![]() Although incarcerated by his partner-in-crime after trying to explain his true identity, Gallagher later sacrifices himself by transporting his life force into Beck’s dying body. It’s not all brutality, as there’s a surprising amount of heart for a film that involves alien law enforcers and two car chases that feel like they both last for the duration of the Daytona 500. There’s also something inherently creepy about the opening CCTV footage in which the possessed gunman looks straight into the camera and adopts a manic grin. The man behind early ’80s slashers Alone in the Dark and Nightmare on Elm Street 2 is more concerned with delivering scares than laughs, something he succeeds at whenever the disgusting slug slithers its way into a new host’s mouth. Gallagher enforces the law in the most ‘80s way imaginable. Sholder knows when to interrupt all the carnage with a well-timed visual gag or quick-witted one-liner, while MacLachlan and Nouri share a chemistry in keeping with the mismatched buddy capers of the era. You half expect it to visit the Sunset Strip and start chugging shots with Mötley Crüe. In keeping with its sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle, the alien always takes to the streets with pedal-to-the-metal songs from the likes of The Lords of the New Church, Concrete Blonde, and Shok Paris. Nor, apparently, could they resist the lure of heavy rock. ![]() Even extra-terrestrials weren't immune to the trappings of ‘80s consumerism. “I want that car,” the possessed man deadpans before blowing their brains out. It rocks up to a car dealership and steals a red Ferrari after dispatching the salesman and coked-up test driver. It indulges in vehicular sex with a cat-caller just moments after becoming a woman for the first time. Indeed, the ever-changing villain is all about instant gratification. Most memorably, it assumes the form of a stripper named Brenda Lee Van Buren (Claudia Christian), who turns murderous mid-coitus before becoming enamored with the sight of her own breasts. Unfortunately for the alien, its campaign to become the leader of the free world is cut shorter than Scott Walker’s, as within seconds its parasitical origins are exposed by Gallagher’s flame-throwing skills. Later it takes over the body of a senator, announcing a presidential bid that suggests its ambitions of power extend beyond Los Angeles. At one point, it transforms into a lieutenant’s cuddly canine. Watching this cat-and-mouse game unfold is a blast, particularly in the weird ways the killer disguises itself. His family was wiped out by the ever-mutating thrill-seeker, and he’s on Earth to get revenge. As foreshadowed by his confusion over alcohol and everyday kitchen utensils, he too is revealed to be an alien. ![]() There’s a reason Gallagher isn’t surprised by all the strange personality transplants. ![]() See if your favorite made the cut and if not, feel free to add it to the talk backs below.In an era overloaded with buddy cops, Gallagher and Beck made for a unique combo. Some are slashers, some are supernatural, and some may not be instantly recognizable, but all are really damn good. Here is our ranking of the best horror movies from the 1980s. So, it got us thinking about that decade. The Sam Rockwell led movie looks scary but not very different from the classic version. Today we get the latest remake, POLTERGEIST, from director Gil Kenan. In recent years, the 1980s horror movies we love like EVIL DEAD, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, and FRIDAY THE 13TH have all been rebooted or remade to try and recapture what made the movies so good three decades ago. Overall, the 1980s provided some of the best studio-financed horror movies ever made along with some smaller films we all remember to this day. Sure, horror movies have always been popular since the invention of film, but the 1980s turned the villain into the anti-hero with slashers becoming household names. For mainstream horror, the 1980s was the peak popularity for the genre.
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