Horror: 244

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990) follows a similar format as its predecessor, the anthology television series Tales from the Darkside. The film, directed by John Harrison, centers around a kidnapped paperboy who is forced to entertain his captor with three terrifying tales. Betty, a wealthy suburban woman and practicing witch, hosts a dinner party for her fellow witches and has Timmy, a young boy she has imprisoned in her pantry, as the main course. To prolong his life, Timmy shares three tales from a book given to him by Betty titled Tales from the Darkside. Lot ...

Flatliners (1990) is an American film that combines elements of science fiction, horror, and psychology. One medical student named Nelson Wright persuades his peers – Joe, David, Rachel, and Randy – to join him in exploring the mysteries of death. After flatlining for a minute and being brought back to life by his friends, Nelson cryptically mentions seeing a boy from his past who he bullied. The others are intrigued and decide to follow suit. During their experiences with temporary death, Joe is enticed by an erotic encounter reflecting his promiscuous ways. Some disagreement arises between Rachel and David about their determination to remain ...

In the American horror thriller film, Buried Alive (1990), directed by Frank Darabont, successful contractor Clint Goodman lives with his wife Joanna. Despite their seemingly perfect life, Joanna has been having an affair with local doctor Cortland van Owen. Together, they plot to murder Clint and take over his company and house. Joanna’s motive is to move back to Beverly Hills and purchase a clinic. To carry out their plan, Cortland provides Joanna with poison obtained from a tropical fish. During a dinner with Clint, Joanna has a change of heart but still adds some of the poison into his wine. This results in ...

Two Evil Eyes (1990) is a collaborative horror film penned and helmed by George A. Romero and Dario Argento. This international production between Italy and the United States is divided into two distinct stories, both heavily influenced by the writing of Edgar Allan Poe. The first, The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, features Adrienne Barbeau under Romero’s direction, while the second, The Black Cat, ...

Director Jeff Burr and writer David J. Schow released Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990). During a chase, Leatherface takes the life of Gina as her sister Sara watches from a nearby window. Later on, a couple named Michelle and Ryan are passing through Texas and come across the Last Chance Gas Station where they meet hitchhiker Tex and the owner Alfredo. A fight breaks out between Tex and Alfredo when Tex catches Alfredo peeping at Michelle in the restroom. As Michelle and Ryan drive away, they witness what appears to be Alfredo shooting Tex with a ...

Directed by Mick Garris, Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990) is an American made-for-television slasher film that serves as a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. It delves into the early life of Norman Bates and his struggles with mental illness before the events depicted in the original film. This installment marks both the third sequel and final film in the Psycho franchise, with Anthony Perkins making his last appearance as Norman Bates before his death in 1992. Now married to a psychiatrist named ...

Tremors (1990), an American monster comedy horror film directed by Ron Underwood, follows handymen Val McKee and Earl Bassett as they work in the isolated settlement of Perfection, Nevada. Growing tired of their jobs, the duo decides to leave for Bixby, the nearest town. As they depart, they stumble upon the lifeless body of resident Edgar Deems perched atop an electrical tower with his rifle in hand. The town’s doctor Jim Wallace determines that Edgar suffered from dehydration and was too afraid to climb down. Soon after, shepherd Fred and his flock are found dead by an unseen creature. Val and Earl discover ...

Pet Sematary (1989) is an American supernatural horror film, adapted from Stephen King’s 1983 novel of the same name. Directed by Mary Lambert, it follows the Creed family – Louis, Rachel, their two children Ellie and Gage, and their cat Church – as they relocate from Chicago to rural Ludlow, Maine. After Louis takes on a job as a local physician, they become friendly with their neighbor Jud Crandall. During a visit to an isolated pet cemetery in the forest behind their new home (misspelled ‘sematary’), Jud shares some unsettling stories ...

Initially titled HBO’s Tales from the Crypt (1989–1996), this American horror anthology television series aired for seven seasons on the premium cable channel from June 10, 1989, to July 19, 1996. Being on HBO, a network with different content standards than most others, allowed Tales from the Crypt to feature explicit elements like violence, profanity, sexual activity, and nudity. Each episode opens with a tracking shot leading to the front door of the decaying mansion belonging to the series’ host, the Cryptkeeper. The camera then moves down from the foyer into the basement while he emerges from his coffin and manically laughs; green slime ...

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) is an American slasher film co-written and directed by Dominique Othenin-Girard, and starring Donald Pleasence and Danielle Harris. On October 31, 1988, the infamous killer is believed to have met his end after being shot down a mine shaft by Sheriff Ben Meeker and the Illinois state police. However, he miraculously survives and returns to Haddonfield one year later in search of his niece Jamie Lloyd. Jamie, who has been admitted to the Haddonfield Children’s Clinic for ...

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) is an American gothic slasher film directed by Stephen Hopkins and written by Leslie Bohem. In June 1989, a year after the last installment, Alice and Dan have begun dating without any sign of Freddy Krueger. After a steamy encounter, Alice has a shower and envisions herself in a nun’s habit labeled Amanda Krueger at an unusual asylum. She encounters patients who attack her, but she wakes up unharmed. The following day, Alice graduates from high school with her new group of friends: Greta, a hesitant aspiring ...

Monsters (1988–1991), an American syndicated horror anthology series, aired from 1988 to 1991 and was later rerun on the Sci-Fi Channel in the 1990s. It was created by producer Richard P. Rubinstein and his company Laurel Entertainment, who previously worked on Tales from the Darkside. While Tales sometimes delved into science fiction and fantasy, Monsters focused solely on horror. Each episode centers around a different monster (with few exceptions), ranging from an animatronic puppet on a children’s show to weapon-wielding lab rats. In the opening sequence of the program, a monster family living in ...

Critters 2: The Main Course (1988) is a US sci-fi comedy horror flick that marks Mick Garris’ directorial debut. On a desolate planet in outer space, the bounty hunters Ug and Lee, along with their human partner Charlie McFadden, embark on a mission to capture a deadly worm-like creature. After successfully defeating the creature, they depart from the planet. However, they soon receive new orders from Zanti, the leader of the High Council. He informs them about Krites being present on Earth and orders them to eliminate them immediately. Without delay, they head towards Earth but Ug notices Charlie’s troubled ...

Monkey Shines (1988) is a science fiction psychological horror film written and directed by George A. Romero. After being struck by a truck and becoming quadriplegic, law student and athlete Allan Mann struggles to adapt to his new life in an SNP-equipped wheelchair. His overbearing mother and unempathetic nurse try their best to help him, but Allan’s friend Geoffrey Fisher comes up with the idea of getting him a Capuchin monkey as a service animal. However, Geoffrey has a hidden agenda as he is under pressure to produce results as a research scientist. He has been experimenting on a monkey in his lab with a serum ...

Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988), an American supernatural slasher film directed by John Carl Buechler, follows Tina Shepard’s journey. After witnessing her alcoholic father’s abuse towards her mother, a young Tina flees in a boat to Crystal Lake. Her father chases after her, leading to his accidental death when Tina’s telekinetic abilities are unleashed and destroy the dock he’s standing on. Years later, as a teenager, Tina is still grappling with guilt over her father’s passing. In an attempt to help her heal, her mother Amanda brings her to the lake house where it all took ...

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1993) is the fourth installment in the popular American fantasy slasher film franchise. Following the events of the previous film, Kristen, Kincaid, and Joey have been released from Westin Hills and are trying to live their lives as normal teenagers with their families. Despite this, Kristen is still afraid that Freddy Krueger will return, and she summons Kincaid and Joey into her dream where they visit his old boiler room. In an attempt to calm Kristen’s fears, Kincaid and Joey show her that the boiler is cold. The next day, Kristen meets up with her boyfriend Rick Johnson and their friends – Rick’s ...

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988), an American slasher film directed by Dwight H. Little and written by Alan B. McElroy, follows the story of Michael Myers, who has been in a coma for a decade after the explosion at Haddonfield Memorial Hospital. On October 30, 1988, during his transfer from Ridgemont Federal Sanitarium to Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, Michael wakes up upon hearing about his niece living in Haddonfield. He kills the ambulance crew and returns to his hometown with the intention of killing her. Dr. Loomis, who also survived the explosion, ...

Creepshow 2 (1987) is a follow-up to the American comedy horror anthology film, Creepshow, both directed by Michael Gornick. Gornick previously served as the cinematographer for the first film, while the screenplay was once again crafted by George A. Romero, who directed the original. In the small town of Dexter, Maine, a delivery truck makes a stop at a newsstand. Excitedly, young Billy follows on his bike as the truck’s back shutter opens to reveal the Creep. The mysterious figure drops off copies of the ...

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) marks Chuck Russell’s directorial debut and is an American fantasy slasher film. It takes place a year after the events of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge and follows the story of Kristen Parker. Despite having already awoken from her nightmare, she finds herself in another one where Freddy Krueger is chasing her. In this terrifying dream, he attacks her in the bathroom and makes it appear as though she has slit her wrist in reality. Concerned for Kristen’s well-being, her mother has her admitted to Westin Hills Psychiatric ...

Bad Taste (1987) is a film from New Zealand directed, produced and filmed by Peter Jackson. The Astro Investigation and Defence Service (AIDS) dispatches agents Derek, Frank, Ozzy, and Barry to look into the sudden disappearance of the entire population of Kaihoro. Upon arriving, they discover that man-eating space aliens have taken over the town by disguising themselves as humans wearing blue shirts. During their encounter with one of the aliens, Barry is killed and the others are attacked. Derek then contacts Frank and Ozzy before proceeding to interrogate an alien they had captured earlier named Robert. However, his ...