JoBlo.com recently launched a new weekly documentary series called 80s Horror Memories, where each year of the 1980s has five episodes dedicated to it. Looking back at 1980, we discussed Maniac, Dressed to Kill, Alligator, Friday the 13th, The Shining, Prom Night, and The Fog. The second five episodes were a journey through 1981, covering The Funhouse, The Burning, Friday the 13th Part 2, My Bloody Valentine, Halloween II, The Evil Dead, The Howling, and An American Werewolf in London, as well as the careers of horror hosts Elvira and Joe Bob Briggs. The next five were, of course, all about movies that came out in 1982: Conan the Barbarian, The Thing, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, and Poltergeist, with an examination of the short-lived 3-D boom along the way. For 1983, we talked about a trio of Stephen King adaptations, Jaws 3-D, Sleepaway Camp, the rise of TV horror anthologies, and Psycho II. For 1984, we covered the creation of the PG-13 rating, The Terminator, Gremlins, Ghostbusters, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Our trip through 1985 included Teen Wolf, Re-Animator, A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, Fright Night, Lifeforce, Day of the Dead, and The Return of the Living Dead. Now we’re in 1986, and so far we’ve covered David Cronenberg’s The Fly and the horror comedies that were released during the year (including Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2). With the latest episode, we’re looking at one of the most popular sequels ever made: Aliens. You can hear all about it in the embed above!
New episodes of 80s Horror Memories are released through the YouTube channel JoBlo Horror Originals every Friday.
Here’s the info on 80s Horror Memories: It’s been over 40 years since the decade that shaped the horror movie industry began and having lived through most of those years personally, we at JoBlo/Arrow in the Head have decided to create a 10-part documentary series in which not only cover every nook and cranny of the biggest horror themes from 1980 to 1989 but also what was happening in the world at the time. Join us as we walk down Horror Memory Lane!
And here’s the info on this particular episode: Debating sequels versus their predecessors is something all movie lovers have voluntarily gone through. While an excellent Round 2 after the knockout punch Ridley Scott delivered, and following that film’s terrific protagonist into a new circle of hell, Aliens is its own beast, different enough to build on the legacy of the original while hitting some of the same crucial notes. Is it a better movie than Alien? That’s a fun debate to have, but one for another day. What isn’t really up for debate is that Aliens is one of the best sequels released in the 80s – and hell, it may just be the best horror sequel of all time. So stop your grinnin’ and drop your linen, because we’re going to nuke the site from orbit and relive some Aliens in our 80s Horror Memories.
This episode of 80s Horror Memories was written by Eric Walkuski, narrated by Tyler Nichols, edited by Joseph Wilson, produced by Berge Garabedian and John Fallon, co-produced by Mike Conway, and executive produced by Berge Garabedian. The score was provided by Shawn Knippelberg. Special Guests: Craig Perry (Final Destination), Doug Jones (Hellboy II), Patrick Lussier (Terminator Genisys), and Matt Winston (Stan Winston Studios).
Let us know what you thought of this episode, plus share some of your own ’80s horror memories by leaving a comment!
Two of the previous episodes of 80s Horror Memories can be seen below. To see more of our shows, head over to the JoBlo Horror Originals channel – and subscribe while you’re at it!