Nicolas Winding Refn‘s first feature directorial effort in ten years, a serial killer thriller called Her Private Hell, has secured a summer release date, with NEON planning to give the film a “moderate release in 800 to 1,200 theaters” on July 24th. As that date draws near, a full trailer has dropped online and can be seen in the embed above.

JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray had the chance to watch the film at the Cannes Film Festival and wrote a 4/10 review that can be read at THIS LINK.

Who’s in Her Private Hell?

Sophie Thatcher (Companion), Havana Rose Liu (No Exit), Charles Melton (Warfare), Dougray Scott (Mission: Impossible II), Kristine Froseth (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser), Diego Calva (Babylon), Aoi Yamada (Perfect Days), Shioli Kutsuna (Deadpool & Wolverine), and Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car) star in the film.

What is Her Private Hell about?

Deadline heard that the movie has myriad storylines, but fires up in a metropolis future where actresses are gathering at a posh hotel where they’re set to make a Barberella-like movie. A heinous killer known as Leather Man is going around the city taking the lives of women. As Bumbray described it, Her Private Hell is set in a future world enveloped by a strange mist. A young actress (Sophie Thatcher) stars in a sci-fi movie for her enigmatic father (Dougray Scott), whose wife (Havana Rose Liu) is her former lover. Meanwhile, an American soldier (Charles Melton) searches the neon-lit streets for his missing daughter, who has been abducted by the mysterious “Leather Man.”

Here’s the official synopsis: When a mysterious mist engulfs a futuristic metropolis, unleashing a deadly and elusive entity, a troubled young woman searches for her father. Her quest collides with an American GI on a harrowing odyssey to rescue his daughter from hell.

The film has been rated R for some strong/bloody violence, sexual content, and language. Refn directed from a screenplay he wrote with Esti Giordani, whose credits include the TV shows The Skinny, I Love Dick, Room 104, Vida, and Stick.

Although ten years have passed since Refn’s previous movie, Neon Demon, he has been keeping busy outside of the feature world. In addition to making made two streaming noir series (Prime Video’s 2019 Too Old to Die Young and Netflix’s 2022 Copenhagen Cowboy), he has also been a brand filmmaker for Prada, making shorts like 2022’s Touch of Crude.

The director is best known for making the 2011 film Drive. His other credits include Pusher, Bleeder, Fear X, Pusher II, Pusher III, Bronson, Valhalla Rising, and Only God Forgives. He was also one of the many directors who contributed to the “surreal and psychedelic journey” known as Circus Maximus. Although none of the projects he has made since Drive have been able to match the success or popularity of that film, he has made sure to remain a director worth keeping an eye on.

Are you looking forward to Her Private Hell? Check out the trailer, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Back in 2006, writer/director Guillermo del Toro brought the world the dark fantasy film Pan’s Labyrinth – and it turned out to be one of his most popular films, not only enjoying box office success but also racking up multiple Academy Award nominations and taking home the Oscars for Art Direction / Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, and Best Makeup. To celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary, Cineverse has acquired the North American distribution rights and will be releasing Pan’s Labyrinth theatrically throughout the United States and Canada in 3D, 4K, and premium HDR by Barco on October 9. To promote the re-release, a new trailer has dropped online today and can be viewed in the embed above.

What is Pan’s Labyrinth about?

Pan’s Labyrinth takes place in 1944, in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. Young Ofelia and her pregnant mother have been brought to live in the countryside, where her brutal stepfather Captain Vidal’s job is to wipe out the remaining rebels camped in the local forest. Nearby, in a hidden labyrinth, Ofelia meets an ageless Faun, who tells her that she is really a princess from an enchanted world. He gives her three tasks which she must complete in order to reclaim her rightful place. As her mother’s failing health threatens the life of her unborn child, Ofelia undertakes a quest to complete the Faun’s tasks. 

Ivana Baquero, Maribel Verdu, Doug Jones, and Sergi Lopez star.

What has been said about the re-release?

Del Toro provided the following statement: “Pan’s Labyrinth turns 20 years old and in Cineverse we have found the perfect partner to make it live again on the big screen and in new and improved home presentations. Cineverse is committed and bold, and their track record for reaching a maximum audience is magnificent. Together we will reconnect the generations that have shared the film through the years and long to experience it theatrically again.”

Cineverse Chief Motion Pictures Officer Yolanda Macias added, “Partnering with Guillermo del Toro and his team around this masterpiece is a dream come true. We can’t wait to bring it back to theaters for fans to enjoy it as they did 20 years ago, and to find exciting and creative ways to introduce the film to new audiences who will be discovering this amazing cinematic story for the first time.”

And Cineverse Chairman and CEO Chris McGurk said, “Guillermo del Toro is a filming genius. I have always been in awe of his creative vision and could not be more pleased to have Cineverse partnering with him to bring Pan’s Labyrinth back to film audiences in new premium theatrical formats to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary.“

Are you a fan of Pan’s Labyrinth, and are you glad to hear that it’s returning to theatres for its anniversary? Take a look at the new trailer, then let us know by leaving a comment below. 

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Zach Cregger, writer/director of Barbarian and Weapons, is directing a new Resident Evil movie for Sony, aiming for a September 18, 2026 theatrical release. Cregger has said that his movie will be “obedient to the lore” of the Resident Evil video games, but won’t be about the characters from the games, because their stories have already been told in game form. Now, during an interview with Empire, Cregger said the film follows an idiot through a gauntlet. 

What is this Resident Evil about?

Cregger wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten (Army of the Dead) and the story apparently harkens back to the original Capcom game’s horror roots. Here’s the logline that leaked a while back: Bryan, a laid-back organ courier, is sent on a late-night delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital. En route through a snowy mountain road, he accidentally hits a strange woman with his car. She survives—but something is very wrong. As he tries to help, Bryan stumbles into a full-blown outbreak involving horrifying tentacle-based mutations and bio-engineered monstrosities. 

And here’s the official synopsis: From the mind of visionary filmmaker Zach Cregger (Weapons, Barbarian) comes a thrilling — and terrifying — reinvention of the Resident Evil franchise. In an all-new story, Resident Evil follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.

Who’s in the cast?

Weapons cast member Austin Abrams has the lead role and is joined in the cast by Paul Walter Hauser (Cobra Kai), Zach Cherry (Severance), Johnno Wilson (I Love That for You), and the previously mentioned Kali Reis. Cherry is said to be playing a scientist at a hospital and Reis is set to play an ex-military character that was initially written for a male actor.

What has been said about Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil?

Cregger, a big fan of the Resident Evil video games who has never watched any of the previous movies, has said, “It’s gonna be not at all like Barbarian and Weapons. It’s going to be a rock ’em, sock ’em… it’s for me to play. And turn my brain off and just make an… Evil Dead II… get crazy with the camera. … It’s a weird, fun, wild story. This movie follows a person from point A to point B. It’s like a real time journey, where you just go deeper and deeper into the depths of Hell.“ The filmmaker was given carte blanche to do whatever he wanted with the property.

Constantin Film is producing and co-financing the film. Constantin, Vertigo Entertainment, and PlayStation Productions are also producing. Here’s the list of producers: Robert Kulzer, Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, Miri Yoon, Carter Swan, and Asad Qizilbash. Executive producers: Oliver Berben, Victor Hadida, Richard Wright, and Robert Bernacci. Nicole Brown is overseeing the project for Sony’s Columbia Pictures. Lee has said that Cregger is delivering “a roller coaster ride of nonstop action.“

Speaking with Empire, Cregger said, “They were kind enough to hear me out and let me run with it. It’s really a Zach Cregger movie that just happens to be a Resident Evil movie. The concept here is that we’re following an idiot. Not that he’s stupid, but he’s not your typical game character, with no combat skills whatsoever and completely inept at survival. Bryan is very much an everyman who happens to be burdened with this kind of sacred mission that’s going to take him into the heart of everything. It’s kind of like Frodo going into Mordor.“

He added, “It feels like one gigantic sequence. Things pop off about five minutes in and it basically stays like that until the end. What I love about the games is that you move from set-piece to set-piece. Every location has a unique challenge. So again, I’m borrowing from the games directly in that rhythm, where you’re just running through a gauntlet.“

Are you looking forward to Cregger’s Resident Evil? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Alex

Looking for underrated 1980s horror movies beyond the usual classics? While films like A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Shining, and Friday the 13th dominate discussions of 1980s horror, dozens of overlooked gems remain hidden from mainstream audiences. From cult slashers and supernatural thrillers to anthology horror and creature features, these are ten of the most underrated horror movies of the 1980s that deserve rediscovery.

What Makes a Horror Movie Underrated?

For this list, “underrated” doesn’t necessarily mean forgotten. Some of these films developed cult followings over the years, while others were overshadowed by bigger releases from the decade. Factors include:

• Limited box office success
• Mixed reviews upon release
• Competition from major horror franchises
• Cult reputations that developed later
• Lack of mainstream recognition today

The 10 Most Underrated Horror Movies of the 1980s

• 1. Night of the Comet – 1984 – Horror Comedy
• 2. The Keep – 1983 – Supernatural Horror
• 3. Dead & Buried – 1981 – Mystery Horror
• 4. Inferno – 1980 – Italian Horror
• 5. Silver Bullet – 1985 – Werewolf Horror
• 6. Curtains – 1983 – Slasher
• 7. Deadly Friend – 1986 – Sci-Fi Horror
• 8. Creepshow 2 – 1987 – Anthology Horror
• 9. April Fool’s Day – 1986 – Slasher
• 10. Shocker – 1989 – Horror Comedy

#1 – NIGHT OF THE COMET (1984)

• Release Year: 1984
• Director: Thom Eberhardt
• Starring: Catherine Mary Stewart, Kelli Maroney, Robert Beltran
• Subgenre: Horror Comedy, Sci-Fi Horror, Post-Apocalyptic Horror
• Why It’s Underrated: A unique blend of horror, comedy, action, and science fiction that was years ahead of similar female-led genre stories.
• Recommended For Fans Of: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawn of the Dead, Zombieland, The Last Man on Earth

If this movie didn’t exist, we likely would never have gotten Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Long before sarcastic, resourceful young heroines became the norm, Night of the Comet already had them. After a mysterious comet wipes out most of humanity, two sisters find themselves battling zombies, sinister scientists, and the collapse of civilization with equal parts humor and determination. It’s part Adventures in Babysitting, part Dawn of the Dead, but it somehow blends those wildly different ingredients into something that feels completely original. While it wasn’t a blockbuster, the film has earned a loyal cult following thanks to its endlessly quotable dialogue, charming leads, and unmistakable 1980s style. If you’re looking for a horror movie that’s scary, funny, and surprisingly influential, this overlooked gem absolutely deserves a spot on your Halloween watchlist.

#2 – THE KEEP (1983)

• Release Year: 1983
• Director: Michael Mann
• Starring: Scott Glenn, Gabriel Byrne, Jürgen Prochnow, Ian McKellen
• Subgenre: Supernatural Horror, Gothic Horror, War Horror
• Why It’s Underrated: Overshadowed by Michael Mann’s later work, this atmospheric supernatural thriller remains one of the most ambitious horror films of the decade.
• Recommended For Fans Of: The Exorcist, Prince of Darkness, The Ninth Gate, Pan’s Labyrinth

Michael Mann is best known for crime classics like Heat and Collateral, but horror fans shouldn’t overlook this ambitious supernatural thriller. Set during World War II, The Keep follows a group of Nazi soldiers who awaken an ancient evil hidden within the walls of a mysterious Romanian fortress. Featuring Scott Glenn, Gabriel Byrne, Ian McKellen, and Jürgen Prochnow, the cast alone makes it worth seeking out. The movie is truly weird, occasionally uneven, and famously troubled during production, but that’s also part of its appeal. Mann combines gothic horror, war drama, fantasy, innovative special effects, and dreamlike visuals into something unlike almost any other horror film of the decade. While it never achieved the reputation of his later work, The Keep remains one of the most fascinating cult films of the 1980s and boasts an eerie atmosphere and haunting imagery. This is a film connoisseur’s horror movie.

#3 – DEAD & BURIED (1981)

• Release Year: 1981
• Director: Gary Sherman
• Starring: James Farentino, Melody Anderson, Jack Albertson
• Subgenre: Mystery Horror, Small-Town Horror, Supernatural Horror
• Why It’s Underrated: Features a genuinely surprising story, unsettling atmosphere, and practical effects work from Stan Winston.
• Recommended For Fans Of: The Fog, In the Mouth of Madness, The Wicker Man, Phantasm

This is one of those movies that horror fans love recommending because so many people have never heard of it. Written by Alien screenwriter Dan O’Bannon and featuring early practical effects from Stan Winston, Dead & Buried begins as a small-town murder mystery before gradually transforming into something stranger. The less you know going in, the better, because the film’s biggest surprises are part of what makes it such a rewarding experience. Director Gary Sherman creates an atmosphere that feels equal parts H.P. Lovecraft nightmare and John Carpenter suspense thriller, with a deeply unsettling mood. Some aspects of the film may be dated, but the practical effects, haunting imagery, and memorable finale remain effective. If you enjoy slow-burning horror mysteries with creepy payoffs, this is one you shouldn’t miss.

#4 – INFERNO (1980)

• Release Year: 1980
• Director: Dario Argento
• Starring: Leigh McCloskey, Irene Miracle, Eleonora Giorgi
• Subgenre: Italian Horror, Supernatural Horror, Giallo
• Why It’s Underrated: Often overshadowed by Suspiria, despite featuring some of Argento’s most imaginative visuals and haunting set pieces.
• Recommended For Fans Of: Suspiria, Deep Red, The Beyond, Opera

Mention Dario Argento and most horror fans immediately think of Suspiria, but I’d argue Inferno deserves just as much attention. The second installment in Argento’s “Three Mothers” trilogy trades straightforward storytelling for surreal imagery, dream logic, and unforgettable visual style. It’s the kind of movie that feels more like wandering through a nightmare than watching a traditional horror film. There are moments of shocking gore, but what really sticks with you are the locations, colors, and constant feeling that something isn’t quite right. Mainstream audiences may be unfamiliar with Argento’s work beyond his most famous titles, making Inferno one of the great overlooked entries in Italian horror cinema. This creepy mystery thriller may be Argento’s best movie.

#5 – SILVER BULLET (1985)

• Release Year: 1985
• Director: Daniel Attias
• Starring: Corey Haim, Gary Busey, Megan Follows
• Subgenre: Werewolf Horror, Coming-of-Age Horror
• Why It’s Underrated: One of the strongest Stephen King adaptations that rarely receives the same attention as his most famous films.
• Recommended For Fans Of: Stranger Things, The Howling, Stand by Me, Fright Night

Stephen King adaptations don’t get much more overlooked than Silver Bullet. Based on King’s novella Cycle of the Werewolf, the film stars Corey Haim as a teenager determined to uncover the identity of a werewolf terrorizing his small town, with Gary Busey as his endearingly supportive drunken Uncle Red. Silver Bullet succeeds because it gives audiences characters they genuinely care about. The mystery unfolds at an engaging pace, the creature effects hold up surprisingly well, and the coming-of-age elements give the story emotional weight alongside the scares. It’s easy to see why many fans point to this movie as an influence on later projects like Stranger Things. Overshadowed by King’s bigger adaptations, Silver Bullet remains one of the best hidden gems in his entire filmography.

#6 – CURTAINS (1983)

• Release Year: 1983
• Director: Richard Ciupka
• Starring: Lesleh Donaldson, John Vernon, Samantha Eggar
• Subgenre: Slasher Horror
• Why It’s Underrated: Features one of the most memorable killer masks and chase sequences in 1980s slasher cinema.
• Recommended For Fans Of: Black Christmas, My Bloody Valentine, Prom Night, Happy Birthday to Me

Canadian slashers rarely get the same attention as their American counterparts, but Curtains has built a cult following over the years. Set around a group of actresses competing for a coveted movie role, the film delivers plenty of familiar slasher ingredients while delivering memorable visuals and suspenseful set pieces. The standout sequence, an ice-skating chase featuring the killer’s unsettling mask, has become one of the most iconic scenes in 1980s horror and got a major shout-out in Black Phone 2. While the story follows a familiar formula, the creepy atmosphere, cool kills, and strong visuals make it more memorable than some better-known slashers from the era. It’s certainly a product of its time, but Curtains is entertaining and surprisingly stylish.

#7 – DEADLY FRIEND (1986)

• Release Year: 1986
• Director: Wes Craven
• Starring: Matthew Labyorteaux, Kristy Swanson, Michael Sharrett
• Subgenre: Sci-Fi Horror, Teen Horror
• Why It’s Underrated: A bizarre but entertaining blend of teenage romance, artificial intelligence, and body horror from Wes Craven.
• Recommended For Fans Of: Weird Science, Frankenstein, Christine, Brainscan

Only Wes Craven could take a premise this bizarre and somehow make it entertaining. Deadly Friend follows a brilliant teenager who attempts to revive his deceased girlfriend using experimental technology and the programming from his beloved robot. It sounds completely ridiculous… and sure enough, the execution is ridiculous, but that’s part of the fun. Mixing science fiction, teen drama, body horror, and dark comedy, the film never settles into one genre for very long. It’s also home to one of the most famously over-the-top death scenes of the entire decade, a moment horror fans still talk about today. Although the movie received mixed reviews and hasn’t aged as well as Craven’s greatest hits, it remains a fascinating curiosity from one of horror’s most influential filmmakers. If you’re looking for something weird, fun, scary, unpredictable, and unmistakably ’80s, Deadly Friend is worth tracking down.

#8 – CREEPSHOW 2 (1987)

• Release Year: 1987
• Director: Michael Gornick
• Starring: George Kennedy, Dorothy Lamour, Tom Wright
• Subgenre: Anthology Horror, Horror Comedy
• Why It’s Underrated: Frequently compared unfavorably to the original Creepshow, despite containing some of the franchise’s most memorable stories.
• Recommended For Fans Of: Tales from the Crypt, Trick ‘r Treat, Cat’s Eye, The Twilight Zone: The Movie

The original Creepshow is rightfully considered one of the greatest horror anthologies ever made, which is probably why its sequel has spent decades living in its shadow. That’s a shame, because Creepshow 2 delivers exactly what anthology fans want: creepy stories, memorable threats, and plenty of practical gore. The film adapts stories inspired by Stephen King and features three wildly different tales, ranging from a terrifying hitchhiker to the unforgettable creature lurking beneath the surface in “The Raft.” While not every segment reaches the heights of the original film, the best moments are genuinely disturbing and have become favorites among horror fans. If you’ve somehow overlooked this sequel because you’ve heard it isn’t as good as the first, it’s worth giving another chance. Creepshow 2 is vastly underrated.

#9 – APRIL FOOL’S DAY (1986)

• Release Year: 1986
• Director: Fred Walton
• Starring: Deborah Foreman, Griffin O’Neal, Deborah Goodrich
• Subgenre: Slasher Horror, Mystery Horror
• Why It’s Underrated: Offers a clever twist on familiar slasher conventions and remains one of the most unique horror films of the decade.
• Recommended For Fans Of: Scream, Happy Death Day, Urban Legend, The House on Sorority Row

Before holiday-themed movies became synonymous with romantic comedies, horror filmmakers were turning nearly every date on the calendar into an excuse for murder. April Fool’s Day arrived near the height of the slasher boom but managed to distinguish itself through a clever premise and an ending that remains one of the genre’s most memorable surprises. A group of college friends gathers at a secluded mansion for a weekend celebration, only to find themselves stalked by a killer. The film isn’t as bloody as many of its contemporaries, but that’s because it relies on mystery, suspense, and misdirection rather than gore. That lighter touch helps it stand apart from the slasher imitators released during the same period. For viewers who enjoy a well-structured whodunit plot with an unforgettable twist, April Fool’s Day deserves far more recognition than it usually receives.

#10 – SHOCKER (1989)

• Release Year: 1989
• Director: Wes Craven
• Starring: Peter Berg, Mitch Pileggi, Michael Murphy
• Subgenre: Slasher Horror, Supernatural Horror, Horror Comedy
• Why It’s Underrated: Often dismissed as an A Nightmare on Elm Street imitation despite featuring creative concepts and memorable kills.
• Recommended For Fans Of: A Nightmare on Elm Street, Fallen, Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, The Hidden

After creating Freddy Krueger, Wes Craven hoped Shocker would launch another horror icon. That never happened, but the movie deserves more credit than it usually gets. Mitch Pileggi plays a serial killer who returns from the electric chair with supernatural powers, leading to an imaginative battle that eventually spills into TV broadcasts. Yes, the film borrows a few ideas from A Nightmare on Elm Street, but Craven injects enough creativity, dark humor, and inventive kills to keep things entertaining from beginning to end. The soundtrack is packed with late-’80s rock, the pacing rarely slows down, and the movie embraces its insanity with goofy enthusiasm. Shocker may not have been the franchise starter Craven envisioned, but as a goofy slice of late-’80s horror, it’s far more fun than its reputation suggests.

Honorable Mentions

• The Changeling (1980)
• Near Dark (1987)
• StageFright (1987)
• The Burning (1981)
• Society (1989)
• The Company of Wolves (1984)
• The Monster Squad (1987)
• House (1985)

Frequently Asked Questions About Underrated 1980s Horror Movies

What is the most underrated horror movie of the 1980s?

There is no single correct answer, but many horror fans consider Night of the Comet one of the most underrated horror movies of the 1980s. The film blends comedy, science fiction, action, and horror into a unique package that was ahead of its time. While it was not a major box office success upon release, it has since developed a devoted cult following and influenced later genre projects featuring strong female protagonists.

Which underrated 1980s horror movies are still scary today?

Several films on this list remain effective decades later because they rely more on atmosphere and suspense than jump scares. Dead & Buried delivers a lingering sense of dread and mystery, while Inferno uses surreal imagery and dreamlike storytelling to create an unsettling experience. The Keep also remains memorable for its eerie setting and supernatural menace.

What is the best underrated Stephen King horror movie?

While films such as The Shining, Carrie, and Misery receive most of the attention, Silver Bullet is often cited as one of the most overlooked Stephen King adaptations. Based on King’s novella Cycle of the Werewolf, the film combines a compelling coming-of-age story with classic monster movie thrills and strong performances from Corey Haim and Gary Busey.

Which underrated 1980s horror movie has the best practical effects?

Dead & Buried is a strong contender thanks to its memorable practical makeup effects and the involvement of legendary special effects artist Stan Winston. Horror fans who appreciate practical effects work from films like The Thing and An American Werewolf in London will find plenty to admire.

What are the best underrated slasher movies of the 1980s?

Curtains and April Fool’s Day stand out among underrated 1980s slashers. Curtains has become famous for its unsettling killer mask and memorable ice-skating sequence, while April Fool’s Day offers a clever twist on familiar slasher conventions. Both films have gained cult followings among genre enthusiasts.

Which underrated 1980s horror movies became cult classics?

Several films on this list have developed cult reputations over the years. Night of the Comet, Curtains, Creepshow 2, and Shocker all attracted larger audiences through home video, cable television, and word of mouth than they did during their original theatrical runs. Today, each enjoys a dedicated fan base.

What is the best underrated werewolf movie of the 1980s?

Silver Bullet remains one of the strongest werewolf films of the decade. Although it is often overshadowed by An American Werewolf in London and The Howling, many horror fans appreciate its blend of mystery, small-town atmosphere, and memorable creature effects.

Which underrated 1980s horror movie is best for fans of Stranger Things?

Night of the Comet and Silver Bullet are both excellent choices for fans of Stranger Things. Each features young protagonists facing extraordinary threats while capturing the distinctive look and feel of 1980s genre entertainment.

What is the best underrated horror anthology movie of the 1980s?

Creepshow 2 is among the most underrated horror anthologies of the decade. While the original Creepshow receives more acclaim, the sequel contains several memorable stories, particularly “The Raft,” which remains one of the most disturbing segments in anthology horror.

Which underrated horror movie from the 1980s has the strangest premise?

Deadly Friend may take that honor. Directed by Wes Craven, the film combines teenage romance, science fiction, artificial intelligence, and horror in a story about a young genius attempting to bring his deceased crush back to life. The result is bizarre, uneven, and unforgettable.

Are there any underrated foreign horror movies from the 1980s?

Yes. Dario Argento’s Inferno is one of the best examples. Part of the director’s “Three Mothers” trilogy, the film showcases the stylish visuals, surreal storytelling, and graphic horror that made Italian genre cinema famous around the world.

Why are so many great 1980s horror movies overlooked today?

Many quality horror films were released during the genre boom of the 1980s, making it difficult for every title to stand out. Major franchises such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Child’s Play dominated popular culture, leaving smaller films to find audiences through home video and later rediscovery.

Which movie on this list is the most influential?

Night of the Comet is arguably the most influential. Its combination of horror, comedy, science fiction, and empowered female leads helped pave the way for later genre projects that blended action and supernatural storytelling, including comparisons often drawn to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Which movie on this list is the most visually impressive?

Inferno and The Keep are both notable for their striking visual styles. Inferno showcases Dario Argento’s trademark use of color and dreamlike imagery, while The Keep combines gothic architecture, supernatural horror, and atmospheric cinematography to create a uniquely haunting experience.

Where should horror fans start with these underrated 1980s movies?

If you are new to the list, start with Night of the Comet, Silver Bullet, and Creepshow 2. These films are highly accessible, entertaining, and representative of several different horror subgenres. Viewers looking for something stranger and more atmospheric should seek out The Keep, Dead & Buried, and Inferno.

The 1980s are often remembered for iconic franchises like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Child’s Play, but those films only scratch the surface of what the decade offered horror fans. Whether you’re looking for supernatural mysteries, slashers, anthology films, werewolf stories, or cult classics, these underrated horror movies prove there are still hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

The post Top 10 Underrated Horror Movies of the 1980s appeared first on JoBlo.

Three years ago, the day after we shared the news that Deep Blue Sea director Renny Harlin would be directing the shark thriller Deep Water for producer Gene Simmons, it was announced that director Jeff Wadlow – whose previous credits include the 2018 film Truth or Dare and the 2020 horror version of Fantasy Island – would be taking the helm of a shark thriller called The Devil’s Mouth. Deep Water released at the start of May, and now it has been revealed that The Devil’s Mouth will be released at the end of July. The film will be streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video as of July 29th – and exactly one month out from that release date, a trailer has been unveiled. You can watch it in the embed above.

What is The Devil’s Mouth about?

The screenplay for The Devil’s Mouth was written by Aja Gabel and Myung Joh Wesner and was featured on the 2019 Black List, the annual collection of the best unproduced scripts in Hollywood. Back then it was titled Apex and was listed with the following plot: “When old college friends on a trip to Mexico get trapped in an underwater cave system with a bull shark, old tensions and power struggles resurface as they fight to survive.” Later revisions have been made by Wadlow, and the setting has been moved from Mexico to Thailand.

Here’s an old synopsis: Despite a series of storms recently flooding the area, Sara, the planner amongst the partiers, is adamant on continuing with their exploration of the La Boca Del Diablo (The Devil’s Mouth) cenotes – a hauntingly intricate maze of deep underwater caverns. But as they traverse the awe-inspiring flooded caves and tunnels, looming in the depths below is a silent, swift, and bloodthirsty trapped outsider – a true apex predator. The group’s only hope for survival is to set aside their petty differences and work together to find their way out. But even then, do they stand a chance?

Kathryn Newton (Ready or Not 2: Here I Come) and Lana Condor (X-Men: Apocalypse) star in the film, which is coming our way from Amazon MGM and Lionsgate.

The Devil’s Mouth is officially rated PG-13 for violent content, bloody images, some language, and suggestive material. Will you be watching this movie next month? Take a look at the trailer, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post The Devil’s Mouth trailer: Kathryn Newton, Lana Condor shark thriller gets a July release date appeared first on JoBlo.

Over the last week, there has been a lot of conversation about A24 striking an AI research partnership with Google to develop new AI-powered technologies for filmmakers, but now A24 is working to turn the focus back to their movies by announcing that they will be re-releasing director Kane Parsons‘ hit horror film Backrooms on July 3rd – but this isn’t just the same thing all over again. Variety reports that this re-release is called Backrooms: Everything Must Go Edition and it adds 15 minutes of bonus footage into the mix. This bonus footage, a “theatrically exclusive post-credit,” will boost the film’s running time to 126 minutes.

Who’s in Backrooms?

Backrooms went into production around twelve months ago with Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World) heading up the cast. They’re joined by  Mark Duplass (Creep), Finn Bennett (True Detective), Lukita Maxwell (Shrinking), and Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap).

A24 and Chernin Entertainment are co-financing Backrooms. Patino is producing the film alongside Shawn Levy and Dan Levine of 21 Laps and James Wan and Michael Clear of Atomic Monster. Alayna Glasthal is overseeing the project for Atomic Monster, while the company’s Judson Scott executive produces.

Produced for $10 million, Backrooms has earned more than $330 million worldwide since it was released on May 29th, making it the highest grossing film in A24’s history,

What is Backrooms about?

Backrooms is based on a series of viral videos Parsons released through his YouTube channel Kane Pixels. Deadline previously noted that in the original short, a young filmmaker’s fall into another dimension leaves him wandering through an unsettlingly yellow, empty and labyrinthine office space, which may or may not be home to otherworldly beings. The film’s title and setting draw inspiration from the imagery of a creepypasta (or internet urban legend) published to the website 4chan in 2019. An interview with Parsons on ABC provided the information that his series tells the story of a shadowy organization, called ASYNC, which in the late 1980s opens a portal connecting the real world to The Backrooms.

If you were to splice those videos together they would reach feature length, but the feature version of Backrooms is something entirely new. The screenplay for the feature was written by Will Soodik (Westworld). The film follows a furniture store operator who discovers an endless array of liminal spaces in the store’s basement.

Will you be heading out to see Backrooms: Everything Must Go Edition and its 15 minutes of bonus footage? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Cody

The What Happened to This Horror Movie episode on Hatchet II was written by Jaime Vasquez:

When Hatchet II hit theaters, it crashed and burned. Writer and director Adam Green set out to make a movie for the fans who had turned the original Hatchet into a cult hit, with one simple goal: give them more of what made the first film special. Sounds easy enough, right? But theaters and some moviegoers treated it less like a celebration and more like something to avoid.

Controversial for its excessive gore, the sequel reunited most of the original cast and crew, though with some notable exceptions. Why was actress Tamara Feldman replaced by scream queen Danielle Harris? Why did a crew member walk off set shortly after filming began? And how did exhibitors and rental companies react to the film’s extreme violence?

Grab an assortment of weapons and some bug spray. We’re headed to Honey Island Swamp to hunt down Victor Crowley and find out what happened to Adam Green’s Hatchet II.

From Cult Favorite to Sequel

Green had already made a name for himself in horror with the well-received survival thriller Frozen and, of course, 2006’s Hatchet.

The marketing for the original Hatchet was just as straightforward as the movie itself, proudly declaring that it was “not a remake, not a sequel, and not based on a Japanese horror movie,” a direct jab at the trends dominating the genre at the time. Another tagline described it as “old school American horror,” which was pretty accurate. Hatchet was designed as a throwback to the slashers of the 1980s, where the stories were simple and the blood flowed freely.

While the movie wasn’t a major box office success, it quickly developed a devoted cult following, leaving horror fans eager for more of Victor Crowley and his swamp-soaked carnage.

Recognizing that demand, Anchor Bay announced plans for a follow-up in November 2008, even releasing teaser artwork through MySpace and Ariescope, Adam Green’s production company.

However, the road to a second installment wasn’t nearly as simple as it seemed. Between contractual obligations and Green’s own reluctance to immediately revisit the franchise, development moved slowly. The filmmaker later revealed that he turned down the opportunity to direct Hatchet II five different times, feeling that the original project had consumed so much time and energy that he needed some distance before fully committing again.

Keeping Hatchet II Secret

The script’s final draft was dated December 7, 2009, and, in keeping with the production’s rapid pace, the cast assembled for a table read just over a week later on December 15.

To prevent details from leaking, crew members weren’t given copies of the screenplay, while most actors received only the pages relevant to their scenes. The secrecy extended even further, with fake scripts, false endings, and fabricated plot points deliberately circulated while visitors were barred from the set.

One of the biggest changes involved the role of Marybeth Dunston.

Why Danielle Harris Replaced Tamara Feldman

Actress Tamara Feldman, who played Marybeth in the original Hatchet, did not return for the sequel, prompting Adam Green to cast Halloween veteran Danielle Harris instead.

Interestingly, Harris had nearly landed the role the first time around. However, with Tony Todd, Robert Englund, and Kane Hodder already in the cast, Green felt adding another well-known horror icon might be overkill. Instead, he opted for Feldman, who was a much fresher face at the time.

Another complication was that Feldman and Green reportedly had different ideas about where the sequel should take Marybeth, something that became increasingly difficult to work around considering the character had survived the first film.

Despite the noticeable physical difference (Feldman stands roughly eight inches taller than Harris), Danielle stepped into the role with confidence. She later joked that her only stipulation was that Green admit he had been wrong for not casting her the first time around.

Whichever performance you prefer, each actress brings something different to the character. Feldman has that classic “final girl” energy, while Harris brings years of horror experience and the attitude of someone who’s simply finished being afraid of Victor Crowley. Both performances work well for the stories they’re telling.

Kane Hodder Takes on Two Roles

Green wanted Kane Hodder to return as Victor Crowley, but this time he challenged the horror legend to do more than stunt work.

Having seen how expressive he could be beneath Jason Voorhees’ hockey mask, Green believed Hodder had untapped dramatic potential. To showcase that side of him, Hodder pulled double duty by also portraying Victor’s father, Thomas Crowley, in several key flashbacks.

The role gave him the opportunity to perform emotional scenes without heavy makeup hiding his face.

Victor Crowley’s makeup was also redesigned to be softer and less restrictive than it had been in the original film, giving Hodder greater freedom with both his movements and facial expressions.

Tony Todd Returns as Reverend Zombie

Returning as Reverend Zombie was the late, great Tony Todd, though this time the character would play a much larger role.

Todd reportedly became so invested in Reverend Zombie that Adam Green claimed he received text messages from the actor at all hours of the night, sometimes as late as three in the morning, asking detailed questions about the character’s motivations and backstory, including whether Reverend Zombie actually possessed magical abilities.

In the film, Reverend Zombie assembles a group of locals with the promise of $500 (later increased to $5,000) if they’ll accompany him into Honey Island Swamp to hunt down Victor Crowley.

As usual, Todd elevates every scene he’s in. Even while playing an underhanded, money-hungry schemer, there’s still part of you rooting for him to somehow make it out with his spine intact.

AJ Bowen Nearly Left Acting

AJ Bowen’s character, Layton, was written specifically with Bowen in mind, allowing Adam Green to tailor the role around him as a performer. The gamble paid off.

According to Bowen, Hatchet II ultimately helped save his career. After years of nonstop promotional work for previous films, he had become burned out and was seriously considering leaving acting behind altogether. Before Green called, Bowen was even thinking about attending culinary school.

When he wasn’t in front of the camera, Bowen still showed up on set during his days off to help however he could. Despite saying he had very little free time during production, that lack of downtime was largely by choice. He found himself drawn to the family atmosphere surrounding the cast and crew.

Tom Holland Joins the Cast

Tom Holland and Adam Green were already friends, having met through one of Mick Garris’s famous Masters of Horror dinners. Even so, Holland was surprised when Green asked him to appear in the film, as the filmmaker hadn’t acted on screen in several years despite originally beginning his career as an actor.

To connect with the role of Marybeth’s Uncle Bob, Holland credited Danielle Harris with helping restore his confidence. Her emotional performance pulled him into the scene and even helped him recover dialogue that he had briefly forgotten.

Feeding off Harris’s energy, Holland delivered a convincing performance as the protective Uncle Bob.

Horror Icons, Extreme Gore, and a Brutal Production

Leatherface vs. Jason

R.A. Mihailoff plays Trent, arguably the physically strongest member of Reverend Zombie’s hunting party. He brought even more genre credibility to the production, having previously portrayed Leatherface in Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III.

At Kane Hodder’s suggestion, Mihailoff performed his own stunts during their fight sequence, something he was more than happy to do. So when you watch these two square off, you’re essentially watching Leatherface versus Jason Voorhees, a pretty incredible piece of horror history.

Green later explained that Trent’s death was inspired by the infamous curb stomp scene in American History X, though somehow it ends up looking considerably less painful.

Familiar Faces Return

Also returning are visual effects artist John Carl Buechler as Jack Cracker and Perry Shen, this time playing Justin after portraying Justin’s brother Shawn in the first movie, because… why not?

Adam Green, who briefly appeared in the original film, once again pops up as the “guy who throws up on the sidewalk,” although the role officially remains uncredited.

Making Hatchet II

Shot on location in Louisiana, with additional material filmed in California, Hatchet II was completed in an impressive seventeen and a half days.

The production pushed its practical effects to even greater extremes than the original. According to horror outlet Bloody Disgusting, approximately 136 gallons of fake blood were used during filming, more than double the reported 55 gallons used on the first Hatchet.

The crew reportedly drenched the set in fake blood fired from mortar cannons, creating some of the sequel’s most outrageous kill sequences.

The excessive gore was apparently too much for one returning crew member. A boom operator who had previously worked with Green on Frozen reportedly left after only two days due to moral concerns over the film’s graphic content. Fortunately for Green, that sentiment wasn’t shared by most of the returning crew.

Bringing back much of the original team was reportedly one of Adam Green’s biggest conditions during negotiations with the production company. Dark Sky Films not only agreed to reunite his crew but also resisted any pressure to make the sequel more mainstream.

Instead, Green was given considerable creative freedom, allowing Hatchet II to function not just as a direct continuation of the original film, but as a spiritual extension of everything fans loved about it.

Wearing Multiple Hats

The film’s modest budget meant many cast and crew members had to take on multiple responsibilities.

Producer Sarah Elbert even helped with wardrobe decisions whenever extra hands were needed, illustrating the collaborative, independent spirit that defined the production.

Much of the movie was shot in the Louisiana swamps, but portions of the swamp environment were also recreated on a soundstage.

Unfortunately, many of the plants had been grown indoors. Bacteria reportedly spread throughout the artificial swamp, creating unpleasant working conditions at the same time swine flu was already making its way through the production. Several cast and crew members eventually became sick.

Danielle Harris Pushed to Her Limits

The difficult conditions took a particular toll on Danielle Harris. Between the heavy smoke effects, constant exposure to special effects materials, long twelve-hour shooting days, and the physically demanding nature of the role, Harris often found herself completely exhausted.

She later recalled reaching the point where she simply couldn’t continue filming additional takes and occasionally had to wrap for the day because her body had reached its limit.

Building Victor Crowley’s World

Production designer Bryan McBrien returned after earning his first design credit on the original Hatchet. For the sequel, he constructed Victor Crowley’s house entirely from the ground up.

Although much of the swamp environment blended practical locations with stage work, Crowley’s house itself was a fully realized structure that actors could freely move through, helping create a more immersive environment for the cast.

Green also encouraged visual effects artist Robert Pendergraft to become the film’s Practical and Creature Effects Department Head. Initially hesitant, Pendergraft eventually accepted after Green convinced him he was ready for the challenge. The best workspace available for building the film’s elaborate practical gore effects turned out to be… his aunt’s garage.

Green loved the detail because it perfectly reflected the scrappy, do-it-yourself attitude that had always defined the Hatchet series.

The NC-17 Problem

Hatchet II premiered at London’s FrightFest in late August 2010 before receiving its American red carpet premiere one month later at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre.

Securing a theatrical release, however, proved far more difficult than making the movie itself. The Motion Picture Association repeatedly assigned the film an NC-17 rating due to its extreme violence. After learning how much gore would need to be removed to receive an R rating, AMC ultimately agreed to release Hatchet II in its unrated form. That decision made it the first horror film since George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead in 1978 to receive a wide unrated theatrical release.

Green maintained that while the movie was undeniably violent, its gore was intentionally exaggerated and cartoonish. Rather than glorifying suffering, he viewed the film as a tongue-in-cheek response to the so-called “torture porn” movement popularized by movies like Hostel and Saw. He also pointed to audience reactions during screenings in the United Kingdom and Germany, where crowds reportedly laughed, cheered, and treated the outrageous violence as part of the fun.

Unfortunately, ratings boards and theater chains didn’t see it the same way.

Pulled From Theaters

Theaters and ratings boards ultimately disagreed with Adam Green’s approach. Following its opening weekend, Hatchet II was reportedly pulled from most theater schedules by Monday morning.

Similar problems emerged in Canada, where planned October 2010 engagements in Toronto and Montreal were halted after the film failed to receive classification from the provincial ratings boards.

According to reports, theaters were warned they could face fines if they continued screening the film, leading to its removal from those markets as well. +Green found the entire controversy so baffling that the stress reportedly caused him to lose eleven pounds.

Despite those extraordinary release circumstances, Hatchet II still managed respectable business for the kind of release it received. The film opened in just 68 theaters and remained in most of them for only a single weekend, earning roughly $53,000 domestically and nearly $104,000 overseas for a worldwide total of approximately $156,000.

Those numbers would be disastrous for a major studio release. In the context of an unrated independent horror film that effectively disappeared from theaters after one weekend, however, they’re considerably more impressive.

Critics Couldn’t Agree

Critical reception was noticeably weaker than it had been for the original Hatchet, but the sequel still earned praise from some surprisingly prestigious publications, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Hollywood Reporter. Green later admitted those positive reviews genuinely surprised him, noting that low-budget horror films are rarely embraced by mainstream critics.

The film currently holds a 43% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a slightly lower 36% audience score.

Ironically, the very element that divided audiences also united critics: the gore. Negative reviews frequently criticized the relentless violence as excessive and repetitive, while many of the positive reviews celebrated those exact same qualities as part of the film’s over-the-top appeal. For horror fans, that’s probably the least surprising twist in the entire story.

Redbox Censored the Movie

The home video release came with its own set of challenges. While most retailers carried the Director’s Theatrical Unrated Cut, rental giant Redbox would only distribute a version edited down to what would essentially qualify as an R-rated release. The most significant changes involved several of the movie’s death scenes.

Green understood Dark Sky Films’ decision to create an edited version for Redbox, noting that it wasn’t much different from preparing a television cut. Even so, he felt the censorship went too far and fundamentally changed the tone of the movie.

One example particularly stood out to him. According to Green, Chad’s death scene originally featured roughly 30 hatchet blows to the face. The Redbox version reduced that number to just three.

Green also found the backlash surrounding Hatchet II confusing, especially when films like Alexandre Aja’s The Hills Have Eyes remake and the Piranha remake, both of which he considered even more graphic in different ways, escaped similar levels of controversy.

Keeping Victor Crowley Alive

Fortunately, horror fans showed up. Despite its turbulent theatrical run, Hatchet II performed well enough with its target audience to keep the franchise alive, leading to two additional installments: Hatchet III and Victor Crowley.

So what’s next for everyone’s favorite swamp-dwelling slasher? According to Green, he and his creative team would gladly return to the series under the right circumstances. In 2019, Danielle Harris also discussed the possibility of making two additional sequels.

However, Green has since suggested that any future installments would likely need to happen under new management before the franchise moves forward.

Final Thoughts

Hatchet II may have disgusted and alienated some audiences, but it also delivered exactly what fans of the original wanted.

The sequel doubled down on everything that made Hatchet a cult favorite: outrageous practical gore, memorable kills, colorful horror icons, and a deeper exploration of Victor Crowley’s mythology.

Adam Green’s name appears above the title for good reason. Few modern horror franchises feel as personal to their creator as Hatchet does to him.

Whether you love it or hate it, Hatchet II succeeds at exactly what it set out to do. It expands the legend of Victor Crowley, transforms Marybeth from survivor into hunter, and dismembers bodies with the kind of gleeful excess that only practical-effects horror can deliver.

And that, my friends, is what happened to Adam Green’s Hatchet II.

A couple of previous episodes of this show can be seen below. For more, check out the JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel—and don’t forget to subscribe!

The post What Happened to Hatchet II? Inside Adam Green’s Bloody Cult Horror Sequel appeared first on JoBlo.