From the release of the two-minute George Melies 1896 film, Le Manoir du Diable (The House of the Devil), the horror movie genre has flourished by taking the most basal of human fears, superstitions and concerns and turning them into adrenaline-releasing, suspense-producing money makers.
Classic Horror Movies of the 1980s
The 1980s gave birth to a number of scary movies, many of which almost immediately achieved classic status. Unfortunately, along with critical or commercial success (sometimes both), many classic horror flicks of the 80s also went on to spawn cheesy sequels.
The Shining Movie Trivia
Adapted from the Stephen King novel of the same name, the 1980 Stanley Kubrick directed movie, starred Jack Nicholson (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest - 1975) and Shelley Duvall (Popeye - 1980).
- The front exterior shots of the Overlook Hotel were taken in Mt. Hood, Oregon (near Portland) at the Timberline Lodge.
- Before deciding on Jack Nicholson as leading man, director Stanley Kubrick considered Robert De Niro, Robin Williams and Harrison Ford for the role.
- Author Stephen King envisioned Jack Torrance as more of an every-man type such as Michael Moriarty (Bang the Drum Slowly – 1973) or Jon Voight (Midnight Cowboy – 1969). King was unsuccessful in guiding the casting.
- Stephen King makes a cameo as the band leader in the ballroom party scene.
- Nicholson’s famous “Here’s Johnny” line was improvised.
Friday the 13th Movie Trivia
Although slasher films didn’t begin with Friday the 13th, the Sean S. Cunningham directed blood-fest seemed to kick open the door to teen-aged, sex-charged gore.
- The movie’s U.S. working title was A Long Night at Camp Blood
- Costing a little bit over $550,000, Friday the 13th went on to be the most profitable film of its kind. The opening weekend ticket sales topped $5,800,000.
- Jason Vorhees’ face is seen for the first time at the end of the film when he jumps out of the water, pulling Alice in with him.
- Harry Crosby, who played camp counselor Bill, is Bing Crosby’s son.
- Friday the 13th generated 10 sequels
Poltergeist Movie Trivia
Steven Spielberg, who co-wrote and co-produced 1982’s Poltergeist, incorporated many of his own childhood fears to the film. The tree outside Robbie and Carol Anne’s window and the creepy clown were both huge issues the young Spielberg once suffered through.
- Drew Barrymore auditioned for the role of Carol Anne, but Spielberg cast the more cherubic Heather O’Rourke. Barrymore got the part of Gertie on E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial as a result of her Poltergeist audition.
- Originally, Stephen King was asked to write the screenplay for the movie. Creative differences ensued and that idea was bagged.
- The peculiar way characters descend the stairs was achieved by filming the actors walking up the stairs backwards then playing the film in reverse.
- The so called Poltergeist curse came to be as a result of the premature deaths of the two actresses who played the daughters in the film, Dominique Dunne (Dana) and Heather O'Rourke (Carol Anne). Dunne died at the hands of an abusive boyfriend the same year the movie was released and O’Rourke died due to an intestinal obstruction.
A Nightmare on Elm Street Movie Trivia
Wes Craven wrote and directed the 1984 film that would go on to spawn eight sequels as well as comics, novels, and television shows.
- Johnny Depp made his film debut as Glen Lantz on A Nightmare on Elm Street
- A Nightmare on Elm Street was the movie that put New Line Cinema on the map. Craven shopped the script around to all the major studios, but none would bite. New Line was a distribution company for college campuses before venturing into Elm Street.
- Wes Craven named the film’s villain Freddy Krueger after a boy who bullied him in school.
- Jack Nicholson and Robin Williams were considered for the role of Freddy Krueger. Robert Englund landed the role of the burned-alive child molester and went on to play him eight times.
Sources:
Muir, John Kenneth. Horror Films of the 1980s. North Carolina. 2007
Babbis, Maurice. “The True Origin of the Horror Film”. Latent Image. Emerson College Online. Retrieved 2009-11-28
Elvira Nieto - Elvira "Elvi" Nieto has had a life-long passion for writing both fiction and non-fiction alike. For two years, 2006-2007, she worked as ...
