In the 1980s, cinema-goers witnessed a significant leap forward in the advancement of special effects that could finally catch up with the explicit gory imaginings that moviemakers could only dream of. Gone were the days of terrifying the audience by triggering their imagination of what lurks in the shadows as advancements in visual effects brought their most horrifying fantasies to life on screen.

The 80s horror aesthetic deliberately aimed to induce physical and emotional reactions from the audience. With its intensified focus on body horror, it attempts to provoke a visceral response with little room left to the imagination. It’s no wonder the emphasis on elaborate makeup, graphic gore, and its depiction of sex and nudity became a defining feature of the era. As a result, the 80s was dominated by countless slasher films that capitalised on the heightened sensibilities of the audience and continued to push boundaries of what was considered acceptable in mainstream cinema.

Modern audience love for the 80s horror

The 1980s was a remarkable time of great pop culture, marked by many iconic films like Ridley Scott’s sci-fi Blade Runner, James Cameron’s action-packed Terminator, and Steven Spielberg’s beloved E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial. Within the horror genre, especially the slashers, the 80s have provided iconic films and villains that have influenced countless horrors since and are still beloved to this day.

In the early 1980s, the Friday the 13th films introduced the audience to the terrifying tales of Jason Voorhees. Known for his relentless pursuit of teenagers and his appearance evolving over time, this menacing figure and his iconic hockey mask would go on to define the franchise and captivate the audience. Wherever teenagers gathered to party, take drugs, and hope to get laid, it wasn’t long until Jason would cut in to put a stop to it all.

In the mid-80s, Wes Craven’s Nightmare on Elm Street added another iconic killer to the 80s roster with his sadistic child killer Freddy Kruger, whose menacing spirit had come back to terrorise the teens of Elm Street. Kruger infused his twisted killing style with a unique blend of dark humour and creativity, captivating the audience with a sense of anticipation on what innovative ways he would kill his next victim. As we jump to the late 80s, the film Child’s Play introduces the audience to the serial killer Charles Lee Ray, aka Chucky, the smart mouth and malevolent toy doll with a knack for instilling terror in anyone who dares cross his path.

It isn’t a mystery why modern audiences can recognise the allure of the 80s cinema when the decade stood out for its unique vibe, distinctive style, and captivating aesthetic. And those who grew up and experienced the era, like our parents or grandparents, look at the time as a source of great nostalgia.

A Double Feature That Plays Homage to the 80s Slasher

There are two modern films that have been released in the last decade, one of them only just last year. Not only do they pay homage to the classic 80s slasher, but both watches make for a perfect horror-comedy double feature. Both films share similar themes, are self-referential, and play around with the scream queen and final girl tropes, and despite sharing similar DNA, both films provide different watching experiences.

Camp Bloodbath

The first film of our double feature is the cult hit comedy horror “The Final Girls” by director Todd Strauss-Schulson, which was released in 2015. The film stars Max Cartwright (Taissa Farmiga), who lost her mother in a car accident three years ago. Her mother, Amanda (Malin Akerman), was a struggling actress who was only known for her role as Scream Queen Nancy in the 1980s horror film “Camp Bloodbath”.

In a special screening of the Camp Bloodbath films, an accidental fire breaks out, and Max and her friends escape by cutting a hole in the screen and find themselves transported to the world within the film. With no way to escape and stuck in a 92-minute time loop, Max and her friends must team up with the camp counsellors to find a way to stop the killer and put an end to the film.

Sweet 16 Killer

The second film in our double feature is the comedy horror “Totally Killer” by director Nahnatchka Khan released in 2023. The film stars Jamie Hughes (Kiernan Shipka), who returns home and discovers her mother Pam (Julie Bowen) was murdered by the killer dubbed the Sweet 16 killer who murdered three girls in the 1980s on their 16th birthday.

It isn’t long until Jamie finds herself as the next target, and amidst a struggle with the killer, she accidentally activates her friend’s time machine school project and is transported to the 80s. Teaming up with the young Pam (Olivia Holt) and her friends, she realises that if she puts a stop to the Sweet 16 killer’s original spree, she can change her mum’s fate and may be able to find a way home.

Similar themes and vibes

Despite “Totally Killer” having a sci-fi spin with its time travelling plot, it still shares similar themes with “The Final Girls” to work as a double feature as both pay homage to the era with their killer soundtracks, 80s aesthetic, and the perfect blend of scares, humour, and gore.

They also share similarities with their self-mocking and self-referential, which can be seen throughout their runtime. In the case of Totally Killer, the protagonist Jamie finds herself in constant tricky situations when Pam and her friends appear to be completely naive of the dangers they face or continue to ignore the unwritten rules that one must follow to survive.

And speaking of unwritten rules, The Final Girls’ unique premise plays around with the ‘a film within a film’ concept. From a 92-minute time loop, black and white flashbacks, slow-motion chase, and end credits rolling. The Final Girls brilliantly plays on the rules of the slasher genre and tropes of the scream queen and final girl.

Another welcoming similarity not often explored in the horror genre is that both films centre around the protagonist’s relationship with their mother, providing an emotional element and resonance to their premise. In Jamie’s case, she teams up with a younger version of her mum, Pam, and their bond strengthens throughout the film as Jamie discovers a new side to her mum and why her past shaped the person she became. Adding more emotional weight to Jamie’s goal of changing her mother’s fate.

In the case of The Final Girls, the mother and daughter relationship delivers a genuine and heart-wrenching weight to its story with its unique approach to connecting Max to her deceased mother as she teams up with her mother’s movie character, Nancy. With their great chemistry, heartfelt moments, and one of the most emotional scenes I have ever seen in a horror time, trust me, you will know what I’m talking about when you see it for yourself. The Final Girls beautifully adds another layer to its story with its emotional resonance and message of letting go and saying goodbye.

With the eerily similar premise of the protagonist being sent to a 1980s setting, teaming up with their mothers and putting a stop to the killer. Both The Final Girls and Totally Killer create the perfect blend of comedy and horror while paying tribute to the 1980s slasher genre. They make for an ideal double-feature viewing experience. Additionally, If you are interested in more horror films, I recommend you check out my reviews and recommendation page.