Top 5 Horror Films of 1986

We are now entering the late 80's which just so happens to be one of my favorite.  1986 is where the slasher films are starting to make a small comeback, and Jason returns from the dead for the first time.  This is also the year that holds my favorite horror movie of all time.

April Fools Day 

April Fools Day is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine.  I just watched it this past Sunday as a matter of fact.  Not meant to be scary or even taken seriously just a great dark comedy with a fantastic cast.  Including former Friday the 13th alum Amy Steel.

Crawlspace

There are probably alot of people who are not going to agree with this pick but I really do love this movie.  He may have been one of the hardest actors to work with on this film but Klaus Kinski is brilliant as tenant landlord and former MD Karl Gunther.

Night of the Creeps

I just saw this movie not too long ago but it has easily become on of my favorite movies to watch.  The fun factor in this movie is through the roof and probably my favorite movie that stars Tom "Thrill Me" Adkins

Witchboard

This year has been a big year for Blu Ray releases thanks to Scream Factory.  Finally getting the blu ray treatment it deserves.  Tawny Kitaen really is a horrible actress but it doesn't take away from the greatness that is Witchboard.  The sequel Witchboard 2 also got a Blu Ray release this year but we will be talking about this one in the 90's.

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives 

Here is it my favorite movie of all time Friday the 13th Part VI.  I could not get enough of this movie when I was younger and that hasn't changed over the years.  The first film when Jason actually raises from the dead and becomes a zombie.  The mixture of Jason and dark humor in this film made it great.

April Fool's Day 1986 - REVIEW

What would an April Fool's Day be without a few practical jokes and watching none other than April Fools Day.  Paramount put together a young but fairly talented cast for this slasher film.  Notably Amy Steel from Friday the 13th Part 2.  I know I know it's hard to believe I am reviewing a Slasher film from the 80's.

Muffy St John (Deborah Foreman) is hosting a weekend getaway at her remote family home with a group of selected friends.  The only way to get to this location is by fairy.  It's April fools day and the practical jokes are running rampid on the fairy but soon go too far.  Skip (Griffin O'Neal) and Arch (Thomas F Wilson) are playing a game of stretch (a game were you throw a knife and have to stretch from your position to pick it up, also called Pivot) and Arch is tired of loosing and does not want to play anymore.  Skip wants one more game and tosses him the knife.  Arch wants none of it and throws the knife back with force, stabbing Skip in the stomach and falling overboard.  A dock hand Buck (Mike Nomad) and one of the guests Rob (Ken Olandt) jump in after him but soon realize this is a prank and it was not real.  Everyone gets out of the water except for Buck who stays to tie the fairy on the dock but he does not get it done in time and he is struck by the boat brutally mangling his face.

He is rushed to the mainland while the Constaple tells the group to stay put at Muffy's house.  This is only the start of a long weekend for Muffy's friends.  It will be a weekend they will never forget!

The first time that I saw this movie I was only about 8 years old.  I loved it the first time I saw it.  Back then I did not really know why i liked it, I just did.  Now there are so many things that stand out to me in this movie, namely the soundtrack. The creepy soundtrack is fantastic especially the opening music.  The opening really sets the tone for the rest of the movie and the other composed music for the film.

So many good young actors and actresses appear in this cast : Amy Steel from Friday the 13th part 2, Deborah Foreman who had been in the teen flicks Valley Girl and Real Genius, and also Thomas Wilson who played Biff in the Back to the Future movies.

 There are others but the ones listed above are the most known ones to this point in 1986.  Being a huge Friday the 13th fan Amy Steel is of course one of my favorite final girls and in this one she has another great performance as the final girl.  Always playing a very clever and tough character.

I did read on IMDB that there was an alternate ending that was filmed for this.  It dissapoints me they did not keep the original ending after having read what actually was meant to happen at the end.  The ending is still pretty clever though.  Paramount took a chance on this movie because it's not a slasher that all fans of the genre will enjoy.  Mainly the reason being the lack of blood and the fact that all the deaths occur off screen.  The surprise ending and how corny and awesome the movie is does make up for it though.  Stay Twisted everyone!