10 Amazing Overlooked Treasures from the 1980s You Should Check Out

      Tom Jolliffe highlights ten excellent hidden gems from the 1980s that you should definitely watch…

      The 1980s was a diverse era for cinema, marked by the rise of blockbusters and franchises. The success of home video allowed films to thrive beyond theaters, fostering a culture of cinema fandom that embraced cult classics. The 80s saw cult cinema gain significant traction, largely due to films enjoying a second life on VHS, a trend that continues today.

      During this decade, many fascinating successes, disappointing misfires, and bizarre films emerged, capturing varying levels of attention but leaving a multitude of movies that have been somewhat unfairly forgotten. Here are ten overlooked treasures from the 80s…

      **Body Double**

      Unlike Carrie or Blow Out, this film was criticized by critics who favored Dressed to Kill, and it didn't attract the same audience as The Untouchables or Scarface. Brian De Palma, known for his impressive filmography and Hitchcock-inspired potboilers, created Body Double during a peak period of his career. This film feels divisive, often forgotten, and showcases De Palma's usual flamboyance and lack of restraint, resulting in a thrilling, campy experience. Craig Wasson plays an awkward protagonist entangled in a murder scheme, with Melanie Griffith delivering a brilliant performance. Visually stunning and a technical marvel, Body Double is underrated within De Palma's body of work.

      **The Wraith**

      If you enjoy titles like The Crow, High Plains Drifter, Pale Rider, The Stranger, or Dolph Lundgren’s Missionary Man, then you’ll want to watch The Wraith. The plot revolves around a mysterious figure who arrives to confront a gang of criminals and is revealed to be a past victim, returned from the dead. This film includes a quintessential 80s element – a futuristic vehicle – as the hero, played by Charlie Sheen, zooms around in a modified black Dodge Charger. While the film is absurd, it offers plenty of enjoyment, featuring thrilling car chase sequences and impressive stunt work. Although Sheen’s character can seem bland, Cassavetes and Quaid inject fun into the experience.

      **The Man With Two Brains**

      Despite boasting a dream team of Carl Reiner (director, writer), Steve Martin (star, writer), and Kathleen Turner, this delightful blend of screwball and dark humor rarely gets the recognition it deserves. Martin portrays a brilliant neurosurgeon who marries a gold-digger (Turner) and eventually falls in love with a brain in a jar that can mentally communicate with him. A cheerful homage to ridiculous B movies and the comedic style of Jerry Lewis, The Man With Two Brains effectively showcases Martin’s strengths. The film is consistently entertaining, funny, and often heartwarming.

      **Nighthawks**

      Set in New York, two undercover cops known for their disregard for authority are enlisted in a task force to thwart an international terrorist. Sly Stallone and Billy Dee Williams play long-time partners tasked with stopping Rutger Hauer's character. Though the film may not have the iconic status of Rocky or Rambo, it stands out as an underrated thriller in Stallone's career. While stylistically it feels more aligned with the previous decade, it successfully builds tension in the intense cat-and-mouse chase involving Hauer’s character.

      **Roadgames**

      This Australian thriller features Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis, offering a gripping experience for fans of films like The Hitcher, Breakdown, Joy Ride, and Duel. Keach plays a truck driver who believes a green car is driven by a serial killer targeting solitary women. While pursuing the killer, he inadvertently becomes a suspect. Similar to Duel or The Hitcher, the film showcases tense, desolate settings and exciting action sequences. Although Keach and Curtis deliver great performances, Roadgames has not garnered the cult status it merits, although it did secure a well-deserved Blu-ray release from Arrow Video.

      **Running Scared**

      This title and its action genre are often overshadowed, leading to a hazy remembrance of the 1986 film. Though it may not rival Lethal Weapon or 48 Hours, Running Scared holds its ground among the plethora of enjoyable buddy cop films from that era. Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines may not seem like traditional action heroes, yet they effectively embody wise-cracking partners with great chemistry.

      **One Deadly Summer**

      With echoes of Hitchcock and Clouzot, this film also hints at Tinto Brass. It follows a stunning young woman who arrives in a small French village seeking work as a teacher, capturing the attention of the local men, including a firefighter named Ping-Pong. While she exerts a powerful charm over her admirers, her motives reveal darker intentions, particularly towards Ping-Pong, who becomes an instrument for her revenge. Although the film’s middle section can feel slow, it is often revitalized by Adjani’s frequent nudity and