Just in time to take away the pain of Tax Day, Lionsgate today released DVDs of eight movies you've probably long forgotten from the '80s. (Though seriously, tell me you didn't forget about Hiding Out, with the great Jon Cryer!)
Dubbed "The Lost Collection," the set features some of our favorite stars from the decade in movies that didn't make quite the biggest splash in their careers. Names like Drew Barrymore, Keanu Reeves, Jim Belushi and Cryer.
Each movie is available for $14.98 and includes a "Pop-Up Trivia" track. They're available at the usual stores and online retailers, including lionsgateshop.com. (While you're there, pick up Care Bears: Cheer, There & Everywhere.) Here's the list.
IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES (1984): Ryan O'Neal, Shelley Long, Drew Barrymore. Remember Drew before she was obnoxious and overexposed? Think WAY back. "That bimbo stole my husband! They drank their lover's wine in glasses I stood in line to buy!"
MY BEST FRIEND IS A VAMPIRE (1988): Robert Sean Leonard, Rene Auberjonois. This was Leonard's first big role before The Dead Poets Society the following year. "This blood's for you."
THE NIGHT BEFORE (1988): Keanu Reeves, Lori Loughlin. Never saw this flick in the '80s, but Keanu was funny in Youngblood and Parenthood, so who knows? "Gee, am I overreacting? Well, I guess being sold into prostitution has made me a little edgy; or maybe it's the thought of almost losing my virtue to the Goodyear blimp - and then again it could be simply the sleazy feeling of vinyl against my skin."
HOMER & EDDIE (1989): Jim Belushi, Whoopi Goldberg. "Probably more unpleasant couplings are imaginable, but none springs immediately to mind," the Washington Post said about the casting of this movie, which is described as "unlikely friends who go on a rollicking road trip together." Hey, Belushi and Whoopi were good together in Jumping Jack Flash.
MORGAN STEWART'S COMING HOME (1987): Jon Cryer, Lynn Redgrave. A highly underrated Cryer movie -- aren't they all -- with a great performance by the late Paul Gleason. Cryer appeared in four movies in 1987 -- Morgan Stewart, Superman 4, Dudes and the next movie on this list. (Trailer)
HIDING OUT (1987): Jon Cryer, Annabeth Gish. "I used to be just like you: a short, horny, hopeless dork." I've always been baffled why this movie -- along with Pretty in Pink -- didn't immediately spring Cryer into stardom. Instead, it'd be almost 20 more years before TV's Two and a Half Men did the trick. (Trailer)
REPOSSESSED (1990): Leslie Nielsen, Linda Blair. A '90s movie on the list? For shame! But the plot -- about a girl who needs a repeat exorcism -- is very '80s and Naked Gun-esque. "What's going on, father? I just had to tie my wife down to the bed. I've never done anything like that before, well except for that one time when the kids were at camp." (Trailer)
SLAUGHTER HIGH (1986): Caroline Munro, Simon Scuddamore. The plot goes exactly the same as your own 10-year high school reunion. Only you don't get to murder quite so many people with sharp instruments. But how bad can the movie be? It was reviewed by Eat Horror, Fatally-Yours.com and SlasherPool.com. (Trailer)
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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hmmm, i do love point break, but speed, the devil's advocate, the matrix, and bill and ted's excellent adventure give it some stiff compitition. it's hard to pick one.
Posted by: CHAD | April 20, 2009 at 08:08 PM
Best Keanu flick remains the non-80s classic: Point Break.
"Give me two, Utah."
Posted by: Spears | April 20, 2009 at 05:59 PM
the night before is a great movie. keanu isn't the best actor, but he makes some good movies.
Posted by: CHAD | April 14, 2009 at 06:03 PM
Loved Repossessed, but scared now to think it is around 20 years old!
Posted by: Captain from CDU | April 14, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Slaughter High----AWESOME
Speaking of....
I'll keep you '80s fans posted but....
Splatter University's 25 year anniversary MAY be coming to the beach theater St Pete. With a totally awesome local '80s show band providing some warm up music....
Posted by: Crockett | April 14, 2009 at 02:51 PM
"Hiding Out" is definitely worth buying. I'm also a fan of "Best Friend is a Vampire." I already own "Morgan Stewart" on VHS.
I have a full set of the movies from Lionsgate and I'll be giving them away on future podcasts. Stay tuned.
Posted by: Spears | April 14, 2009 at 02:42 PM
I can honestly say I won't be buying any of these. My Holy Grail of 80's movies was "The Night of the Comet", and they released that a year or two ago.
How can you not love any movie that has a high school cheerleader as one of the last survivors on earth?
It's unpossible!
Posted by: William Mize | April 14, 2009 at 01:53 PM
OMG it's been like 20 years since I have seen Repossessed. I remember it being absolutely hysterical. Classic Nielsen plus it showed that Blair has a sense of humor.
Posted by: 80sfan | April 14, 2009 at 01:37 PM
Just watched 'part 1' of "The Night Before" on YouTube. Man, Keanu is really one of the worst actors out there.
Posted by: Gary in Gilroy | April 14, 2009 at 12:24 PM
There's a lot of chatter out on the WEb there among horror fans about "Slaughter High." It's considered a real cult classic.
Posted by: Steve Spears | April 14, 2009 at 11:37 AM
I remember about 1/2 of these films.
Posted by: DerekT | April 14, 2009 at 11:08 AM