This is the second in a series of articles where we’ll be covering the Top Films About Ghosts and Hauntings. This subgenre also includes Films About Haunted Houses, Films About the Paranormal, Films About The Supernatural, Films About Evil Spirits and Films About Séances. Also, because themes of the Supernatural and Paranormal can cover a broad range of Horror subgenres, we’ve tried to isolate films that specifically deal with Ghosts (and resulting Hauntings) for this list.
This second article will cover the Top Films about Ghosts and Hauntings You Haven’t Seen from the 1980’s and you can check out additional articles by decade below. We are also going to include a Best Of subgenre article as a grand finale. There are so many great Ghost films over the last 60 years that we felt it best to break down some of the subgenre’s forgotten and lesser-known gems by decade before we give you the Best Of list which will likely feature many films you’ve already heard of or have seen.
- Top Films About Ghosts & Hauntings You Haven’t Seen – 1970’s
- Top Films About Ghosts & Hauntings You Haven’t Seen – 1980’s
- Top Films About Ghosts & Hauntings You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s
- Top Films About Ghosts & Hauntings You Haven’t Seen – 2000 – 2004
- Top Films About Ghosts & Hauntings You Haven’t Seen – 2005 – 2009
- Top Films About Ghosts & Hauntings You Haven’t Seen – 2010 – 2014
- Top Films About Ghosts & Hauntings You Haven’t Seen – 2015 – 2019
- Best Recent Films About Ghosts & Hauntings
- Best Films About Ghosts & Hauntings
After the success of The Amityville Horror (1979), Films About Haunted Houses became a major theme of the subgenre in the 1980’s. This theme was so prevalent throughout the decade that Hauntings would extend to some very unique places and environments. Additional subgenre themes of the decade would include ghostly possessions of people and objects and the arrival of Comedy into various films about haunted houses and ghosts.
The traditional Haunted House theme often included a person or family or moving into a new house with a reveal (often in flashback) to how the house became haunted. This type of Haunted House theme would be found in prominent 80’s subgenre films including The Changeling (1980), The Watcher in the Woods (1980), The Nesting (1981), Poltergeist (1982), Amityville II: The Possession (1982), Heartbeat (1983), House (1986), Shadow Play (1986), Scared Stiff (1987), Beetlejuice (1988), Ghosthouse (1988), Twice Dead (1988), Sweet Home (1989) and The Haunting of Sarah Hardy (1989).
As the Haunted House theme took over the decade, it inevitably led to various haunted locations or places. Death Ship (1980) took place on a haunted Nazi torture ship, The Shining (1980) featured the haunted Overlook Hotel, The Lift (1983) had a haunted elevator and Prison (1987) involved a prison haunted by an executed prisoner. However, the weirdest and most unique haunting of the decade award goes to Pulse (1988). This was a film about ‘haunted electricity’ that traveled to homes and terrorized occupants through their own appliances.
Though films about possessions became one of the most popular horror subgenres of the 80’s, most of these films involved demonic possession. We have demonic possessions categorized in our Films About Exorcisms & Possessions list but there were films of this subgenre that were more focused on ghostly or spiritual possessions. The Entity (1982) involved an evil spirit that sexually assaults and attempts to possess a woman, Don’t Go to Sleep (1982) features a family’s daughter that is possessed by her deceased sister and Dolls (1987) tells the tale of killer dolls hunting clueless 80’s teenagers at night.
Once a subgenre matures and tropes start to develop, it will inevitably lead to the inclusion of comedic elements within the subgenre. Various forms of comedy appeared in the subgenre in the 80’s from the Buddy Comedy about paranormal events in Ghostbusters (1984) to the Dark Comedy about a haunted house and ‘bio-exorcist’ in Beetlejuice (1988). On the other end of the spectrum, you had Horror films with comedic elements such as House (1986) and Spookies (1986). And in the middle, you would have a film like House of the Long Shadows (1983) that balanced Horror, Mystery and Comedy to a parody-like effect.
Our complete list of Films About The Paranormal, Hauntings & Ghosts features over 526+ films from 1961 – 2023. This collection features almost every film involving a ghost, evil spirit, ghost possessing a person, haunted houses, hauntings and broader themes of the paranormal and supernatural. If you don’t see a film in our collection, it is likely in other collections such as Films About Gothic Horror, Films About Exorcisms & Possession and Films About The Devil, Demons & Hell. Also, as we’re always updating our collections and will be releasing additional articles of great Films About Ghosts & Hauntings, subscribe to our newsletter for our latest updates as we post them.
Classic Films About Ghosts & Hauntings from the 1980’s: The Fog (1980), The Changeling (1980), The Shining (1980), Poltergeist (1982), Ghostbusters (1984), House (1986), Beetlejuice (1988), Ghostbusters II (1989) and Shocker (1989).
Lesser-known Films About Ghosts & Hauntings from the 1980’s that didn’t make our list: Inferno (1980), The Queen of Black Magic (1981), The Nesting (1981), The Appointment (1981), Don’t Go to Sleep (1982), The House (1983), The Lift (1983), Heartbeat (1983), The Lost Tribe (1983), The Boxer’s Omen (1983), In an Old Manor House or The Independence of Triangles (1985), The Oracle (1985), Spookies (1986), Gothic (1986), Dolls (1987), A Chinese Ghost Story (1987), Prison (1987), Pulse (1988), Twice Dead (1988), Witch Story (1989), The Haunting of Sarah Hardy (1989) and The Woman in Black (1989).
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Here is our list of the Top Films About Ghosts & Hauntings You Haven’t Seen from the 1980’s:
#10
Scared Stiff
Plot: A rock star (Mary Page Keller), her son and her psychiatrist (Andrew Stevens) move into a Southern mansion haunted by a slave driver (David Ramsey).
KBZ’s Take: Scared Stiff is a forgotten B Horror film of the 80’s. The film has a rather unique background story to the haunting and there’s multiple shifts in the film from typical ghostly scares to psychological horror to a crazy and somewhat gory ending.
While it’s low budget and some of the acting is poor, it’s well worth checking out by fans of the subgenre and 80’s horror films.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3WtZNqE
Plot: An American writer goes to a remote Welsh manor on a $20,000 bet that he can write a classic novel like Wuthering Heights in 24 hours. However, upon his arrival he discovers that the apparently empty manor has several rather odd inhabitants.
KBZ’s Take: This film is basically the Horror genre’s version of The Expendables (2010). Like The Expendables, it brings together classic Horror icons Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and John Carradine well past their prime.
While it’s great to see all of these masters of horror on the screen at the same time, the film is much more focused on mystery vs. horror. There are some horror elements and sequences, but these are more parody-like than straight up scares.
With those caveats, House of the Long Shadows is a good, creepy mystery film with some self-referential humor. Just don’t go into the film expecting the typical horror scares these acting greats are known for.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3MSF78M
#8
Nightwish
Plot: A professor and four graduate students journey to a crumbling mansion to investigate paranormal activity and must battle ghosts, aliens and satanic entities.
KBZ’s Take: Of all the films on our list, this is probably the craziest, goriest and most original. It’s a mashup of different subgenres including Survival Horror, Splatter & Gore, Aliens, Psychological & Medical Horror and Supernatural Horror.
While some of the acting is bad in the film, it does have two standouts with Jack Starrett (star of many Exploitation Films of the 70’s) and muscle-bound Brian Thompson who was an 80’s character actor mostly playing villains in films like Cobra (1986) and Fright Night Part 2 (1988). They’re both excellent in the film and steal most of the scenes they’re in.
As we noted, this film is very gory so if you’re averse to gore, you might not enjoy the film. But it’s one of those under-the-radar 80’s horror films that fans of the subgenre won’t want to miss.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/420NDa4
#7
Nomads
Plot: One night, in a Los Angeles hospital, Dr. Flax attends to a seriously injured man who, apparently crazed, whispers mysterious and disconcerting words in French into her ear.
KBZ’s Take: This is another film on our list that bypassed most of the typical Ghost and Haunted House film tropes of the decade with an original premise. In general, the film is about a group of street nomads who are evil spirits and attract the attention of and eventually target Jean Charles Pommier (Pierce Brosnan).
We can’t go much more into the plot without ruining the film, but we will say that this has some unique supernatural themes of the subgenre. There’s also a bit of dark folklore involved in the film with some very eerie sequences.
It’s not the scariest film on our list but has that creepy factor that fans of the subgenre will enjoy.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Wu0Qa4
Plot: After an American family moves to an old country manor in rural England, one of the daughters is tormented by the spirit of the owner’s long-lost daughter, who mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago during a solar eclipse.
KBZ’s Take: This is one of the scarier films Disney has produced and is one of the best for kids on Halloween. Though it’s PG-rated fare, some younger kids under the age of 7 might be scared with some of the subject matter. However, it’s a film older kids and adults can enjoy as well.
As a subgenre film, it has some tamer ‘scary’ elements but works much better as a suspense-filled mystery film. It’s one of the better films of the decade and shouldn’t be missed by fans and completists of the subgenre.
Additional Lists: Top Scariest Halloween Films For Kids You Haven’t Seen #9
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Y2kOJF
#5
The Entity
Plot Barbara Hershey stars as Carla Moran, a hard-working single mother until the night she is raped in her bedroom by someone – or something – that she cannot see. Despite skeptical psychiatrists, she is repeatedly attacked in her car, in the bath, and in front of her children. Could this be a case of hysteria, a manifestation of childhood sexual trauma, or something even more horrific?
KBZ’s Take: The Entity is a fictionalized account of Doris Bither who claimed an invisible entity was sexually assaulting her. The film recreates some of these events and warning – they are disturbing to watch.
While some films in the subgenre focus on individual hauntings, The Entity shows an extreme case of hopelessness against something or someone from beyond that will assault you anywhere and anytime it wants. While the film’s sexual assault scenes are hard to watch, the growing despair of Carla Moran (Barbara Hershey) is even more depressing to take in. The film makes you feel the same psychological anguish that Carla is going through.
This is a good film but be prepared that it tackles difficult subject matter within the subgenre. It’s also a film that you won’t forget – especially the scenes with the arrival of the entity backed by a pulse-pounding soundtrack.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Wxvy2k
#4
Sweet Home
Plot: A TV production crew are making a documentary about the infamous painter Mamiya Ichiro. When they start filming at his old home, they come under attack from the ghost of the painter’s wife.
KBZ’s Take: Sweet Home has a unique history both in the film and video game worlds. It was released with a video game of the same name by Capcom which eventually became the inspiration for the Resident Evil franchise.
As for the film, it was clearly inspired by Poltergeist (1982). While Sweet Home isn’t on par with that subgenre classic, it does feature some surprisingly good scares and practical effects. It’s a film that doesn’t really get going until the second half, but patient viewers will be rewarded with some of the subgenre’s better horror.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/YBP8u-qo6Sg
#3
The Wraith
Plot: Man is killed by a gang but returns as a Wraith with an invincible car to exact revenge.
KBZ’s Take: The plot of this film doesn’t make sense but it’s a fun forgotten film of the 1980’s. Starring Charlie Sheen in one of his earlier roles, The Wraith is a simple revenge tale but with supernatural undertones.
The film features some very exciting chases and racing sequences and The Wraith’s sports car is one of the more memorable vehicles of the Horror genre.
This film has a few scares but is much more focused on the drama aspects of a vengeful ghost theme. Recommended for fans and completists of this subgenre and 80’s films.
Additional Lists: Top Chase Films You Haven’t Seen #10
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Fjx0xZ
#2
Ghost Story
Plot: Four successful elderly gentlemen, members of the Chowder Society, share a gruesome, 50-year-old secret. When one of Edward Wanderley’s twin sons dies in a bizarre accident, the group begins to see a pattern of frightening events developing.
KBZ’s Take: We mentioned this film in our previous article for the film Full Circle (1978). Like that film, Ghost Story is based on another Peter Straub novel of the same name.
The film is not an action-packed film of the subgenre. In fact, it’s very slow (especially by today’s standards). But the slow-moving pace of the film helps build atmosphere and there are a few jump scares that are more impactful due to this pacing. And though the film is filled with classic actors like Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and John Houseman, it’s Alice Krige who has the most memorable performance from the film.
If you enjoy films with detailed ghost stories that span generations, then you will likely enjoy this. It’s the anti-Poltergeist (1982). For some subgenre fans, that might be just what they’re looking for.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/4391oVC
Plot: A London art broker goes to Copenhagen where he requires the services of a secretary fluent in Danish, English, and German. He falls deeply in love with the woman, despite the fact that he knows virtually nothing about her. She insists on not being married in a church, and after they are married, some bad things from her past begin surfacing in subtly supernatural ways, and he must find the best way to deal with them without destroying their relationship.
KBZ’s Take: We’re going with an unconventional pick here and we could have easily slotted Ghost Story or another film in this spot. But, after seeing this film again we wanted to highlight it for fans of the subgenre looking for something different in the subgenre.
The Girl in the Swing would be best described as a “haunted romantic drama”. It’s not like other films on this list and it doesn’t have the scares that are typically associated with the subgenre. What it does have is a very good story (based on a novel of the same name), some very creepy and unsettling atmosphere that underlies the narrative and the best performance of Meg Tilly’s career.
If there’s one reason to see this film, it’s Meg Tilly. She had a prolific career in the 80’s starring in films such as Impulse (1984), Masquerade (1988) and Valmont (1989). But her role here is one for the ages as the ‘not quite normal’ Karin. She displays a range of emotions and character traits that will have you continually questioning what her character’s secret is.
This is a criminally underrated film and all but forgotten from the 80’s. But hopefully you’ll take a chance on the film and enjoy it as much as we did. It’s one of the rare films of the subgenre we won’t ever forget.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://tubitv.com/movies/706961/the-girl-in-a-swing
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