Every era has a number of films that became immensely popular amongst audiences. Films that are still popular even years after its release. It just so happens that the '80s and '90s created horror/fantasy films that are always popular around Halloween season or when a viewer wants a good spook.
Sometimes these horror/fantasy films can seep into being a supernatural film, comedies, animations or even on-screen adaptations of popular comics. These films are always recognized by title and/or are always playing on cable television during a specific time of the year. Regardless, these films are always fan favorites when it comes to some needed fantasy tied in with some horror.
A Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
A Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop-motion film titled as a dark fantasy. But for some who watched it as a kid, there were horror elements that scared the bejeezus out of anyone. It may have the word "Christmas" in it but its often watcehd during the Halloween season.
The film center around a title character named Jack, a tall lanky skelton who is the King of "Halloween Town," who discovers another world to a "Christmas Town." Many can recall the scary Oogie Boogie or even the Halloween inspired characters of the town. Disney was even worried that the film would be "too dark and scary" for a young audience.
The Monster Squad (1987)
What happens when a group of young kids are put up again the most recognizable monsters from scary tales? The Monster Squad is a comedy horror film with some fantasy elements. It centers on the most prominent characters from scary stories that mimicked the Universal monster lineup.
The Monster Squad is a group of young teenagers who idolize the popular monsters seen in films. They discover. diary of the mosnter hunter Van Helsing. It describes an old tale of an amulet made of immense power. The famous Count Dracula and his group of monsters hunt down the amulet to use it to plunge the world into darkness. It's up to the main characters to stop him.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
There are common tales told during the spooky season and one of them is a short story by Washington Irving. In 1820, he wrote the story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" that told the chilling tale of the headless horseman. The story was made into a supernatural horror film in 1999.
It starred Johny Depp in the leading role as Ichabod Crane. His expertise in emerging forensic studies has him sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of ghastly murders. He soon finds himself questioning his beliefs and believing in the tale of the horseman. The film does its job at making light shivers emerge.
The Witches Of Eastwick (1987)
The Witches of Eastwick have horror elements but is mostly titled as a dark fantasy-comedy. It centers around three women who tragically lose the men in their lives. They soon meet a stranger named Daryl Van Horne (Jack Nicholson). He begins courting the three women.
Daryl is the one to revela to them that the women are in fact witches. The story soon takes a twisting turn when the woman starts to have ill feelings towards his intentions. It might even lead to murder and the use of magic to save themselves.
Wishmaster (1997)
Wishmaster is defienitely a film to be creeped out by. The 1997 horror/fantasy involves a main antagonist that isn't to be messed with. The film centers around a djinn. It may sound familiar seeing as this type of character has also been seen in the highly acclaimed show, The Witcher.
The djinn is a wish-granting evil genie who is released from his prison inside a jewel. His granting of wishes is a trick. The djinn fulfills the with dire consequences and hopes to entrap the soul of the wish maker. He has a master plan to release his fellow djinns in order to inhabit the Earth.
The Evil Dead (1981)
The supernatural horror film, The Evil Dead is a classic for many. The 1981 film is a must-watch that became a cult classic and regarded as one of the top horror films. It even spawned a media franchise. It centered around a group of college students who vacation in an isolated cabin.
They find a cassette recording that unleashes demons and evil spirits. Four of the college students become possessed by demonic spirits leaving one in a hellish attempt to try and survive. The film has everything from the allure of the supernatural, threat of death and spine-chilling horror. The film still holds up again modern horror movie classics. Maybe even more so.
Spawn (1997)
Spawn is a perfect example of a horror/fantasy film that took creepy comic book characters to an extreme on the big screen. The 1997 film is based on the comic book character of the same name. The film is highly regarded for its costuming and the ghastly and gross detailing on the characters.
It centers around a covert government assistant being killed and given a second chance when he reaches Hell. He is reincarnated as "hellspawn" a disfigured and skin-crawling version of his old self. It's a battle between good and evil and an oncoming Armageddon. Those who watch the film will have nightmares about a certain grotesque clown-like demon.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Don't say his name three times. Beetlejuice is a Halloween staple when it comes to creepy, crawler films to watch during the spooky season. It's one of the classic films by Tim Burton. The film is more based in comedy with moments of horror. It can also be considered a fantasy due to the act that it takes place in the world of the dead.
A married couple wake up in their new home but discover that they are actually dead. Stuck haunting their old residence they discover a new family has bought it. They do everything they can to spook them away but fail. In a desperate need, they turn to the services of Beetlejuice (Michale Keaton). But Beetlejuice is a trickster whose motives puts everyone at risk.
Blade (1998)
Who hasn't seen Blade a hundred times when its on cable television? The cult classic film became a hit when it came to portraying the comic book character on screen. It's one of Wesley Snipes's more recognized roles that led to two sequel films. It told the story of a Dhampir, a human with vampire abilities.
He becomes feared by the vampire community as a daywalker set on eradicating them with the help of his mentor. The vampire hunter has his eye set on the owner of a vampire club who in reality plans to let loose a war on the human world.
Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins are cute and fun to have. That's until you get them wet or overfeed them. The 1984 film, Gremlins is a hit when it comes to a film mixing some comedy, horror and a fantasy-like creature. There's even a sequel film that was just as popular. The film gives of the warning to never trust something just because its cute and to always follow the given instructions.
Some viewers may not know that the film based the "gremlin" character on common folklore that appeared during World War II. The film's storyline follows a teenage boy who comes into possession of a gremlin, but the creature soon creates evil and malicious offspring that wreak havoc.