Eighties Horror Movies to Binge if You’re Doubting Consumer Culture this Pandemic

With all the time everyone has been spending at home during the pandemic, many people have found themselves making extra online purchases, binging the hottest TV shows, or maybe trying out a new hip diet and exercise routine. With nothing better to look at than screens, it is easier than ever to fall into the latest trends. If your wallet has a little to much room to breathe these days, incorporate one of these films into your next movie night to help cure your consumer craze.

CHILDS PLAY (1988)

This classic 1988 horror film centers around the infamous Good Guys “Chucky” doll. The Good Guys doll is marketed as an incredible new and exciting children’s toy: a friend of sorts that can talk back. Wanting to give her son Andy (Alex Vincent) the best, mother Karen (Catherine Hicks) buys the incredibly hard to find Good Guys doll off a peddler, unknowing of the evil spirit the doll inhibits. Like any fad item that hits the shelves (or online stores), many find themselves or their children feeling that they simply need the new item. Some people opt for alternatives, purchasing off-brand items or wait until they can buy it used (if applicable). Sadly, this mother trying to afford a nice gift for her son is frauded on the worst of levels. And the Chucky doll isn’t as fictional as it seems to be, as many people have found children’s toys such as animatronic Elmo dolls or their Alexa Echo acting a little out of sorts every now and then. Virtual assistants and AI have been a constant craze in the electronic market for the past few years, will it come with a consequence?

Stream CHILDS PLAY on Hulu here.

VIDEODROME (1983)

X-rated television channels and mind-bending alternate dimensions hardly cover the scope of the insanity in the 1983 film VIDEODROME. Max Renn (James Woods) owns a self-proclaimed trashy television channel, reserved for softcore pornography but desires to incorporate increasingly more hardcore and intense pornographic films. Max meets Nicki Brand (Blondie’s Deborah Harry), a gorgeous radio host that Max becomes completely enamored by. Nicki discovers the next thing in trash TV called Videodrome, a channel featuring BDSM, and wants to audition to become an actress for the channel. Both Nicki and Max get more than they bargained for when they realize Videodrome is far more than a television channel and instead simultaneously an alternate dimension and reality: the ultimate source of consumerism. Television and movies are easier to watch than ever and undoubtedly consumers demand only the highest quality and best access to their favorite shows and new modes of accessing media. What if virtual reality became your reality? Go ahead and watch just one more episode. Play one more game.

Stream VIDEODROME on YouTube here.

THE STUFF (1985)

GMO’s and diet culture surround the 1985 film THE STUFF. "The Stuff” is essentially a white low calorie and delicious treat loved by everyone and a guaranteed household staple. However, there are some shady experiments happening at “The Stuff” plant and some large mystery about how “The Stuff” is harvested. After young Jason (Scott Bloom) witnesses some of “The Stuff" move in his fridge, he becomes convinced that the gooey substance is controlling the minds of his family and others. Jason’s family begins a diet consisting solely of “The Stuff” and try everything possible to get Jason to eat "The Stuff" and join their obsession. Jason runs into former FBI Agent David Rutherford (Michael Moriarty) and the former advertisement director for “The Stuff”, Nicole (Andrea Marcovicci), who work together to find what is truly behind the all consuming and increasingly dangerous dessert. Wouldn't you love a tasty low-calorie food to effortlessly lose weight? Or maybe its better to keep questioning what exactly is in that meal-replacement shake.

Stream THE STUFF on Tubi here.

THEY LIVE (1988)

Ever worry about subliminal messages? The 1988 film THEY LIVE, takes this to a whole other extreme. George Nada (Roddy Piper) accidently discovers a pair of sunglasses that, to his surprise, unveil a whole entire world with aliens and secret messages behind every advertisement, magazine and box of cereal. Mankind is under a sort of spell it seems to obey, buy, and marry. George sets out to find and destroy the source that is clouding the minds and eyes of humans and help others see the truth. Social media algorithms, cookies, and digital footprints are worrying topics of privacy big CEOS are discussing all the time. But they don't seem to be slowing them down any time soon. Ever wonder why Instagram recommended you that pair of shoes you were just talking about?

Stream THEY LIVE on Peacock here.

GREMLINS (1984)

The 1984 film GREMLINS, remains a classic family film and oddly enough a great Christmas movie. After Randall (Hoyt Axton) buys his son Billy (Zach Galligan) an exotic pet mogwai, things go haywire after some crucial rules are broken in caring for the pet. Everyone wants their very own cute mogwai, but in attempts to reproduce it, hundreds of hungry and destructive gremlins sprout and wreak havoc on the town. The gremlins become obsessed with drinking alcohol, eating junk food, watching movies, and enjoying overall sloth and greed. Exotic or uncommon pets are bought all the time and given away when they grow out of the cute phase or can no longer be given enough attention. Aren't teacup pigs just adorable? Just wait until they grow up.

Stream GREMLINS on HBO Max here.