FIVE GREAT GRADE B HORROR FILMS FROM THE 1970'S AND 1980'S

One of my guilty pleasures is horror films….In particular B or Z grade horror films….There is nothing wrong with unintentional laughter and the worst crime a movie can commit is to be boring….Here are five of my favorites from the 1970’s and 1980’s….


KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE

The premise of this film is a winner ….Aliens who look exactly like clowns land near a small town in a spaceship that looks exactly like a circus big top tent they then proceed to use great weaponry such as deadly cotton candy, monster balloon animals and the like to capture the town people whom they convert to a sort of jelly then drink with a crazy straw….Has to be seen to be believed and yet is very suspenseful in some places, gory in others, and surprisingly well made.

THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN

Another one that starts with an awesome premise….The first astronaut to orbit Saturn returns with a sort of advanced space leprosy-he begins to melt!….However, he finds this condition is postponed by devouring human flesh so he escapes from the government facility he is being treated at and turns into a melting cannibal monster….A great ending where the monster just kind of sits down and melts away….Again, it sounds silly but is scary in a few scenes.

THE CHILDREN

A busload of children going home from school in a small town passes through a toxic waste cloud which turns them into pale creatures with black rings under their hands whose touch burns people to death….They are also indestructible except if you cut off their hands….Sick premise but well paced and it is a very creepy idea.

BLUE SUNSHINE

Former hippies who have grown up and moved on discover that a potent form of LSD a number of them took back in the 1960’s has the delayed effect of making all their fall out suddenly and turning them into psychopathic murderers….A fun part of this movie is watching the hero track people down and trying to figure out who the next person to turn into a psychotic Uncle Fester will be.

LIFEFORCE

This sci-fi horror mash-up about energy draining space vampires is mostly famous for the first 45 minutes wherein the beautiful Mathilda May walks around completely naked….Directed by Tobe Hooper of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE fame (the original) and while it peters out at the end there are some scares to recommend it(not just the nakedness).