1987… the year in which the first The Simpsons cartoon aired on The Tracey Ullman Show, MS Herald of Free Enterprise cross-channel ferry capsized off Zeebrugge killing 193 people, Reagan delivers a famous speech at The Berlin Wall urging the reunification of Germany, Disney announced the intention to create a new Disneyland in Paris, the first Final Fantasy video game is released for the NES in Japan, Margaret Thatcher wins a third term as British Prime Minister, London Underground station Kings Cross catches fire killing 31 people, and a great storm hits southern England causing widespread damage and the loss of life… and the Black Monday Stock Market crash hit.
1987 also had some great movies to keep us entertained. Here are my personal Top 5 from the year, although some classics narrowly missed the cut…
Alan Parker’s “Angel Heart” is a neo-noir psychological thriller set in 1955 that unfolds as a dark and haunting mystery. The film follows Harry Angel (played by Mickey Rourke), a down-and-out private investigator in New York City. He is hired by the mysterious Louis Cyphre (played by Robert De Niro) to track down a missing singer named Johnny Favorite, who disappeared during World War II after owing Cyphre a debt.
As Angel delves into the investigation, he traverses the seedy underbelly of New York, encountering a series of bizarre and macabre events. His journey leads him into a labyrinth of deceit, murder, and forbidden desires.
While uncovering clues, Angel discovers a trail of violence and occult rituals, with each lead he pursues leading to more questions than answers. As he investigates, Angel becomes increasingly haunted by disturbing visions and encounters with enigmatic figures.
Throughout his investigation, Angel encounters Epiphany Proudfoot (played by Lisa Bonet), a young woman with connections to Johnny Favorite. Their paths become intertwined, and Angel gradually unravels a complex web of deceit and forbidden relationships, leading to shocking revelations about his own past.
As the investigation progresses, Angel’s reality becomes increasingly fragmented, and he questions his own sanity. He becomes ensnared in a nightmarish descent into madness, paranoia, and guilt, tormented by his own demons and the sinister forces at play.
The film’s narrative builds to a gripping and unsettling climax, where the truth about Johnny Favorite’s disappearance and Angel’s own involvement is finally revealed. The shocking twist shatters Angel’s perception of reality, leading to a devastating realization that brings the story to a haunting and tragic conclusion.
Angel Heart gripped me the first time I watched it, and has remained a favourite of mine over the subsequent years. I love the atmospheric storytelling, moody cinematography, and Mickey Rourke’s performance as the tormented and morally ambiguous Harry Angel.
The film that spawned a franchise, and established the Cenobites as iconic figures in the horror genre. Written and directed by Clive Barker, Hellraiser is a horror film that introduces audiences to a world of dark and sadistic pleasures beyond human comprehension.
The story revolves around a mysterious puzzle box known as the Lament Configuration, which, when solved, serves as a portal to another dimension inhabited by demonic beings known as Cenobites. When Frank Cotton (played by Sean Chapman), a hedonistic and pleasure-seeking man, solves the puzzle box, he opens the gateway to a realm of pain and pleasure beyond imagination.
However, Frank’s pursuit of sensual gratification leads him to encounter the Cenobites, led by the iconic Pinhead (played by Doug Bradley), entities who are both tormentors and connoisseurs of pain. They subject Frank to unimaginable suffering as they tear his body apart, claiming his soul for an eternity of torment.
Sometime later, Frank’s brother Larry Cotton (played by Andrew Robinson) and his wife Julia (played by Clare Higgins) move into the house where Frank’s encounter occurred. Unbeknownst to Larry, Julia had a previous affair with Frank and still harbors strong desires for him.
When Larry accidentally cuts his hand and blood spills on the floor where Frank’s remains lie, Frank’s scattered and decrepit form begins to regenerate by consuming the blood. Julia discovers Frank’s reanimated state and agrees to help him fully restore his physical form by providing him with victims to feed on.
As Frank’s body slowly regenerates, he manipulates Julia into bringing him more victims, preying on her lingering affections and desires. Meanwhile, Kirsty Cotton (played by Ashley Laurence), Larry’s daughter, becomes suspicious of Julia’s behavior and starts uncovering the sinister truth about Frank’s return and the demonic forces that surround her family.
Kirsty discovers the Lament Configuration and inadvertently solves the puzzle, summoning the Cenobites. Desperate to escape the horrors that have ensnared her family, she strikes a bargain with the Cenobites, offering to deliver Frank in exchange for her own salvation.
The film escalates into a nightmarish showdown as the Cenobites and Frank seek Kirsty, leading to a twisted and horrifying climax where secrets are revealed, and the boundary between pleasure and pain becomes blurred.
“Hellraiser” is dark, visceral horror, with a unique mythology that is brought to life by Clive Barker’s macabre vision. It explores themes of desire, obsession, and the consequences of unchecked hedonism, presenting a disturbing yet captivating journey into a world where pain and pleasure are intertwined in the most horrifying ways.
1987 saw the release of two great Vampire movies. Many of you will probably have Lost Boys in your Top 5 for the year, but for me the much darker Near Dark is my favourite of the two.
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow “Near Dark” is a unique and gritty vampire film that offers a fresh take on the genre, blending elements of horror, romance, and western. The film centers around Caleb Colton (played by Adrian Pasdar), a young man living in a small Southwestern town. One night, Caleb encounters Mae (played by Jenny Wright), an enigmatic and alluring woman. Unbeknownst to Caleb, Mae is part of a nomadic vampire clan led by the ruthless Jesse Hooker (played by Lance Henriksen).
Mae bites Caleb, intending to turn him into a vampire, but hesitates to complete the transformation. As dawn approaches, Caleb starts experiencing the adverse effects of being partially turned and is abducted by Mae’s vampire family.
The group of vampires comprises Jesse, his lover Diamondback (played by Jenette Goldstein), the feral Severen (played by Bill Paxton), the wise and fatherly figure, Caleb’s unofficial mentor, and vampire Caleb’s unofficial mentor, and the seemingly young Homer (played by Joshua John Miller), who is trapped in the body of a child but possesses centuries of knowledge and cunning.
Caleb struggles to adapt to his new life among the vampires, torn between his love for Mae and his moral reservations about killing innocents to survive. As the group drifts from town to town, leaving a trail of bloodshed in their wake, Caleb’s internal conflict intensifies.
Meanwhile, Caleb’s father and sister search for him, unaware of the horrifying truth behind his disappearance.
The narrative explores themes of family, belonging, and the struggle between the human desire for love and the vampiric need for blood. The vampires’ nocturnal lifestyle, their predatory instincts, and the tension between their violent nature and occasional human sentiments are central to the film’s atmosphere.
As Caleb grapples with his moral compass and loyalty to Mae, he faces internal and external conflicts. The bond between Caleb and Mae deepens, leading to a romantic connection amid the violence and danger surrounding them.
The film climaxes in a gripping and intense confrontation between Caleb’s family and the vampire clan, culminating in a showdown that tests allegiances and defines the fate of Caleb and Mae’s relationship.
“Near Dark” stands out for its atmospheric direction, captivating performances, and unconventional portrayal of vampires as a nomadic and morally complex family. It quickly became a cult favorite for its blending of genres and its departure from traditional vampire lore, offering a hauntingly human perspective on the creatures of the night.
Arnold Schwarzenegger continued his dominating presence of the big screen with a new, soon to be anothic iconic movie franchise, called “Predator”. Directed by John McTiernan Predator is a science fiction action film that blends elements of horror and suspense within an intense jungle setting.
The story follows an elite team of commandos led by Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer (Schwarzenegger), who are tasked with a rescue mission in the dense and hostile jungles of Central America. Their mission takes an unexpected turn when they encounter a mysterious and technologically advanced extraterrestrial hunter.
As Dutch and his team traverse the jungle, they encounter the brutal aftermath of a previous skirmish between a Special Forces team and an unknown threat. Initially believing they are on a rescue mission, the team soon discovers that they are being hunted by an invisible and highly lethal creature equipped with advanced weaponry.
The creature, known as the Predator, possesses advanced camouflage technology that renders it nearly invisible. It systematically begins picking off Dutch’s team one by one using its superior weapons and cunning tactics.
Amid the chaos and terror, Dutch and his surviving team members, including Dillon (Carl Weathers), Blain (Jesse Ventura), Mac (Bill Duke), Poncho (Richard Chaves), and Billy (Sonny Landham), realize they are outmatched and outgunned by this otherworldly adversary.
As the Predator continues its relentless pursuit, Dutch devises strategies to fight back, using guerrilla tactics and his knowledge of the jungle to try and outsmart the seemingly invincible hunter. The tension mounts as the team members become desperate, and the Predator’s lethal abilities prove increasingly formidable.
The film builds to a climactic showdown between Dutch and the Predator, where Dutch uses his survival skills and primal instincts to confront the extraterrestrial menace. The battle becomes a test of strength, wit, and resourcefulness, culminating in a thrilling and intense final confrontation.
Ultimately, Dutch manages to outwit the Predator using its own techniques against it, employing improvised traps and weapons to gain the upper hand in the brutal face-off.
Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally inline to play the Predator but at 5’9″ was so much shorter than Schwarzenegger and some of the other commando actors that he was replaced by the much more imposing Kevin Peter Hall who was 7′ 2″!
Based on the true story of Eliot Ness and his pursuit of notorious gangster Al Capone during the Prohibition era in Chicago “The Untouchables,” directed by Brian De Palma, is a riveting crime drama starring Kevin Costner as federal agent Ness and Robert De Niro (who makes his second appearance on this years Top 5 list) as the untouchable crime lord Capone.
Frustrated by the corruption within the Chicago police force, Ness recruits a small team of incorruptible lawmen, including seasoned street cop Jimmy Malone (Sean Connery), agent George Stone (Andy Garcia), and accountant Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith), forming a group known as “The Untouchables.”
Led by Ness, the team sets out to disrupt Capone’s criminal empire by targeting his illegal alcohol operations. They raid and destroy numerous liquor shipments and arrest bootleggers, causing significant financial losses for Capone.
However, Capone retaliates with brutal violence, including the murder of one of Ness’s trusted men. Determined to bring Capone to justice, Ness decides to bypass the legal system and gather evidence of Capone’s tax evasion, knowing it could be the key to his downfall.
The film showcases intense and gripping sequences, including a famous shootout on the stairs at Union Station, where Ness and his team engage in a thrilling confrontation with Capone’s hitmen. The scene is a dramatic and visually striking moment in the film, highlighting the danger and tension of the pursuit.
Throughout the investigation, Ness faces personal challenges and moral dilemmas as he grapples with the sacrifices required to bring down Capone’s criminal empire. He forms a close bond with Malone, who becomes a mentor figure, imparting wisdom and guiding him through the perilous world of crime and justice.
As the pressure mounts on Capone, Ness and his team work tirelessly to gather evidence, leading to a dramatic courtroom showdown where Capone is ultimately convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to prison.
The above are my favourite movies from 1987, but the list of movies that came out that year include plenty of other cracking titles that fought to be included, and could very well be on yours.
Some of the other movies released in 1987 include:
- Good Morning, Vietnam
- The Lost Boys
- Full Metal Jacket
- Lethal Weapon
- RoboCop
- Dirty Dancing
- Wall Street
- Fatal Attraction
- The Princess Bride
- The Last Emperor
- Broadcast News
- The Untouchables
- Planes, Trains & Automobiles
- Beverly Hills Cop II
- Spaceballs
- The Witches of Eastwick
- The Living Daylights
- Innerspace
- The Running Man
- Evil Dead II
Voices From The Pulpit 