Board 8 > Board 8 Watches and Ranks 80s Horror - Pt. 2: 80s Revenge

(+) Yeah! (+)

HOUSE WINS!! EAT SHIT AND LIVE, POSSESSION HATERS!

VEGAS ODDSBOARD:
+600 Possession (1981)
+700 Videodrome (1983)
+700 Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
+800 Beetlejuice (1988)
+1000 A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
+1000 The Fly (1986)
+2000 The Shining (1980)
+2000 The Thing (1982)

Current Leaderboard:
1) Bitto $5000 (Hellraiser 900, Poltergeist 2000,Creepshow 650, Tetsuo: The Iron Man 600, Sleepaway Camp 650)
2) Johnbobb $4650 (Hellraiser 900, Re-Animator 600, The Changeling 2000, Friday the 13th 500, Sleepaway Camp 650)
3) Exdeath $3900 (Evil Dead II 900, Re-Animator 600, Creepshow 650, Friday the 13th 500, Killer Klowns From Outer Space 600, Sleepaway Camp 650)
4) Inviso $3850 (Re-Animator 600, Gremlins 850, Creepshow 650, Killer Klowns From Outer Space 600, Sleepaway Camp 650, Basket Case 500)
5) Lightning $3300 (Christine 800 The Changeling 200, Creepshow 650, Friday the 13th 500, Sleepaway Camp 650, Basket Case 500)
6) Seginus $2550 (Fright Night 700, Phenomena 1000, An American Werewolf in London 200, Sleepaway Camp 650)
7) jcgamer $1200 (An American Werewolf in London 200, Tetsuo: The Iron Man 600, Killer Klowns From Outer Space 600)
8) fortybelow $1050 (Gremlins 850, Poltergeist 200)
9) Karo $650 (Sleepaway Camp 650)
9) rockus $650 (Creepshow 650)

The House Won On:

• +1000 Pet Sematary (1989)
• +1000 Prince of Darkness (1987)
• +2000 Childs Play (1988)
• +2000 The Lost Boys (1987)
• +1250 The Dead Zone (1983)
• +1100 Predator (1987)

I will eat shit. And I will live.

Predator is awesome but yeah if someone says "what's predator?" I'm saying it's an action movie every time. Like I said in my writeup, it checks all the horror boxes but I just can't think of it as a horror movie

I thought Predator as a movie was fine. Predator as a villain itself is fantastic though

guessing Posession again because I'm legitimately shocked it's gotten as far as it has, I thought it would be way more divisive

Guessing Possession because it's definitely next now

Excellent
1) ?
2) Evil Dead II
3) Predator

Great
4) ?
5) Hellraiser

Good
6) ?
7) Phenomena (1985)
8) Pet Sematary (1989)

Didn't Like
9) ?
10) ?
11) Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)

Watched as a teenager, had planned to rewatch before ranking them
Friday the 13th (1980)
Poltergeist (1982)
?

That's two of my top three dropping back to back.

Possession absolutely rules.

I'm going to guess Henry again.

Im switching to Videodrome.

jcgamer107 posted...

Holy hell Possession is not good guys, lol

Glad to drag Predator down, what an incredibly boring movie. An "action-horror" movie that doesn't have any action or scares, was just waiting for it to end almost as soon as it started. How they thought this was a suitable rival for 'Alien', aside from box offices numbers, I don't know.

Says just about everyone else here. Including me. I'm not saying it's one of my favorite movies or anything, but it least paved the way for the director's next two movies Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October which I think are even better. However, I'll also admit I'm a huge fan of suspense in movies which is why I'm a big fan of directors like Steven Spielberg and James Cameron. John McTiernan is like that but without as distinctive a style. I would like to know what you think of his other movies or other Predator films.

Tbh I also just find the Predator a really cool movie alien, but I will admit I have a massive soft spot for a lot of the genres the movie (and subsequent franchise) meld together. So you do you.

EDIT: In hindsight I think Predator is one of my favorite premises for a movie so that probably colors a lot of my view.

Evillordexdeath posted...

I always found Ebert's take on Hellraiser very strange. Hellraiser 2 is probably one of his worst reviews because of the extremely condescending tone he takes toward people who liked the movie. I find it rather odd that he bemoans how the movie is "made for people with no attention span" when he gave a 3/4 to a certain other movie on the list that feels like it deserves that criticism quite a lot more

Roger admitted he found Evil Dead 2 a guilty pleasure. Likely that movie's comedic tone helped a lot. Note that on air he also admitted he got tired of the movie an hour in but still recommended it anyway. Gene didn't recommend it because he got tired even sooner but he still wasn't particularly harsh on it. Might have also been because Hellraiser has a lot more surreal and gruesome imagery?

Yeah, I dont even need to comment at this point, do I?

Snake, you have exdeath at 11 for changeling and predator

Ebert might have also found Evil Dead 2 much easier to understand than Hellraiser, since the former just has the simple premise of "guy gets besieged by supernatural forces in a cabin". Ebert might have simply been amazed at the artistry Raimi was able to wring out of that premise. Tbh I don't even know what Hellraiser is about.

I'm also a sillyhead who has never seen an Evil Dead movie but appreciated Raimi's work on movies like Darkman and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Fun fact: Raimi was supposed to direct both Darkman and The Guardian for Universal in 1990, but the studio gave him an ultimatum to pick one and he picked Darkman, with the late William Friedkin stepping in to direct The Guardian. That made it the latter's first horror flick since The Exorcist 17 years earlier.

I kind of wonder how Predator 2 would have done on a '90s list. I kind of like that film. Bigtime guilty pleasure.

Fuck it. Predicting Beetlejuice because it depicts a healthy relationship between a couple, which is apparently not cinematic enough.

Okay, admittedly that was harsh, but so help me if you guys genuinely eliminated Beetlejuice in 8th. No, I guess my real pick at this point is gonna be Nightmare on Elm Street. Just seems like its got potential to snag a few of those remaining low rankings, since the avant garde films seem unstoppable.

Is this board generally such a big fan of (early) Tim Burton?

LinkMarioSamus posted...

Tbh I don't even know what Hellraiser is about.

Oh, so you're not reading any of the write-ups.

Man, Predator going out next is wild. Looks like about half the ratings were sub-15. I can only think of a few movies that I think would get a bunch of sub-15. Since I've been burnt on Possession too many times, I'll go with Videodrome.

Wow, differing opinions and all of that, but Predator at 30 with some of the movies on this list is fucking wild.

Doing this list made me realize this is my least favorite decade for horror from 70's onward >_>

I still have faith we have the correct top 2

Espeon posted...

Snake, you have exdeath at 11 for changeling and predator

Whoops Changeling should've said 12 actually

8. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986 / 159 points)
Directed by: John McNaughton / Written by: Richard Fire, John McNaughton
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/2/25acf140.jpg
Why Its Significant - I purposefully chose Henry, one of the most controversial and oft-censored films of the decade (its one of the primary films responsible for establishing the NC-17 rating and was rated X upon release), for how it uses horror to delve into the terrifying plausibility of a disturbed mind. The film loosely bases its characters on real-life killers Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole. As it says so boldly on the poster (hes real"), Henrys main point of reference was how it contrasted with the slasher films of the 80s. This connection to true crime adds a layer of unease, forcing viewers to confront the horrifying reality of such violence. Michael Rooker's chilling performance portrays Henry's detachment and emptiness. We witness his crimes not through a lens of spectacle, but through the disturbing mundanity of his actions. Henry paved the way for a new wave of films that focused on psychological realism with true crime and horror elements, films like Se7en, The Silence of the Lambs, Monster, The Poughkeepsie Tapes, & Zodiac being among them, along with our continuing modern day obsession with serial killers shown in productions like Dahmer & the recently released What Jennifer Did, and even further still, extreme horror like Man Bites Dog, August Underground, Murder-Set-Pieces, & A Serbian Film.

The Rankers
Johnbobb - 3
Karo - 6
Plasmabeam - 6
Evilordexdeath - 7
Lightning - 10
Bitto - 11
Fortybelowsummer - 11
Seginustemple - 12
Snake - 12
Mythiot - 16
Jcgamer107 - 18
Rockus - 21
Inviso - 26

Johnbobb - With 80s horror being particularly loaded to the brim with over-the-top wackiness and body horror and prosthetic schlock, it's good to get back to the good 'ol boy type of horror. Just a simple man and a car on the open road, with the occasionaly family homicide. Brad Paisely would be proud.

Jokes aside, still easily one of the most realistic and grimy serial killer portrayals I've ever seen.

Also I know Henry is like evil and stuff, but Michael Rooker was a shokeshow in the 80s, goddamn.

Karo - So this is a slice of life about serial murderers, which... works better then you would expect?

All too often in horror movies the killers are just mindless monsters, unknowable and inhuman, who hide behind their masks and skulk in the shadows. Not Henry. No, he is portrayed as an undeniably human character who while still very evil doesn't just turn into a cartoonish heel to boo and hiss at. Nor does it throw a bunch of softballs and make him an antihero the way Dexter does. Henry is a true murderer rather than some noble vigilante, the audience is forced to reconcile his humanity with his deeds and maybe actually use their brain cells for critical thinking once in their life.

While the ending is not unexpected, I would much rather have it be implied that this would be Becky's eventual fate rather than him just sawing her to pieces the very next day. The movie does characterize Henry as a horrible person, but not as one completely lacking in all self control the way Otis is. It just seems weird for him to go and off Becky immediately for no apparent reason other than 'well he's a serial killer', thereby burning away all the goodwill that had been built up to this point. Sigh.

Still a very good movie, though.

Plasmabeam - Brilliant. A nasty, honest, and compelling story that explores three well-drawn characters and their horrible choices. One of the best surprises on this list.

Evilordexdeath - If the point of horror movies is to scare you, then at least for me, the ones with the more realistic villains have an advantage. As terrifying as it would be to imagine the creature from The Thing coming into contact with human society (and how quickly it would probably wipe us out, as the film suggests,) any nightmares about The Thing can be quelled by remembering that it isn't real, and that it would be so dangerous precisely because it was made up by filmmakers to be as threatening to human beings as possible. So Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer definitely stands out on a list that's mostly full of really goofy supernatural horror stories, where the few that are based on real human relationships, like say The Shining and Possession, are still built around metaphors of the supernatural. This movie is a lot more raw than that, filled with drawn out and disturbing scenes of two killers doing things like breaking into a couple's home and then torturing and murdering them, along with their teenage son, while recording it on VHS to then rewatch it together at home. What makes it more disturbing is that the film makes a point of humanizing both of them in certain scenes, in between the incredibly cruel and violent acts they commit on random people. Killers like this could exist, and in fact they are based on a pair of real life serial killers although what happens in this movie is pretty damn different from the actual facts of their case. I used to have nightmares about people breaking into my home when I lived alone, and I think for me this is the most frightening, (though "disturbing" is really the better
word), film on the list. But I don't really think the point of horror movies is to scare or disturb you as much as possible. People ultimately go to horror media for the same reasons as most others - either they want to have fun or they want the work to say something about life. I don't think I'd want to watch this movie again. It's definitely not fun and it's not the most meaningful, but it does have a certain amount of strength in the characterization and an effectively haunting ending.

Lightning - How about them bears? / Fuck the bears.

The 1980s was a time when, following the 1970s, serial killers were very much on the public consciousness similar to how they are now. I think generally there is a real risk of media glorifying serial killers, and it remains a subgenre which has a lot of concern around it, especially when there is a real subject involved, which is the case here although somewhat obfuscated. To be honest I was a little apprehensive going into this as I find that serial killer media can be exploitative and this looked like it might be a bit too unpleasant.

To my surprise, I found this to be an absolutely gripping film. Michael Rooker gives an incredible turn here and its stunning that this was pretty much his first role, he seems almost exactly like he is today. The film does not dwell too much on the violence until its shocking denouement, which just makes it even more impactful. The cinematography gives the film not just a grimy feel but also makes it feel like you are looking in on something real in an almost voyeuristic sense.

This is a film that leaves you feeling almost as bad as possible but you never want to look away. This all culminates in a shocking ending which you still always know is coming eventually. The film feels like it has a grim inevitability about it but it still doesnt lose its power.

4/5

Bitto - Rating: C+

The three main characters: Henry, Otis, and Becky are interesting to watch. Good, because we spend a lot of time with them. Henry and Otis in particular make a captivating pairing and it makes you think about who is the worse of the two. To me, it's generally Otis because adding sexuality and perversion just makes all the killings feel more grotesque, but I can see an argument for Henry. Becky is really interesting; though, I really cannot believe she has no idea about any of the murders going on. I honestly thought Becky and Henry might actually become a couple at the end, which does a great job of selling their relationship. Of course, once the radio plays, it becomes clear that, no, Henry never had any feelings towards Becky and wanted to kill her too. The ending is haunting, too.

Fortybelowsummer - A lot of movies are described as gritty but watching Henry is about as comfortable as rolling around naked in a burlap sack filled with sand. Theres no artsy polish here, everything from the settings to the performances are stripped down to the bare bones, creating, unquestionably, one of the most disturbing viewing experiences that there is. This isnt your Freddy, or your Chucky where you can watch the carnage yet still feel a certain sense of glee. Its just a grainy, nasty time spent with a character based on a real-life serial killer whos a bona fide dead-behind- the-eyes psychopath. Part of what makes it so effective is that we generally see just the aftermath of Henrys work, and he does treat murderin like its his job. The exception of course is the home invasion scene which is probably the most shocking moment in all of our movies. One of the best, no frills viewing experiences Ive had.

Seginustemple - I love how different this is stylistically than most of the other seletions - slow, serious, and deliberate. Long takes, lots of space in the dialogue, measured pacing with a painful build of tension. There's a lo-fi, gritty aesthetic to all it that feels more like a 70's film. The tableaux of victims with synth swells are chilling, I would say some of the few truly successful uses of electronic music on the list. Michael Rooker is totally unnerving in the lead role, and the final on-screen kill is one of the most gut-wrenching I've seen. There's a true crime backing to it that adds a lot of weight, although I would note that most of the Henry Lee Lucas murders were later deemed to be false confessions. This is one of those movies that's really well-made but one watch is about all you can stomach.

Snake - An unflinching portrayal of violence, the film doesn't shy away from the brutality of Henry's crimes, but also avoids reveling in it. The violence serves a purpose, further amplified by the film's documentary-style cinematography, which lends a sense of authenticity and immediacy to the horrific events unfolding. Rooker's performance is a masterclass in understated menace. He portrays Henry not as a monster, but as a deeply disturbed individual devoid of empathy or remorse. His flat affect and casual brutality are far more unsettling than any over-the-top theatrics. It is not an easy watch to say the least, but as a raw, unflinching portrayal of evil, its one of the most effective in the genre.

Jcgamer107 - 6/10

Rockus - What sets this apart from a lot of other films on this list is the straight forward matter-of-fact depiction of the violence, making it obviously seem more realistic than a heightened 80s slasher and thus making it all the more frightening because it could happen right down the street. The fact that its inspired by real events and a real serial killer is no surprise. The writing is kind of thin though but its carried by Michael Rookers undeniable great performance. Its almost unbelievable that this is his feature film debut because its like the work you would expect from a seasoned veteran performer.

Inviso - Apparently this was semi-based on a real guy? I guess that makes sense, because I feel like if you were creating a fictional serial killer in a movie, you would at least try to give them some sort of compelling personality, or maybe make them do things that induced excitement. Instead, this is just a really dull movie about a bunch of dull, white trash characters doing very stereotypical white trash things (see: incest with a guy who winds up hitting on and trying to rape his sister). Otis is loud and obnoxious, which makes him more INTERESTING than Harry, but hes also aggressively scummy, and every moment hes on-screen is him being the biggest asshole imaginable. Henry seems disarming by comparison, despite murdering his way throughout the movie in a way that never shows any consequences (which almost makes the killing feel pointless, rather than frightening). I dont knowthere were just no stakes to this movie, and no one was charming or likeable or anything like that to warrant praise.

In addition to the MCU I also know Rooker for Tombstone, which I liked a lot.

Absolutely wild that this is Rooker's first film debut. He does such a great job. I also like Tom Towles' performance a lot.

I don't know if I would call this an art film, but it's definitely going for a vibe that most people would be turned off to and it nails it.

To me an actual art film is a lot more esoteric. I think an art film counterpart to Henry would be The House That Jack Built.

Imbaffled by the write-ups for this one.

Banality of evil and all that. I agree that Rooker kills it for it being his first film role.

Stuck with guessing Possession for next.

Banality is the lamest Mortal Kombat finisher

Sticking with Videodrome.

Oh yeah, I'll continue with Videodrome.

I'll stay on Nightmare on Elm Street

Seginustemple posted...

Banality is the lamest Mortal Kombat finisher

When you don't want to look up how to do the fatality so you just punch them in the face.

I'm sticking with Beetlejuice

Honestly, I thought Predator was a top 5 lock but I guess 9 isn't far off. It's such a well-crafted crowdpleaser with every department bringing their A-game

I'm still guessing Posession

Guessing Possession again, but it seems like whenever I go back to guessing one of the movies I want out, instead I lose something I liked. Here's hoping that trend ends.

Hey Snake, I was reading the planning topic from January and it was suggestion that you were planning to host a War Movies topic sometime in the future, were you thinking of/planning to include either The Battle of Algiers (1966) or Come and See (1985)? I am trying to decide if I should add them to my list for the Art Films ranking or not.

O and on a similar note, are there any plans to do a sci-fi ranking or can I have 2001?

I was thinking of Come and See but not The Battle of Algiers.

Ah okay, in that case I think I'll leave Come and See off my list and I would encourage you to include it if we end up doing War Films because I feel it is an extremely great and important example of one of those!

Agreed! When I was first making the war list (quite a few years ago) I had not seen it or really didn't even know much about it but now... yeah... it feels like a must

Rockus wins, the rest of you lose. I'm building a new casino and naming it Possession.

VEGAS ODDSBOARD:
+550 Possession (1981)
+650 Videodrome (1983)
+700 Beetlejuice (1988)
+850 A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
+900 The Fly (1986)
+2000 The Shining (1980)
+2000 The Thing (1982)

Current Leaderboard:
1) Bitto $5000 (Hellraiser 900, Poltergeist 2000,Creepshow 650, Tetsuo: The Iron Man 600, Sleepaway Camp 650)
2) Johnbobb $4650 (Hellraiser 900, Re-Animator 600, The Changeling 2000, Friday the 13th 500, Sleepaway Camp 650)
3) Exdeath $3900 (Evil Dead II 900, Re-Animator 600, Creepshow 650, Friday the 13th 500, Killer Klowns From Outer Space 600, Sleepaway Camp 650)
4) Inviso $3850 (Re-Animator 600, Gremlins 850, Creepshow 650, Killer Klowns From Outer Space 600, Sleepaway Camp 650, Basket Case 500)
5) Lightning $3300 (Christine 800 The Changeling 200, Creepshow 650, Friday the 13th 500, Sleepaway Camp 650, Basket Case 500)
6) Seginus $2550 (Fright Night 700, Phenomena 1000, An American Werewolf in London 200, Sleepaway Camp 650)
7) rockus $1350 (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 700, Creepshow 650)
8) jcgamer $1200 (An American Werewolf in London 200, Tetsuo: The Iron Man 600, Killer Klowns From Outer Space 600)
9) fortybelow $1050 (Gremlins 850, Poltergeist 200)
10) Karo $650 (Sleepaway Camp 650)

The House Won On:

• +1000 Pet Sematary (1989)
• +1000 Prince of Darkness (1987)
• +2000 Childs Play (1988)
• +2000 The Lost Boys (1987)
• +1250 The Dead Zone (1983)
• +1100 Predator (1987)

7. Videodrome (1983 / 147 points)
Directed / Written by: David Cronenberg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/e/e7a64162.jpg
Why Its Significant - Videodrome explores the merging of flesh and technology, with hallucinations manifesting as physical growths and technological implants. Its central theme revolves around the manipulative power of media. The mysterious Videodrome signal not only bombards viewers with violent content but also alters their perceptions and even controls their minds. In the age of social media and targeted advertising, the film's message about the potential dangers of media consumption feels more relevant than ever. Videodrome eerily predicted the rise of the 24-hour news cycle and our constant bombardment with information and explores the desensitization to violence and the blurring of lines between reality and entertainment. Today, with our constant connection to screens and the overwhelming amount of content available, Videodrome seems like a cautionary tale come true. Videodrome's impact can be seen in countless horrors that followed - some of the most notable being Tetsuo: The Iron Man on this very list being one such direct offspring, the Ring books and films, Pulse (for some reason Videodrome influenced a lot of Japanese media in particular), & the Black Mirror TV series.

The Rankers
Johnbobb - 2
Plasmabeam - 2
Evilordexdeath - 3
Karo - 3
Rockus - 3
Snake - 3
Jcgamer107 - 14
Bitto - 17
Seginustemple - 17
Fortybelowsummer - 19
Lightning - 19
Mythiot - 20
Inviso - 25

Johnbobb - https://i.imgur.com/HWS3i7n.gif

Plasmabeam - The best surprise on this list. Feels like a Black Mirror episode that was written in the darkest corners of hell (or Pittsburghtake your pick). I had never heard of Videodrome till now, and Ill be rewatching it ASAP.

Evilordexdeath - Starting out with what could be read as an examination of TV brainrot whose themes have only become more relevant with the advent of the internet, this film pretty quickly spirals into a narrative of hallucinations and secret conspiracies whose true meaning I wouldn't try too hard to grasp. It's fun to watch and well-constructed, with nice payoffs like James Woods hiding a gun in his chussy in what appears to be a fever dream only to take it out and use later on, and the inscrutable narrative with its potential questions about how much was part of the film's reality and how much was hallucination provides intrigue that makes it amusing to think about after you've watched, but there is a part of me that feels like the conspiracy narrative ends up being mostly meaningless while the initial premise could've delivered more ~~~substance~~~. And that's okay, art is supposed to be a sensory and emotional experience so ~~~substance~~~ isn't necessarily everything, and I think this film works very well as that type of experience - the ending is probably the sequence I've been most haunted by after watching all these movies - but still that's what's keeping it from quite breaking into my top 2.

Karo - Video pirates encounter a TV broadcast that causes mass hallucinations and loss of touch with reality of its victims. By that I mean one other than Fox News.

The protagonist's search for the source of the program leads him down some strange paths, such as turning in to a human VCR and having sex with his television set.

The film carries a sense of innovation and novelty that is rarely seen in the movies of the decade, and its plot about the effects of media manipulation in the populace before the advent of the internet and 24 hour news cycle was very very ahead of its time.

It is very disturbing and thought provoking, and although it is indeed very weird it manages to avoid the aura of silliness that plagues so many of these movies.

Rockus - Another great David Cronenberg body horror picture. A surreal nightmarish fever dream on television, and by extension other modern screen media, in controlling and shaping us. Constantly visually dynamic and visceral. Like a number of horror films of the era, Possession and Hellraiser included, its themes and ideas are layered in complex ways that it might require multiple viewings to get to everything it has to say. It just might be the quintessential David Cronenberg film. Another masterpiece.

Snake - Videodrome is a sensory overload, a waking nightmare that burrows into your brain and won't let go. James Woods delivers a performance that's electric as Max Renn, a sleazy TV executive hungry for the next shock sensation. Debbie Harry, a surprising but mesmerizing addition to the film, a captivating presence who adds yet another layer to the film's exploration of sex, violence, and the blurred lines of perception.

The lines between reality and TV blur, with Max experiencing hallucinations that are both horrifying and strangely titillating. Cronenberg doesn't shy away from the grotesque but it's not just about shock value. Videodrome is a brutal satire on our insatiable appetite for violence, a prophecy of our media-saturated world. We're bombarded by negativity, and Cronenberg asks the terrifying question: is the line between entertainment and manipulation even there anymore? Videodrome (in film) isn't just entertainment; it's a weaponized broadcast designed to manipulate viewers. It critiques the idea of a passive audience, suggesting the media actively shapes our thoughts and actions.

By the time Cronenberg's trademark body horror comes into play, were already disoriented, suitably off-put, and confused, but these elements take the film to even higher and more frightening levels. Max putting the gun inside himself, the distorted and contorted flesh-like TV set that pulls Max inside, witnessing his body develop strange growths and orifices, its all suitably disgusting and portrayed with the grim desperation it deserves. I feel the gun becomes an extension of his body, pulsing and throbbing with a life of its own, is is pure Cronenbergian brilliance and I think the single best thing hes ever done effects-wise.

This is a film that feels ahead of its time, a chilling glimpse into a future where technology becomes an extension of ourselves, and the very fabric of reality can be warped by unseen forces. The score by Howard Shore is a perfect complement, a throbbing, unsettling soundscape that mirrors Max's descent into madness.

Videodrome isn't just a film; it's an experience that left an indelible mark on my psyche. Long live the new flesh.

Jcgamer107 - 6/10

Bitto - Rating: C

I wasn't born in the 80s, so I have no idea if this movie is prophetic or not. But it's interesting to watch now. It's actually kinda boring because I have such a clear idea of what this looks like in modern times so the plot was really predictable. I really like the overall tone of seduction in this movie, probably most highlighted by the video and the TV literally moaning and pulsating. I think the "long live the new flesh" part is really interesting, but it doesn't really get much time to breathe. I also really do not like the programming aspect where Videodrome starts to hijack and control Max. It just felt...inconsistent with the rest of the plot. Max going and killing his other board members with no intervention is also completely absurd.

Seginustemple - An imaginative and bold critique of media desensitization and depravity packaged into a biomechanical fever dream. Head goes into the tv, tape goes into the gut, you become what you consume. It's a rickety construction plot-wise but the themes and ideas appear to grow more relevant with age, as we find ourselves in an ever more media-fixated and gun-crazed culture. There's one weakness I gotta pick on though, I hate to say it but I think the great Howard Shore phoned it in on this one. It sounds like a first take noodling on a keyboard along with the footage instead of a composed score, and knowing how good he can be (see: The Fly) makes me wish this one had a little more going on in that department.

Fortybelowsummer - Death to Videodrome! Long live the new flesh! So, which one is more anti television: this or Poltergeist? I love how bizarre, surreal, and unpredictable this movie is. You never really know whats real or whats a hallucination. Including, I learned recently, Debbie Harrys character. Speaking of her, I dont generally comment on actresses appearances because its usually irrelevant but man she almost makes you want to dabble in a little S&M. The character is great and really embodies the theme of sex, violence, and entertainment as a dangerous concoction. The visual effects are awesome and the grotesque body transformations are classic Cronenberg (gotta love the literal hand gun). Its not just gross-out stuff, as it philosophically explores mans relationship with violence and the media. Really, its more relevant than ever as society has become so intertwined with technology, having the ability to call up and engage in all of our darkest pleasures at a whim. Although it gets a little slow and the ending is pretty bad (I believe they started filming without even knowing how it would end) its still a fun, weird, thought-provoking viewing experience thats one of a kind.

Lightning - Long live the new flesh.

Melding psychological intrigue with gruesome body horror, Videodrome is one of the more famously confusing horror films of the 1980s. It does manage to effectively mix Cronenbergs skills at suspense with his famed body horror and effects prowess, though the end result is maybe a little bit too messy and abstract to be truly top level stuff.

There are many different ways you can interpret this film, both in terms of its themes and the events happening onscreen. How much of this is real? For instance, you wonder if the whole film after he puts the headset on is not real as you never see him take the headset off, but also the unreality is seeping in before he puts it on and even that might be an invention of the mind. Are we seeing a vague recounting of events that is partially but not fully the truth? For instance it could be that he really does lose his mind and kill himself but the physical transformations and the melding of technology and flesh are not real at all. Ultimately the film lets you decide. Like another Cronenberg body horror film on this list this is a film concerned with what modern technology is doing to our bodies and to our minds, and in this also critiquing the culture of the time. However, because of the slightly jumbled, often jarring storytelling I think this is less effective at it.

The actual base elements of the film work well however. James Woods is not a good person but performs well here, the effects are suitably disturbing and the video elements are quite effective in their criticism of our increasing desire to see more and more extreme content. While the film is given when it released criticising video, it is very easy to see this as quite ahead of its time. After all, is this not what the internet has done to large parts of society? This is messy, but very interesting.

3/5

Inviso - I did not understand this movie at all. It somehow manages to come across as preachy and trying to pitch a message (about violence in American media ruining and corrupting the population), yet it does so via a violent movie that barely feels horror-coded, aside from the grotesque body horror of Max Renns transformation into some weird, video-programmed assassin? This feels like an early predecessor to the shock imagery wed later get in the torture porn genre, because so much of this movie revolves around sadomasochism (even before you get to the twisted, horror stuff). I mean, a part of it feels like it carries the same tone as They Live, but just told in a far less fun and far more disturbing fashion. Thats probably what gets it ranked above a few other utterly objectionable movies on this list. But its still very much not good.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/9/95ab00e0.jpg

Outlier
Fortybelowsummer - 203
Inviso - 192
Jcgamer107 - 191
Evilordexdeath - 176
Karo - 151
Johnbobb - 146
Snake - 138
Mythiot - 137
Seginustemple - 134
Bitto - 123
Lightning - 118
Plasmabeam - 115
Rockus - 113

Long live the new outlier

Six top 3 rankings is awesome though, hell yeah just under half of you

Next has to be possession, I mean there's absolutely gotta be no way it isn't

I don't say this maybe as much as I should but it always warms my heart just a little when someone like Karo likes a film like Videodrome. It just makes running the project feel that much more worth it for me.

The last scene is very good, but everything between James Wood being programmed to that last scene just lost my interest. The one good thing is the O'blivion segment where they talk Wood down.

Next one is a tie and Snake said that ties are broken by removing the highest score and the lowest score. I don't know if I buy Possession being even at 142, but I'm fairly sure it would win the tiebreaker anyways. I'll do Beetlejuice.

I would've guessed Possession, but Ditto mentioning that this next one had to get tiebroken via dropping the highest and lowest scores...yeah...no. I'm gonna stick with A Nightmare on Elm Street.