10 Amazing Overlooked Treasures of the 1980s

      Here are ten fantastic forgotten films from the 1980s… How many have you seen?

      The 1980s was a diverse era for cinema. Blockbusters and franchises started to dominate, while the rise of home video allowed films to thrive beyond theaters. Although cinema fandom has traditionally gathered in specific cults, the concept of cult cinema truly blossomed in the 80s, largely due to the new life films found on VHS, and it continues to thrive today.

      The decade produced a myriad of intriguing successes, overblown failures, and unique oddities that garnered varying levels of interest, alongside many films that have been unjustly overlooked over time. Here are ten hidden treasures from the 80s…

      **Body Double**

      It wasn’t as well received as Carrie or Blow Out. Critics were quick to dismiss it in favor of the more popular Dressed to Kill, and it certainly didn’t gain the same widespread appeal as The Untouchables or Scarface.

      Brian De Palma has created numerous great films and often explored Hitchcock-inspired thrillers in the past. Body Double feels like a polarizing, love-it-or-hate-it, slightly forgotten De Palma film that came during a period of his most acclaimed works. Essentially, De Palma amplified his already distinctive style and unabashed excess, crafting a wild, twisting, and trashy yet (if you embrace it) brilliant thriller in Body Double. There’s an element that borders on parody of the Hitchcockian sub-genre that was prevalent in Hollywood at the time. Craig Wasson plays an awkward and at times uncomfortable protagonist ensnared in a murder plot, while Melanie Griffith shines as well. The film looks spectacular and serves as a technical showcase, typical of De Palma's prime, and I think it deserves more recognition in his body of work.

      If you enjoy a Hitchcockian tale, be sure to check out the campaign for Flickering Myth’s upcoming film project Death Among The Pines, where you can earn special thanks credits, and opportunities for associate and executive producer roles.

      **The Wraith**

      If you appreciate films like The Crow, High Plains Drifter, Pale Rider, The Stranger, or Dolph Lundgren’s Missionary Man, then you’ll want to dive into The Wraith, which features a familiar plot of a stranger arriving in town to take down a vicious gang, only to reveal he was once a victim himself, returned from the grave. This film includes the quintessential 80s movie element of a sci-fi super vehicle, with the hero (played by Charlie Sheen) racing around in a modified black Dodge Charger. Sheen confronts a punk gang led by Nick Cassavetes. It's over-the-top but undeniably fun.

      Given that our avenging spirit drives a sleek, futuristic sports car, it’s no surprise that much of the action consists of exhilarating car chases. There are some memorable sequences filled with impressive practical effects and stunts. Ah, the nostalgia of in-camera action! Sheen appears somewhat bland, despite his character's enigmatic nature, but Cassavetes and Randy Quaid bring energy, ensuring the film is an amusing romp.

      **The Man With Two Brains**

      Despite the star power of Carl Reiner (director, writer), Steve Martin (lead, writer), and Kathleen Turner, this screwball comedy with dark humor seems to lack the appreciation it deserves. Martin portrays a talented brain surgeon who marries a gold-digger (Turner) but then becomes enamored with a brain in a jar that communicates telepathically with him.

      A cheerful tribute to silly (and terrible) B-movies and the humor of figures like Jerry Lewis, this film allows Martin to shine. The Man With Two Brains is thoroughly entertaining, consistently funny, and often charming.

      **Nighthawks**

      Two undercover cops in New York, known for bending the rules and challenging authority, are recruited to join a task force aimed at thwarting an international terrorist bent on causing havoc in the city. Sly Stallone and Billy Dee Williams portray longtime partners tasked with confronting Rutger Hauer. Although they succeed as characters, the intense presence of Hauer overshadows them as actors.

      Coming after Rocky and preceding First Blood, Nighthawks is an often-forgotten yet underrated thriller within Stallone’s filmography. While it may not share the iconic status of Rocky or Rambo, nor be as notoriously bad as Rhinestone or as cultish as Demolition Man, it stands as a solid action thriller. The film feels stylistically outdated compared to others of its time but still effectively builds tension in the high-stakes race against Wolfgang (Hauer).

      **Roadgames**

      This superb Australian thriller stars Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis, making it a standout for fans of films like The Hitcher, Breakdown, Joy Ride, and Duel. Keach plays a truck driver who suspects that a green car he’s seen belongs to a serial killer targeting