Horror films in 1979 – hey maybe films of all genres to some degree – were all about style. Each of the films listed here put great emphasis on a strong style (all quite individual), and are all very much of their time… with one exception: my number one choice of 1979 horror was truly ahead of its time.

Honourable mentions

Salem’s Lot

Written by Paul Monash, based on the novel by Stephen King, directed by Tobe Hooper (USA, 1979)

I’m not including this in the main list because it was a TV mini-series in 1979, not a film as such. Still, it’s a scary and violent vampire show; and with this pedigree, I couldn’t possibly leave it out.

When a Stranger Calls

Written by Steve Feke and Fred Walton, directed by Fred Walton (USA, 1979)

More of a thriller than a horror, but When a Stranger Calls certainly feels like a horror. The opening 15 minutes certainly had me scared, perhaps because I remember what it was like to be a babysitter (though a few years later than this) and I’m certain the film inspired many of the babysitters as targets/victims in future horror films.

Prophecy

Written by David Seltzer, directed by John Frankenheimer (USA, 1979)

Environmental horror, political/racial messages and a monster movie all in one… lousy special effects, but terrific drama: how seventies can you get? 

The Driller Killer

Written by N.G. St. John, directed by Abel Ferrara (USA, 1979)

Categorised as “horror” purely because of its “video nasty” nature, The Driller Killer is the story of a young artist’s descent into madness. It is almost pure moody sleaze, made to feel more substantial with the use of intense sound design and Joe Delia’s music. It’s a fascinating watch as Abel Ferrara’s “origin story” as well as entertaining in its own right. To me, this is a violent indie thriller (think Dead Hooker in a Trunk, with less humour), rather than horror though, so I’m including it here simply in case anyone thinks I’d forgotten it.

10. Zombie Flesh Eaters (AKA Zombi 2)

Written by Elisa Briganti and directed by Lucio Fulci (Italy, 1979)

There are several vampire films in my 1979 list, but this is the only zombie film. Zombies were not new in 1979 (though granted neither were they anywhere near as widespread as today), but Zombie Flesh Eaters was pivotal in other ways. In this film, the zombies looked gruesome, truly dead, not just grey-faced or wearing tatty clothing: the zombie cast may as well have actually been decomposing. Oh and they were relentless, and their spread was relentless too: this was scary. Add to that the supreme level of gore (even close-up), and you could pretty much smell the decay on the hot Caribbean beach.

I confess, Zombie Flesh Eaters is not my style (which is why I place it at #10), because both the over-the-top style and the dichotomy of death alongside jolly music and bikinis jars for me too much; it looked like comedy at times, yet had serious content. Many horror fans love it though; and if you want to know what horror looked like in 1979, this film simply has to be included.

9.  Beyond the Darkness (AKA Buio Omega)

Written Ottavio Fabbri, based on the story by Giacomo Guerrini, directed by Joe D’Amato (Italy, 1979)

Now, we’re into artsy territory. Beyond the Darkness looks sophisticated – at least at first – but turns out just as explicitly gruesome as Zombie Flesh Eaters, with D’Amato deliberately pushing limits and aiming for his audience to throw up.

This one focuses on unhealthy obsession, rather than anything supernatural, with a young man, Frank (Kieran Canter) digging up and stuffing his deceased fiance to keep her with him; not realising the fiance had been killed by his jealous housekeeper. This is followed by scenes of murder, mutilation and embalming, as Frank’s obsession and that of his housekeeper collide.

A very different Italian horror experience to Zombie Flesh Eaters, with no humour, and with tense synth soundtrack by Goblin instead of the crowd-pleasing pop.

8.  The Amityville Horror

Written by Sandor Stern, based on the book by Jay Anson, and directed by Stuart Rosenberg (USA, 1979)

This was the film which set the trend for horrors (especially so called haunted house films) “based on a true story”, though there has always been doubt about just how true it was, of course. Margot Kidder and James Brolin played the unhappy homeowners, and Rod Steiger the sympathetic priest who tried to help. The overacting is dreadful, but the tension works very well (and I’m sure it must have been scary at the cinema at the time), even though there is nowhere near as many spooky “incidents” as would feature in similar films these days.

The ending is famously anticlimactic; but in my opinion, for those who suspend their disbelief while watching, this can work well: if a haunting is not resolved, the house not “cleaned”, surely viewers would feel justified in staying scared well after the film is done… it’s not over.

7.  Dracula

Screenplay by W.D. Richter, based on the novel by Bram Stoker, directed by John Badham (UK/USA, 1979)

This Dracula story was based on a stage play more than the original novel, and featured the first Count Dracula who was presented as seductive, rather than sinister. In fact, Frank Langella almost seems to be channelling John Travolta from Saturday Night Fever, which Badham had not long finished directing.

And what a cast! Laurence Olivier and Donald Pleasence, who both seemed utterly at home in their period horror, as did Trevor Eve in his first film role (as Jonathan Harker). They hardly needed to exaggerate their acting at all though, as the lush production and sets laid the goth on thick instead. A romantic tragedy which harks back to the British tradition of period dramas, while looking forward to new romantic glamour.

6.  The Brood

Written and directed by David Cronenberg (Canada, 1979)

Now I know that David Cronenberg isn’t known for light entertainment, but damn, The Brood was serious, acutely visceral, probably the most emotionally intense film in this list. Indeed, it came as no surprise to discover Cronenberg wrote it during his (apparently vicious) divorce: what other filmmaker could project this angst as body horror?

Oliver Reed plays Dr. Hal Raglan, a psychiatrist with unusual therapeutic techniques: he brings out his patients’ neuroses and anger in the form of bodily growths. Frank Carveth (Art Hindle) is concerned about Raglan’s treatment of his wife Nola (Samantha Eggar). And at the same time, there are some gruesome murders taking place… Strange, childlike mutants connect these elements of the story, but I shan’t reveal how: do watch The Brood, but my advice would be only when you’re feeling particularly resilient.

5.  Tourist Trap

Written by David Schmoeller and J. Larry Carroll, directed by David Schmoeller (USA, 1979)

Tourist Trap is deeply atmospheric and very unusual; unusual because of the way it successfully blends different subgenres into one plot: slasher, backwoods terror and the supernatural. It follows a group of attractive young friends (including pre-Charlie’s Angels Tanya Roberts) whose Jeep gets a flat tyre and they seek help at a gas station they passed on the way, piquing the attention of a local (Chuck Connors) who is not entirely what he seems…

If you know The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Cabin in the Woods, you might think you know what to expect from here on. Sure, the friends get picked off one by one (and like Texas Chainsaw, there aren’t actually many deaths); but in this film, capture includes the risk of being added to a weird museum, turned into a mannequin while still alive.

4.  Thirst

Written by John Pinkney and directed by Rod Hardy (Australia, 1979)

I hadn’t heard of Thirst until researching for this article, but half an hour into it I knew it had to go high up on my recommendations: Thirst is brutal, twisted and original. Oh, and David Hemmings (Blow-Up) is in it.

Thirst is about a community of wealthy people who wish to be vampires and – whether they can be or not – believe the consumption of human blood is a luxury and can keep them young. I shan’t describe how they maintain this society: if you haven’t seen it, I wouldn’t want to soften the shock. They kidnap a descendant of Countess Bathory, in the hope that by initiating her into their ways, she will bring their community to its peak.

By and large, you can’t go wrong with Australian horror.

3.  Phantasm

Written and directed by Don Coscarelli (USA, 1979)

I didn’t watch Phantasm for many years and kicked myself when I finally did, for not having seen it before: I think it was because the posters made it look daft, but instead, this is a surreal horror adventure. The down-to-Earth characters, the sort no-one would believe if they talked about a Tall Man and silver balls with blades, reminded me of the Losers Club from IT: they took on this stranger because there was little alternative.

I loved the surreal creepiness of the film (which was unlike anything I’d seen before) and the absence of any explanation… and unusually for a “franchise” film, this is one where I am interested to hunt down the sequels.

2.  Nosferatu the Vampyre

Written and directed by Werner Herzog (West Germany/France, 1979)

Now the first of three vampire films in this list, and the second remake; well, intended as a modern homage to the silent Nosferatu, rather than a remake. It is longer than the original, but does not require any patience: Nosferatu the Vampyre is strikingly beautiful at times, and had my gooseflesh tingling almost constantly. It’s not just attention to visual detail and period style which makes it, but the use of sound and music – sometimes quiet, sometimes epic – which might seem a little clicheed or overdone now, but is deeply effective. I must say I didn’t expect this, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen for the whole of this film: it’s absolutely captivating.

The cast is also worth a mention: Klaus Kinski’s Count Dracula comes across both lonely and toxic; while Isabelle Adjani’s Lucy Harker is the perfect damsel victim. Most notable (to me) was Bruno Ganz, who plays Jonathan Harker with tender realism; he can be seen on Netflix in The Party, though sadly died earlier this year.

1.  Alien

Written by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett, directed by Ridley Scott (UK/USA, 1979)

Alien has to be #1 on the list of horror films from 1979; indeed in my opinion, it should be top of any list that features it. Alien is one of the greatest sci-fi films ever, one of the greatest horror films ever, and was both original in style and ahead of its time in many respects.

I won’t waste your time by describing the story, but I will respond to the often repeated comment: “Alien is sci-fi, not horror”. It can be both: there is no question of its sci-fi nature, but as for horror, let me count the ways…

We have a group of differing characters banding together against an unknown threat; that unknown threat turns out to be huge; it is incredibly difficult to find (yet on more than one occasion right above them); double jaws! It bursts through a man’s chest! If that’s not enough, there is an android who loses it, and a corporate conspiracy, and a number of violent deaths. All that in the isolation of deep space, beyond range of back-up or even a message home.
Alien was utter genius, and only once did Scott make another film as good.