5 1980s Horror Movies That Scared Gen X Kids, But Are Virtually Unwatchable Now

If there was one genre that seemed to dominate and define the 1980s, it was horror. While not every horror release from the era was great, the genre was kind of everywhere. There was the rise of slashers and iconic villains like Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers. There were body horror projects like The Fly and The Thing, which have gone down as classics. There was also the launch of major franchises like Evil Dead, Child’s Play, and Predator, as well as wacky stuff like Killer Klowns From Outer Space. The future of horror was also heavily influenced by this time period.

The ’80s featured the movies that terrified Gen X kids and gave them nightmares. However, as is often the case when people grow up, some of these films are just nowhere near as scary today. Whether it is due to special effects that look comical now, a lack of tension upon rewatches, or just simply because kids are easier to frighten, these films don’t scare people today. When we say they’re virtually unwatchable today, we mean that they’re basically no longer scary in the way they were when Gen X children first laid eyes on them.

5) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

The original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre from 1974 is a classic that has gone down as one of the greatest horror movies of all time. From the unsettling hitchhiker pickup to Kirk getting brutally killed out of nowhere to the dinner scene right up until Leatherface swings his chainsaw at the end, it remains a terrifying flick. The 1986 sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Masscare 2, is far less scary, especially when you watch it back today. However, that was kind of intentional.

Although the sequel still comes from director Tobe Hooper, the film leans more into the comedy side of things. Leatherface and his family, while still incredibly creepy and likely to have given Gen X plenty of nightmares, are far goofier this time around. That makes it the kind of movie that you chuckle at once you’re older rather than feel scared. The cult following that the film has garnered over time is mostly because of the camp nature and not because it can still terrify anyone.

4) Child’s Play

Child’s Play didn’t arrive until Gen X was getting a bit older, but there’s still a solid chance that they were unsettled by the film. Seeing a toy doll go on a killing rampage sounds wacky on the surface, yet there was something about Chucky’s design that made you feel uncomfortable. He seemed like the kind of doll you probably had at one point in your life and the idea of Chucky coming to life is enough to scare a lot of people.

Alas, the 1988 movie does center on a murderous doll, which is inherently a bit goofy. That makes it much easier to digest as you’re older. Watching Child’s Play back today makes you wonder why you were ever scared of it in the first place. The franchise has continued to grow with sequels and a TV show by focusing on the comedic elements and not too much on scaring audiences.

3) Sleepaway Camp

While some films are no longer scary because they can be considered kind of funny now, that’s not the case with Sleepaway Camp. The 1983 movie just doesn’t work quite as well on many rewatches. A lot of the plot, which centers on various mysterious murders at a summer camp, plays out in a way that wasn’t actually all that scary in the first place. They don’t deliver on the kills the way that the best slashers of all time do and it makes a lot of the film drag.

Of course, the biggest reason why Sleepaway Camp works the first time around is the shocking twist ending, revealing that “Angela” is actually her thought-to-be-dead brother Peter and is behind the killings. Once you know that’s the twist, the tension is kind of gone and there aren’t enough frights to make up for it. The only shot that can still scare people is Peter/Angela covered in blood and screaming at the very end.

2) Friday the 13th

Finding horror franchises more iconic than Friday the 13th is difficult. It has been around for so long and the original from 1980 is likely getting plenty of rewatches now that the Crystal Lake series has premiered. The movie doesn’t mark the start of Jason’s killing sprees, as the murders are instead done by mother Pamela. Unfortunately, going back to watch this will likely result in almost no scares for a viewer.

While it’s a good horror film, it does have some pacing issues. The pace is fine when you first watch it because atmosphere plays a big part in the terror, but on repeat viewings, it just drags. You end up waiting for something to happen rather than immersing yourself in the experience. Jason popping out of the water at the end will always elicit a bit of a jump scare, though. Jason’s brutal nature in sequels stands out, but he’s never been quite as scary as Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger.

1) Poltergeist

Another film from Tobe Hooper, Poltergeist is a staple of ’80s cinema. The 1982 film tells a simple, yet chilling story as a family’s home is invaded by ghosts who kidnap the youngest daughter. The idea that something like this could happen in your own home was enough to terrify Gen X children. However, one modern viewing of Poltergeist will show you that most of it wasn’t actually all that scary.

The snowy television still works, but the clown looks funnier rather than scary and the effects have certainly not aged well. They induce more laughter than anything else. Poltergeist still absolutely nails the family drama and the fear of losing someone close, but those are things that don’t hit quite as hard after your initial viewing. A lot of the things that scared kids of the time now just look cheesy. There’s a reason this is the rare horror movie with a PG rating.

Do you still find these horror movies scary? Are there others from the ’80s that no longer frighten you? Let us know in the comments section!