. A group of scientists and a group of soldiers, each with their own motives, compete to track down the beast first.
‘Monster Shark’ Lacks Depth
Monster Sharkwas made on a tiny budget, and this is instantly apparent—it looks and feels amateurish in every way. A lack of budget doesn’t always have to equate to a lack of enjoyment, though. Unfortunately, there is very little on offer to make up for its poor production values in terms of interesting story developments or character depth. Instead, audiences are left with a shallow story that’s devoid of any actual scares, excitement, or compelling characters.
4’Creature' (1986)
Following a distress signal, two crews from competing corporations are sent to Saturn’s largest moon to investigate. Upon arrival, they discover the crew at its research facility has been brutally murdered. Before long, they find themselves stuck in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a dangerous alien capable of possessing its victims.
A Cut Above the Rest
While on paper it sounds like yet anotherlow-budgetAlienrip-off(with a hint ofThe Thing), it does manage to stand out from many of its ilk thanks to some impressive cinematography and great direction from William Malone. The result is a tense, brooding, gothic-tinged space nightmare with enough genuinely scary moments to save it from being a total washout.
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3’Razorback' (1984)
Set in the Australian outback,Razorbackis about a giant, killer wild boar on the hunt for blood. After a journalist goes missing, her husband begins to uncover the truth behind the beast and how it has been terrorizing the local community and unsuspecting backpackers for years.
Everything Is Great About ‘Razorback’ Except the Creature Itself
Packed full of gorgeous cinematography—beautifully capturing some of Australia’s most unforgiving landscapes—Razorbackcrafts an eerie atmosphere, creating a feeling of dread and palpable tension. Unfortunately, much of that tension is instantly lost when we see the boar in its full glory. As a result, the movie is at its best when it relies on quick cuts or shadows rather than focusing on the cheap and unconvincing creature itself.
2’Scared to Death' (1980)
Scared to Death
Playing on the nation’s biotech paranoia of the time,Scared to Deathfollows a former cop who investigates a string of bizarre murders in L.A., only to discover the perpetrator is an experimental genetic hybrid creature created by a biotech company. Teaming up with a scientist, they work together to put an end to the creature’s killing spree.
‘Scared to Death’ Is Dark and Moody
Combining elements of the detective noir genre with sci-fi and creature horror,Scared to Deathis a hidden gem full of intrigue and suspense. Tense and moody, it makes the most of its low budget by focusing on shadowy atmosphere, practical effects, and a slow-burn buildup that keeps the suspense shimmering until the creature fully emerges.
1’Alligator' (1980)
Directed by Lewis Teague ofCujofame, this is a rare alligator film that takes place in a major city—Chicago, in this case. It’s a satirical take on the horror genre and one of the funnier movies on this list. Just don’t expect much in the way of scares.
Alligators Are Probably the Closest Thing to Actual Monsters That Exist Today
Looking like somethingstraight out ofJurassic Park, alligators are among the small minority of creatures that survived the end of the Cretaceous Period—and the even smaller group that still walks the Earth today. They can grow to incredible sizes and possess razor-sharp teeth and immense brute strength.
It’s not surprising, then, that these deadly creatures make frequent appearances in horror movies.Alligatorperfectly captures these primal fears of ours while deliberately leaning into horror clichés and tropes for comical effect. Critics lovedAlligator’s combination of terror and self-aware humor, and it currently stands at an impressive 87% on Rotten Tomatoes.
