80s Movies I Watched More Than Once
The majority of my childhood was consuming media. Reading books while the television was on kinda kid. Because of this and an aunt who got us free HBO, I had a steady stream of low budget movies going in one ear on a consistent basis. Not complete "unknown" movies, but those that either did not get a full release or have been lost under the dunes of memory sand ready to be uncovered.
Here's a bunch I pulled up from my brain. Do I remember the plot well enough? Can I convince you to seek them out? Are these questions just here to fill the word count I have set for myself?
Cloak and Dagger (1984)
A young boy finds that the video game he just purchased contains government secrets so he's on the run with help from his imaginary friend.
Many on this list can count as "I watched it too soon." I don't think I understood how violent and adult this plot was. I probably only got to watch it because the kid from ET was in it.
Monster Squad (1987)
A group of kids gets together to fight a group of classic monsters before the monsters create the apocalypse.
I love this fucking movie so much. Entry horror at its best, it's probably the most well known on this list. Wolfman has nards, indeed.
My Science Project (1985)
A teenager finds an alien artifact that turns his high school into place out of time that he must battle through.
Something about this grimy little flick makes me happy. Could be the hero who does not want to be, the weird side characters, the scene where they race lightning, or Dennis Hopper being just wild.
The Wraith (1986)
A futuristic car kills a gang of murderers.
I think that's the plot. All I have in my memory is the car (a slick looking future mobile that looks like an ibuprofen of death) and Charlie Sheen. Both were disappointing, but it's still a movie to watch if your hangover is too far gone.
Also, Sherylin Fenn.
The Legend of Billie Jean (1985)
A young woman and a pack of misfits go on the run while the nation watches.
I have not seen this one in forever, but my sister and I watched it at least a dozen times a week. Starring Helen and Christian Slater (not related) the movie had something of a hold on me if only because it was on all the time.
Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
A girl moves next door and befriends a quiet boy who may or may not have special powers.
Think of this as the Karate Kid, but instead of learning karate we all learn about the human condition and grief. And autism? To be honest, the only reason I watched this every time was when Fred Savage gets bullied and near the end turns the tables on his bullies. It's juvenile but it was very fun.
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
Sherlock Holmes is in school and murders are afoot.
Fans of the detective might as well check it out. Fans of film history will check it out for the first use of CGI. Fans of anything else, I don't know why you should watch it other than to kill some time in the doctor's waiting room.
D.A.R.Y.L. (1985)
A robot boy exists and escapes or something?
I have no idea. But my friend said I had to put this here and even he had no idea what it was about. I remember the little robotic boy and that's all.
Just One of the Guys (1985)
A girl goes undercover as a boy in another high school to write a story about being a boy as a girl.
Not exactly done well by today's standards. But honestly, I was coming of age when this came out. It has Sherilyn Fenn guys.
Lady in White (1988)
A young boy is locked in a closet and gets drawn into an old mystery about a woman being murdered and its connections to recent murders.
Man, that kid waiting in the closet and seeing the ghost murder scared the hell out of me. I watched this repeatedly, but pretty much turned off the movie after that because the rest is a haze. For some reason I want Gary Busey to be in this, too, but he is not.
Dirt Bike Kid (1985)
A magical dirt bike does magical things with the kid from Christmas Story.
Pretty much this is just Herbie the Love Bug: The Bike. What's a plot when you have a dirt bike that flies!? I'm serious about that, someone please answer me.
Walk Like a Man (1987)
A rich child is raised by wolves and then found, causing havoc as he is taught to live in normal society.
People think I'm joking when I talk about this movie. Howie Mandel growling like a wolf and rolling around. Yes, the briefcase guy. He used to put condoms on his head, then he did this movie, then nobody heard from him until he opened money briefcases (love you, Howie, but strange career). I probably watched this because Christopher Lloyd was in it and Back to the Future is still amazing.
Tank (1984)
When his son is arrested on a trumped up charge, a career army soldier uses his Sherman tank to break the kid out.
It's a tank. Used against police. James Garner and C Thomas Howell play well as father and son and there's a goddamn tank fighting the police. Five stars, no notes