10 Most Underappreciated '80s Horror Movies

1. Killer Klowns From Outer Space

Pumpkinhead 1988
Trans World Entertainment

Some might lambast Killer Klown from Outer Space as too daft, too ridiculous, too cheesy, and just, well, a bit naff. To those people, embrace the insanity and bizarreness of Killer Klowns and it's an absolute treat.

Clearly, this is far from chin-stroking 'elevated horror', but this 1988 offering from the Chiodo Brothers is a fantastic popcorn horror movie where you can switch your brain off and just let the crazed nature of clown-looking aliens entertain you - complete with a circus tent-shaped spaceship, an array of classic clown-themed attacks, and a cotton candy-esque cocooning of victims.

Throw in some charming special effects work and a bangin' theme tune by The Dickies, and the overall package of Killer Klowns from Outer Space reeks of imagination, creativity, and a general warm hug of nostalgia both in terms of being a very '80s movie and also reminding us that sometimes horror doesn't have to be all po-faced and super-serious.

Is Killer Klowns from Outer Space a little goofy? Absolutely, but again, that's part of the appeal of this delightful picture.

Now, if only June could get here already, which brings with it the release of Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game...

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.