10 Best Sci-Fi Horror Movies From The '80s

5. Re-Animator

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Empire Pictures

In Re-Animator, an eccentric medical student called Herbert West discovers how to revive the recently deceased. Urged to cure death itself with his work, it isn't long before West's experiments have cataclysmic consequences.

Re-Animator has a lot in common with From Beyond. It has the same director, same lead actor, adapted from the same author, and has the same modern Frankenstein motif. However, Re-Animator cranks everything up to 11. Every time you think it's topped itself in terms of gore and absurdism, the film throws in something crazy like naked zombies or a lopped off head ordering its decapitated body around.

However, it's Jeffrey Combs' performance as the deranged Herbert West that keeps the movie together. Even though he is very much chewing the scenery, he never comes across as parodical since he is completely convincing as his character. Considering this film contains scene of a decapitated head sexually assaulting a woman and THAT'S not the most memorable part is a testament to how delightfully entertaining Combs as Herbert

It may not be a masterpiece but Re-Animator is definitely Stuart Gordon's best film and deserves its status as a cult classic.

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James Egan has been with Whatculture for five years and prominently works on Horror, Film, and Video Games. He's written over 80 books including 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts About James Bond 1000 Facts About TV Shows