The 1980s were undeniably a fantastic decade for the horror genre. It was the decade that gave us classics such as The Shining and The Thing. It's the decade responsible for the slasher boom that gave us iconic villains such as Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees. Many '80s franchises continue to thrive today, such as The Evil Dead, showcasing the longevity of '80s horror. Zombies, vampires, and monsters had their moments in '80s horror films as well. It was a phenomenal time for the genre, but it wasn't only for the classics it bred.

Countless horror films were made in the '80s. Many of these films have been outshone by the bona fide classics the decade was home to. The '80s gave birth to numerous hidden gems equally deserving of horror fans' attention. From slashers to supernatural possessions, the decade produced many underrated indie films that have likely flown under your radar. With that in mind, here are ten overlooked indie horror movies from the '80s:

10 Intruder (1989)

Slashers ruled the '80s after films like Halloween and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre were released in the '70s. By the decade's end, the craze had begun to fizzle out, leaving indie flicks such as Intruder in the dust. The film follows a group of young grocery store employees staying late to take inventory. After kicking out the ex-boyfriend of one of the cashiers, the young employees start dying one by one.

A Gory, Fun, Overlooked Indie Gem

Intruder is both an homage and a parody of the horror subgenre that fans adore. It's a campy blast that both satiates the need for gore and a good time. The film takes such a mundane setting as the grocery store and turns it into a fun-filled nightmare, keeping you engaged for its entire 88-minute run-time.

We see employees goofing off on the job before the mayhem begins, leaving severed body parts strewn about the small town store. It also features iconic director-actor duo Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. Stream Intruder for free on Tubi.

9 The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)

Continuing the slasher craze that started in the late '70s, Amy Holden Jones' The Slumber Party Massacre utilizes the best (and worst) traits from the subgenre to its advantage. The film follows an 18-year-old high school student who throws a slumber party for her fellow basketball teammates. The same night she throws the party, an escaped murderer with a pension for power tools is at large and looking to let off some steam.

Drillin' and Killin'

Similarly to Intruder, The Slumber Party Massacre is both an homage and a parody of the slasher subgenre. This film leans more into the parody approach, purposefully exaggerating the characteristics of slashers that poke fun at the subgenre. From a woman's perspective, Jones deconstructs the male gaze typically seen in slashers and creates a bloody, campy endeavor.

There is a comically heavy emphasis on watching unsuspecting people and the placement of weapons that makes it an incredibly fun watch. Stream The Slumber Party Massacre on Shudder or for free on Tubi.

8 Near Dark (1987)

Before directing hits like Point Break or winning an Oscar for The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow continued her filmmaking career with her second feature film, Near Dark. It centers around a Midwestern farm boy named Caleb (Adrian Pasdar) who unwillingly becomes part of the undead when he meets a mysterious girl. He is forced to travel around the country with her band of southern vampires, who roam the highways in stolen cars.

Kathryn Bigelow's Horror Spectacle

With beloved horror movies like The Lost Boys dominating vampire media in the '80s, Near Dark was released in its shadow. The film takes a Southern neo-western setting and turns it into a vampire story where the scorching sun and desert become dangerous for the central characters. These vamps don't just light on fire in the sun, they explode.

The band of undead criminals take pleasure in exploiting their human victims by way of playing with their food. With a stand-out performance from Bill Paxton as the arrogant, sarcastic, unhinged Severen, Near Dark is a gothic vampire story like no other. Stream Near Dark on The Criterion Channel.

7 From Beyond (1986)

Underrated horror director Stuart Gordon's first outing into the world of H.P. Lovecraft was with 1985's Re-Animator, also marking the first time he worked with frequent collaborators Jeffery Combs and Barbara Crampton. The trio got together the following year to make From Beyond, another Lovecraftian sci-fi horror film.

It revolves around a scientist, Crawford Tillinghast (Combs), who helps develop the Resonator, a machine that allows humans to see beyond normal perceptible reality. When the experiment succeeds, otherworldly lifeforms begin attacking anyone within reach.

Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Stuart Gordon, and H.P. Lovecraft Reunite

As far as '80s B-horror movies go, From Beyond is one of the best. It is a perfect blend of the sci-fi and horror genres, with campy humor sprinkled throughout. The creature designs are gnarly, the colors capture the neon aesthetic of the decade, and the acting is exaggerated just enough to fit this style of horror. The film is stylistically and tonally quite similar to Re-Animator, but the decade's signature over-the-top gore is emphasized. Stream From Beyond on Prime Video.

6 Night of the Comet (1984)

Leaning a bit more toward the comedic aspect, Thom Eberhardt's Night of the Comet is a riotous good time. The horror comedy takes place the day after a comet wipes out most of the human population, leaving teenage sisters Regie (Catherine Mary Stewart) and Samantha (Kelli Maroney) alone to fend off zombies and a nefarious group of scientists running a think tank.

It's the End of the World as We Know it

The horror comedy includes just about every teenage trope one can think of. From the quintessential "valley girl" to obsessively playing arcade games, the movie is a clever parody of both horror films and teen comedies. When the sisters realize there's no one left in their city, where do they go? To the mall to try on clothes and play with electronics.

When they realize the whole burden of civilization has fallen upon them, one sister takes it ever so seriously, while the other brushes past it. It's a silly yet smart film that never takes itself too seriously. Stream Night of the Comet for free on Tubi.

5 Possession (1981)

By Polish director Andrzej Żuławski, Possession is a supernatural horror drama co-produced between France and Germany. The film follows a young woman named Anna (Isabelle Adjani) who leaves her family for an unspecified reason. Her husband Mark (Sam Neil) is determined to find out the truth, so he follows her. At first, he suspects a man is involved. That suspicion falters as he gradually witnesses strange behaviors and bizarre incidents that indicate something more sinister than an affair.

A Must-See for Body Horror Lovers

For fans of psychological horror and body horror, Possession is a must-see. It is an incredible cinematic depiction of the descent to madness as both Anna and Mark's minds unravel as their relationship unravels. The visuals are appropriately bleak, and the synth score elevates the sinister themes. The film is set in a deteriorating West Germany when the Berlin Wall was still up, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. Stream Possession on Shudder.

4 Prom Night (1980)

Fresh off the success of Halloween, Jamie Lee Curtis took on another role in a slasher movie called Prom Night. For six years, four high school seniors have been harboring the tragic secret of what happened to then-10-year-old Robin Hammond the day her broken body was found near an abandoned convent. Though it was an accident, the then-12-year-olds vowed never to tell anyone for fear they might get in trouble for bullying her. Someone was watching that day, however, and now they're looking to enact revenge on prom night.

Another Classic Jamie Lee Curtis Horror Movie

Prom Night may not be as sophisticated as its more well-known peers, but it's certainly fun. It's a melodramatic teenage romp through the slasher subgenre that features more disco dancing than one might anticipate.

The prom's theme is "Disco Madness" and the movie fully runs with it. Set to a pulsing disco soundtrack, the movie lets its characters run wild in the second half. Stream Prom Night on Prime Video.

3 Chopping Mall (1986)

Set in the number one hangout spot for teens of the '80s, Chopping Mall follows a group of mall employees who stay late to throw a party in the furniture store. The mall has implemented a new security system with impenetrable doors monitored by Secure-tronics. When the security robots malfunction and the mall goes into lockdown, the robots decide that their mission is to kill everyone in the mall.

A Blast from the Past

Perhaps the most '80s-centric movie on this list, Chopping Mall is a wildly fun ride from start to finish. A mix of the '80s views of futuristic technology and teenagers being teenagers makes for a wonderfully campy horror comedy. It never takes itself seriously and instead embraces its ridiculous nature. The robots even say "Thank you, have a nice day" after each kill, which is enough to make this worth watching. Stream Chopping Mall on Shudder or for free on Tubi.

2 The Prowler (1981)

Another early slasher movie, The Prowler follows an unknown killer dressed in Army fatigues as he stalks a small coastal town. After receiving a break-up letter while serving in WWII, the killer murdered his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend at their graduation dance. Bent on reliving the 35-year-old double murder, he sets his sights on a group of college seniors planning a graduation dance, which is the first to be held since the murders.

One of Horror's Most Underrated Slashers

The movie was not hugely successful when it was released in 1981, despite it being the height of the slasher craze. It has since developed a small cult following. Slashers are inherently violent, but the gore in this film is harsher than most, as it lacks the comedic element many slashers adopt. The camera often lingers a little too long for comfort, adding to the ominous atmosphere of the film. Stream The Prowler on Prime Video or Shudder.

Related: Underrated Horror Movies of the 1980s, Ranked

1 Society (1989)

Brian Yuzna's Society centers around an ordinary teenage boy named Bill (Billy Warlock) who worries that he is too different from his parents and sister. They fraternize with the upper class, while Bill prefers to be more down-to-Earth. Even his girlfriend strikes him as a little too different from him. Bill's suspicions are confronted when he comes home to a party in full swing.

A Goopy Special Effects Spectacle

Society features some gruesome imagery that showcases the extent to which special effects work evolved in the '80s. Fans of body horror will be entertained as it shows people meshed together and contorted in bizarre positions. It is a queasy social satire that uses disgusting body horror to condemn capitalist practices in an unforgettably comedic and gory way. Stream Society on Kanopy.