10 Weird Sci-Fi Horror Movies Of The 80s

John Carpenter has repeatedly redefined horror, thanks to such work as Halloween, They Live, and The Thing. And yet, the horror auteur doesn't get enough credit for Prince of Darkness, considering it's arguably his most ambitious movie.

Prince of Darkness opens with a quantum physicist and his students studying inside an abandoned monastery. After exploring the basement, they discover a canister that harbours a liquid that corrupts anyone it touches. 

After speaking to the local priest (portrayed by Donald Pleasance), the scientists discover (now, get ready for this) the liquid is Satan himself. Pleasance's character informs the science team that his ancestors were entrusted by Jesus (who was an alien) to stop the canister from being opened. 

After The Devil is accidentally released, he prepares to summon his father, who is an ancient god from another reality.

In the hands of a lesser director, this outlandish concept wouldn't work. But with Carpenter overseeing the project, Prince of Darkness proves to be among the most original and powerful films of his career. The cosmic horror never feels corny because it takes the story as serious as a heart attack. Not only that, the haunting score and the deluge of nightmarish imagery is sure to rattle anyone.

Although you might want to see Prince of Darkness for a laugh, the cult-classic is sure to leave you utterly mesmerised.