Top 10 "WTF Did I Just Watch!?" 80s Movies

#10: Deadly Friend (1986)

No stranger to groundbreaking cinema, Wes Craven was certainly a horror icon for A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream. Deadly Friend didnt receive the same acclaim for its over-the-top antics or violence. It concerns what happens when brainiac Paul Conway revives Samantha Pringle with a microchip. That might seem a little outlandish, but that doesnt even include what happens when this decision proves deadly. The new Pringle goes from a teenager to a serial killer. This wild slasher throws logic out the window to entertain you. As Conway and others try to stop the murders, Craven pushes the idea to its extreme.

#9: Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)

Created by five directors, Amazon Women on the Moon is an anthology that satirizes all kinds of bad movies. This makes it something of a meta-mashup of sordid, wacky, and unsavory ideas. Thrilling plots, evil villains, and low-budget effects all get their due in this film. Theres also work from notable directors like Joe Dante and John Landis. Youll be surprised to see everyone from Arsenio Hall to Steve Gutenberg, with these performers playing clumsy, unlucky, and weird characters. Just when you think you have a handle on a scenario, the movie switches to another station. You could call it a stranger The Twilight Zone with even more off-the-wall concepts.

#8: Xtro (1983)

This is not your average alien abduction story. In the case of Xtro, you might be too grossed out to watch the whole thing. Sam Phillips disappears in a flash and a creature returns years later to start a disturbing cycle of rebirth. The hero causes havoc as his new self, while his son Tony summons a clown and a toy soldier. Talk about a real awful father and son duo. We might not be doing the plot justice, but we dont know if we can describe it all here. The result could be described as some cross between Alien and The Thing. Its just the kind of schlocky horror you might love, or need to watch through your hands.

#7: Brain Damage (1988)

If you know Frank Henenlotter as a director, you know what youre in for with Brain Damage. Hes less Steven Spielberg and much more campy about his horror projects. The hero Brian comes into contact with Aylmer, with the latter offering short-term fun in exchange for other brains to eat. This twisted partnership creates some horrifying and ridiculous moments. While the hero wants out of the arrangement, he finds himself stuck in a complicated nightmare. This includes having to feed his host and cue up some striking death scenes. By the end, Henenlotter makes a case for why B-movies can be both an artform and an insane experience. Dont get us started on the villains funny voice either.

#6: Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

The title alone should tell you everything. In this horror film, audiences get to see what happens when an extra-terrestrial circus comes to town. A group of aliens come to earth to find food and scare everyone involved. Humans then have to find a way to survive a popcorn weapon and other amusing acts. Theres a goofy style here, as if the Barnum & Bailey show went terribly wrong. Its become something of a cult classic for its iconography, over-the-top nature, and memorable villains. Sometimes a movie gives you exactly what you want, but theres also a few pies thrown your way for good measure.

#5: The Toxic Avenger (1984)

From the fine folks at Troma Entertainment, The Toxic Avenger might be among their most famous works. Lloyd Kaufman and company nearly outdo themselves here. When he encounters toxic waste, a janitor turns into the most unlikely superhero. His mutated form is much more disturbing than your average Marvel film. He seeks revenge on his bullies, falls in love, and even helps out the community. This movie includes some truly gross-out sights and low-budget effects, adding to its status as a campy classic. Pushing things to the edge, this plot forces a former nerd to become a vigilante. This is the furthest thing from an average superhero origin story.

#4: Repo Man (1984)

This movie is nothing short of singular given its unique premise. What happens when a punk rocker starts to repossess cars? If thats not enough, one vehicle might end up being something much more alien altogether. Emilio Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton play men searching through crime-infested Los Angeles. You have to parse out whats really happening through robberies, weird conversations, and car chases. The otherworldly ending might have you questioning everything you saw before it. Rather than giving you answers, the movie sends you off with a few mysteries and some trippy images to ponder.

#3: Pee-wees Big Adventure (1985)

From the mind of Paul Reubens, this role reached the silver screen under the direction of Tim Burton in his feature-length directorial debut. The visionary minds concocted a visual feast thats sometimes inexplicable and otherwise hilarious. After his bike is stolen, Pee-wee Herman goes on a road trip to find it. This includes more than a few detours to meet some unlikely characters. Not only is the hero eccentric, he encounters a few scary obstacles and even finds time to dance. Burton unleashes his visionary style onto a world that looks similar to ours, but seems to include more than a few odd changes. Youll need to watch it a few times to pick up on all the lovable and surreal details.

#2: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

Its hard to call this movie anything short of fully-loaded. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai gives you a whole host of genres mixed together with an adventure plot. At the center of it all, the title character tries to save the world. Peter Wellers hero can seemingly do it all, putting others to shame with his musical and scientific talents. You might be questioning Banzais many skills in between inter-galactic intrigue and sci-fi absurdity. The screenwriters may or may not have included too much for one film. With the battle against the Red Lectroids, this story juggles many twists and turns on its way to the entertaining conclusion.

#1: Forbidden Zone (1980)

In this midnight movie, the filmmakers turn experimental theater into a cinematic firestorm. The results might be bizarre even for a cult film. Huckleberry P. Jones finds another dimension in a basement, leading to all kinds of royal mishaps for members of the Hercules clan. The Elfman family are involved in this production, with Danny doing the music. An assorted cast of random actors including Hervé Villechaize as King Fausto. Even Satan makes an appearance at one point singing a version of Minnie the Moocher. This story about a daring rescue and a strange world defies logic, with animation and musical numbers to emphasize the surreal plot. Its also a way to enjoy a theater troupe known as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.

Did we forget another 80s movie that leaves you confused? Let us know in the comments below.