5 80s Horror Films So Bad They're Brilliant

Frankenstein Island is truly an enriching experience. It looks like it was made in the 50s, the 'actors' appear as though they've all lost a bet, and the script is unforgivably atrocious. The story feels as if it's been pieced together from an unfortunate game of Mad Libs. It follows the four survivors of a hot air balloon crash as they explore a strange island and are acquainted with its peculiar inhabitants. It all descends into insanity very quickly - and it's gloriously naff.

The castaways are greeted by fur bikini-clad native women with lazily undisguised American accents (they're aliens too, because why the hell not?), which results in an uncomfortable, pervy opening dance scene that goes on for far too long. We're also treated to a hilariously unsuspenseful kidnapping attempt early on, and a mind-boggling Kung Fu battle sequence, which ought to be reason enough to watch this movie. From the synopsis, one may be forgiven for assuming that this movie is a comedy spoof - it's not. That's what makes it hilarious.

The funniest parts of Frankenstein Island are poor John Carradine's scenes, in which he appears as a mystical floating head babbling some nonsense about "THE POWER! THE POWER!" He starred in some appalling garbage towards the end of his career, but this one takes the cake. This is the man who held the record for the most film credits of any actor at the time of his death (351 in total), and this is how they chose to use him? He probably didn't even know what he was starring in; it looks as if they showed up at his house and had him shout some unspecified, cryptic twaddle at the camera. Poor guy.

There's probably a lethal drinking game to be made from Frankenstein Island. It'd be a worthy addition to any Halloween party.