1986 seemed a year beset by disaster… with The Challenger space shuttle exploding in January and Chernobyl nuclear power plant becoming the worlds worst nuclear disaster in April. But in other news Clint Eastwood is elected mayor of Carmel, California whilst Halley’s comet makes its closest approach of Earth. Desmond Tutu becomes the Anglican Archbishop of Capetown, Anne Frank’s complete diary is published by the Netherlands Institute for War Documentation, footballs World Cup takes place in Mexico with Argentina beating West Germany 3-2 in the final. The Oprah Winfrey Show is broadcast for the first time nationally across the US, RUN-DMC is the first rap group to hit the US top 10 with Raising Hell and the Beastie Boys debut album, Licensed to Ill, becomes the first Billboard number 1 rap album. Andrew Lloyd Webbers Phantom of the Opera premieres in London and 20-year old Mike Tyson becomes the youngest heavyweight champion in history. The Iran-Contra affair also comes to light.
The silver screen had it’s own battles with lot of really good films released over the course of the year. Most of my top 5 for this year were easy, as four of them are among my favourite movies of all time, but one of them had stuff competition to get on the list with some great films narrowly missing out.
As I started my walk through my favourite movies the original Alien missed out as it was released in 1979, and this journey started in 1980. The brillint James Cameron sequel, Aliens, most definetly gets a spot here though.
Set several decades after the events of the first film, it follows Ellen Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver), the sole survivor of the original alien encounter, as she returns reluctantly to the planet LV-426 with a team of Marines to confront the deadly creatures.
The story begins with Ripley waking from hypersleep to learn that she has been adrift in space for 57 years. Traumatized by her encounter with the alien species, she struggles to readjust to life in a world that has moved on without her.
When contact with a colony on LV-426 is lost, Ripley is asked by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation to accompany a group of Colonial Marines to investigate. Reluctantly, she agrees to return to the planet that holds haunting memories of her previous encounter.
Upon arrival, they discover the colony seemingly deserted, and Ripley’s fears are realized as they encounter signs of a xenomorph infestation. The team faces a horrifying reality—alien creatures have decimated the colony, and surviving colonists have been cocooned for impregnation by the xenomorphs.
The tension mounts as the Marines, led by the authoritative but inexperienced Lieutenant Gorman (played by William Hope) and the seasoned Corporal Dwayne Hicks (played by Michael Biehn), engage in a desperate battle for survival against the relentless alien threat.
As the situation escalates, Ripley takes charge, drawing on her experience and resilience. She forms a bond with Newt (played by Carrie Henn), the colonies young solo survivor, becoming a surrogate mother figure while also providing leadership and guidance to the Marines.
The film builds to intense and nerve-wracking action sequences as the Marines are systematically hunted by the highly intelligent and deadly xenomorphs. The iconic showdown between Ripley, equipped with a power loader, and the Alien Queen remains a memorable moment in cinematic history.
In a gripping and thrilling climax, Ripley fights fiercely to protect Newt and ultimately confronts the Alien Queen, emerging victorious after a harrowing battle.
I remember seeing this for the first time at the cinema in a double bill of Alien and Aliens a few years later (I was too young in 1986 to see it at the cinema) and loved it. I was already a massive fan of the first film, but personally feel that Aliens is even better. It’s certainly a very different pace to the original, but really helped expand the franchise. If you get the chance to watch the Extended edition of this then I highly recommend it – as well as the Netflix documentary on the making of it in “The Movies That Made Us” series.
“Highlander” is one of my favourite concepts. Immortals living, loving and battling throughout the centuries seeking “The Prize.” I loved Highlander – I originally saw on a school trip in a hotel in the Alps – and it had an absolutely killer soundtrack by Queen which was contstantly on my walkman for quite some time and is still probably my favourite Queen album. It hasn’t aged as well as some films, and other films tackling a similar concept (such as 2020’s “The Old Guard”) have I felt done it better since, but it is still one of my favourite films of 1986 and one that I do rewatch every few years,
The story primarily follows Connor MacLeod (played by Christopher Lambert), an Immortal born in the Scottish Highlands in the 16th century. After miraculously surviving a mortal wound in battle, Connor discovers his true nature as an Immortal when he is banished from his clan and ostracized by society.
Under the guidance of Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez (played by Sean Connery), an ancient Immortal and mentor, Connor learns about the ways of the Immortals, their secret existence, and the rules of their existence: Immortals can only die by beheading each other, and the last remaining Immortal will gain unimaginable power, known as The Prize.
As Immortals battle each other across centuries, the film’s narrative alternates between the past and the present. In modern-day New York City, Connor encounters another Immortal, the sadistic Kurgan (played by Clancy Brown), who has been hunting and killing Immortals since time immemorial.
The film unfolds as Connor navigates his dual life, reflecting on his past experiences and relationships while preparing for the final showdown against the menacing Kurgan. He also develops a romantic connection with Brenda Wyatt (played by Roxanne Hart), an expert in metallurgy who becomes entangled in the world of Immortals as she investigates strange occurrences.
Throughout the story, flashbacks showcase Connor’s past as a Highlander in Scotland, including his love affair with Heather (played by Beatie Edney) and his earlier encounters with the Kurgan.
The climax culminates in a dramatic and epic battle between Connor and the Kurgan, fought atop a rooftop. The battle is a test of skill, courage, and determination as they fight for The Prize and the fate of humanity.
The film spawned a number of sequels (most terrible and I felt ruined a lot of the original concept) as well as a well received TV series which really helped flesh out the Highlander setting. There is talk of a remake starring Henry Cavill in the lead role, which I’m really interested in seeing when it comes out. Hopefully it will introduce the film to a whole new audience and also create much better sequels.
“Labyrinth,” directed by Jim Henson, is a fantasy adventure film that combines live-action with puppetry and animation. The story follows a teenage girl named Sarah Williams (played by Jennifer Connelly) as she journeys through a mystical labyrinth to rescue her baby brother Toby from the clutches of the Goblin King.
The film begins with Sarah, an imaginative young girl who enjoys reciting lines from her favorite fairy tale book, “Labyrinth,” which features the adventures of a girl named Alice. Frustrated with her babysitting duties and feeling overlooked by her family, Sarah wishes for the Goblin King Jareth (played by David Bowie) to take her brother away. To her shock, Toby disappears, and Jareth appears, informing Sarah that she has thirteen hours to solve his labyrinth and rescue Toby before he becomes a goblin forever.
Sarah enters the labyrinth, encountering various peculiar creatures, including Hoggle, a grumpy dwarf who initially betrays her but later becomes her reluctant ally; Ludo, a gentle giant with the power to summon rocks; and Sir Didymus, a chivalrous fox-terrier knight riding a sheepdog named Ambrosius. Along the way, they face challenges and obstacles designed by Jareth to thwart her progress.
Throughout her journey, Sarah faces her own fears, insecurities, and personal growth. She learns the value of friendship, courage, and responsibility while navigating the maze-like labyrinth and overcoming trials that test her determination.
Jareth, the enigmatic and charismatic Goblin King, continuously manipulates the labyrinth’s shifting paths and challenges, alternating between assisting Sarah and impeding her progress. He tries to seduce Sarah into staying in the labyrinth, offering her dreams and illusions, all while maintaining control over her surroundings.
As Sarah approaches the castle at the labyrinth’s center, she encounters Jareth in a mesmerizing and visually stunning ballroom sequence, where he attempts to sway her into abandoning her quest. Through her resilience and determination, Sarah confronts Jareth, realizing her power and defeating him with a simple revelation of her own strength.
In a climactic showdown, Sarah rescues Toby and navigates through an Escher-inspired staircase, ultimately triumphing over Jareth’s manipulations. The labyrinth crumbles, and Sarah returns home with her brother, realizing the importance of her responsibilities and the power of her imagination.
The storytelling, and intricate puppetry, created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop combined with David Bowie’s charismatic performance as Jareth, really helps make this a timeless classic. Also keep an eye out on Sarah’s bedroom shelves for the Judge Dredd boardgame!
“The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco is one of my favourite novels. I saw the movie a few years before reading the book and still love it today. Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud it’s set in a medieval monastery and combines elements of mystery, historical drama, and religious conflict.
The story unfolds in the 14th century as Franciscan friar William of Baskerville (played by Sean Connery – on his second appearence on my 1986 list) arrives at an isolated Italian monastery with his novice Adso of Melk (played by a very young Christian Slater). William is tasked with investigating mysterious deaths that occur under peculiar circumstances within the monastery’s walls.
The atmosphere is tense due to the ongoing dispute between the Pope and the Franciscan Order, as well as the monks’ discussions about wealth, power, and the poverty of Christ.
As William investigates the deaths, he encounters an array of unique characters, each representing different aspects of medieval society. Among them is the devout but rigid Abbot (played by Michael Lonsdale), the zealous inquisitor Bernardo Gui (played by F. Murray Abraham), the conflicted librarian Jorge of Burgos (played by Feodor Chaliapin Jr.), and others who hide their own secrets and agendas – including the disfigured Salvatore (played by Ron Pearlman in one of his first film roles).
A series of gruesome deaths occur, and William employs his keen powers of deduction, drawing parallels between the murders and the cryptic text of Aristotle’s lost book on comedy, which he believes holds the key to solving the mystery.
The film delves into the theological debates and tensions within the monastery, exploring themes of knowledge, power, and the clash between reason and religious dogma. William’s rational approach clashes with the monastery’s superstitions and fears, and his investigation is hindered by the secrecy and resistance of the monks.
As the investigation progresses, tensions escalate, leading to confrontations between William and those threatened by his probing inquiries. The film builds to a dramatic sequence where the truth behind the deaths is revealed, uncovering a trail of forbidden knowledge, forbidden passions, and suppressed desires.
In a climactic showdown, William confronts the mastermind behind the deaths and the hidden truth, ultimately leading to a tragic conclusion that leaves a lasting impact on the young novice Adso.
The movie introduced me to the works of Umberto Eco. As mentioned earlier I read The Name of the Rose a few years after seeing the movie, and that lead me to another of my favourite novels “Foucault’s Pendulum”, also by Umberto Eco.
David Cronenberg has a fantastic resume of movies he has directed, and one of my favourites of his is “The Fly,” a horror sci-fi film that explores themes of transformation, love, and the consequences of unchecked scientific experimentation.
The story follows Seth Brundle (played by Jeff Goldblum), a brilliant but eccentric scientist who has developed a teleportation device. Brundle’s invention has the potential to revolutionize transportation by teleporting objects from one pod to another. Journalist Veronica Quaife (played by Geena Davis) becomes involved with Brundle as she documents his groundbreaking work.
As Brundle continues to perfect his invention, he decides to test the teleportation process on himself. However, during one of the experiments, a housefly inadvertently enters the pod with him, leading to a horrific genetic fusion during the teleportation process that goes unnoticed at first.
Initially, Brundle appears to have undergone a successful teleportation, feeling stronger and more energetic. However, he soon begins to experience bizarre physical and mental changes that alarm him. Unbeknownst to Veronica, Brundle’s DNA has merged with that of the fly, leading to a gradual and horrifying metamorphosis.
As Brundle’s body and mind deteriorate, he becomes increasingly isolated and obsessed with his transformation. His relationship with Veronica becomes strained as he tries to hide his deteriorating condition, fearing rejection and abandonment.
The gradual deterioration of Brundle’s humanity is depicted through visceral and grotesque physical transformations. He develops insect-like abilities, including increased strength, agility, and an insatiable hunger for food and other biological matter. His human form starts to decay, and his behavior becomes erratic and aggressive.
Veronica, horrified by Brundle’s transformation, seeks help while trying to comprehend the extent of the scientific and moral implications of his experiment. Meanwhile, Brundle’s humanity continues to erode as he becomes more insect-like, losing his grip on reality and succumbing to his basest instincts.
In a tragic and haunting climax, Brundle fully transforms into a grotesque humanoid fly, losing all traces of his former self. Consumed by despair and madness, he becomes a monstrous and tragic figure.
As you can tell from the above 1986 was a strong year for movies. There are loads of movies which came out that year which could have easily squeezed themselves into the top 5. Just looking at the list below you can see some of the classic movies that didn’t make my list which would almost certainly appear on other peoples.
Some of the other movies to come out in 1986 include:
- Top Gun
- Big Trouble in Little China
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
- Platoon
- Stand by Me
- Blue Velvet
- The Hitcher
- Crocodile Dundee
- Mona Lisa
- Children of a Lesser God
- Castle in the Sky
- An American Tail
- Peggy Sue Got Married
- Critters
- Short Circuit
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
- The Color of Money
- Little Shop of Horrors
- The Mission
- Manhunter
Voices From The Pulpit 