5 One-And-Done ’80s Slasher Movies That Are Ripe For A Reboot

I am not here to have a discussion as to whether or not director Jim Wynorski’s Chopping Mall is or is not actually a slasher movie. But it’s sort of on the cusp and probably isn’t a “pure” slasher in the way we’re discussing for the purposes of this list. In any event, this very fun, tight little campy horror flick about a bunch of teens getting carved up by a sentient robot in a mall is well worth one’s time.

Beyond that, it’s a concept that always felt like it had more in the tank. In the age of AI and other tech fears looming large? It feels like the perfect time to revive this concept for modern audiences. Be it a remake or some sort of legacy sequel, this one feels ripe for a return. 

There is something about a backwoods slasher. The Wrong Turn franchise is evidence that such things can have a lot of gas in the tank. Cut from a similar cloth but with far less recognition in the mainstream, 1981’s Just Before Dawn is a lean, mean backwoods slasher that tried to get in on the craze in the aftermath of Friday the 13th. 

Unfortunately, director Jeff Lieberman’s film never quite caught on and became more of a cult favorite in certain circles. But the concept, which revolves around Oregon hikers who ignore warnings and camp near inbred twins with deadly intentions, is ripe for more. Why not give this one the remake treatment? Unless the rights are a tangled mess, this feels like a low risk/high reward situation. Unless we do get another Wrong Turn movie sooner rather than later, someone needs to fill the backwoods killer hole in this particular subgenre. 

Tobe Hooper is one of the most legendary directors in horror history, if for no other reason than he made The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. But Hooper also put his stamp on the slasher genre at the height of the craze with 1981’s The Funhouse. Boasting special effects from the legendary Rick Baker and a ridiculously fun carnival setting, this one always felt like it could sustain more. While the time may well have passed for a sequel, a remake or modern reimagining of some kind wouldn’t exactly be sacrilege. If we can have new Leatherface films, why not this? 

The film centers on a girl named Amy (Elizabeth Berridge) who disobeys her father and goes to the carnival with her friends. After witnessing a murder, these teens are trapped in the maze of the funhouse and stalked by a horribly deformed killer who intends to butcher them one-by-one. It’s a premise that could easily be freshened up for modern audiences, and one that could give the right director a lot to work with. 

Horror fans probably know Jack Sholder for his work on films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge and The Hidden. One could make the argument that his most underrated accomplishment as a filmmaker is 1981’s Alone in the Dark. A damn fine, underseen movie with an all-time great premise, this is one that could easily warrant a fresh coat of paint for modern audiences, if for no other reason than to make use of the kickass set up. 

The film takes place after a power outage leaves a town in chaos as it allows several maniacs to escape from a nearby mental institution. They are now roaming the streets, with the area quickly descending into pure chaos, with an innocent few fighting for their lives in the darkness. It even has a bad guy in a hockey mask! Since we’re not getting a new Friday the 13th movie any time soon, why not have another guy take up his gimmick? Any jokes aside, with the right director, a redux of this premise could make for something truly special, particularly in the era of an over-reliance on technology. 

Of anything on this list, so far as commercial prospects are concerned, this feels like the biggest no-brainer. 1989’s Intruder featured Evil Dead director Sam Raimi and that movie’s star Bruce Campbell in minor roles as actors, making it a fun little gem for those who are aware of it. Directed by Scott Spiegel, of From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money and Hostel: Part III fame, this one has a deceptively simple, yet endlessly recyclable premise that could do for a revamp in the modern era. 

The film centers on a night-crew at a grocery store who have to contend with a killer on the loose. Again, it’s ridiculously simple but lends itself well to a remake. Plus, if one could get Raimi and/or Campbell on board as producers, given their ties to the original, it would give the film some instant cache. In modern Hollywood, IP is king and that’s why so many reboots happen. If we’re going to keep doing that, we might as well give an underseen slasher another shot at life and give Raimi an excuse to produce a new horror film. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain here. 

Perhaps the best pound-for-pound movie on this list, it might sound like sacrilege for some to suggest that 1981’s The Prowler be subject to a remake or reboot of any kind. Joseph Zito’s film arrives when the slasher craze was going full-tilt in the early ‘80s and, unlike many other imitators that came about, this one displayed some true craft and justified its existence beyond a cash grab. That is in no small part thanks to the work of visual effects legend Tom Savini. Still, it’s a title that grabs the eyes, has enough meaning to get the attention of producers, and certainly has gas in the tank for the right filmmaker to reinterpret. 

Director Joseph Zito’s film centers on a crazed World War II veteran who enacts revenge on his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend, only to emerge decades later to kill some teenagers. Again, it’s a malleable premise, but one that stands out from the crowd. Perhaps most important of all, the slasher at the center of the film has a great look, which always matters in this arena. With a twisted take on a military uniform and a thirst for blood, the titular Prowler feels ready to make a comeback. Your move, Hollywood. 

For more, check out FANGORIA #11 from the archives, featuring The Funhouse and My Bloody Valentine.