Disney studios took a different approach to live-action films in the 80s, producing films with darker content that seemed to be aimed at adults rather than children. The result left behind an era of strange and mysterious films that are forever etched in the minds of adults who watched them as children.
Redditors recently had a fascinating r/movies talk about Disney’s mature and forgotten ’80s live-action movies. The list includes a few favorite films and mentions a few obscure titles. Think back to the decade when the studio’s first PG-rated films were released.
10 “Watcher in the Forest” (1980)
Disney supernatural film Watcher in the forest is the creepiest of all their live-action films from the 80s. It tells the story of two young girls who move into a cottage in the English countryside where supernatural events take place. Movie Features Bette Davis and young Kyle Richards (which we all know from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills).
Reddit user Bearvert222 notes that John Hough directed the film “Who did Legend of Hell House and two Witch Mountain movie. He also did incubus And american gothic.Some weird secondary director/producer,” they wrote. Despite the lukewarm audience reception at the time, Watcher in the forest remains the only true Disney horror film.
9 ‘Night Crossing’ (1982)
night crossing this is a live-action Disney movie that seems to be geared towards adults rather than children. It is about two men who plan to escape communist East Germany in a hot air balloon with their families. Classic Hollywood Stars John Hurt And Jane Alexander presented in this film with extremely mature content.
Redditor lostwanderer02 started the conversation by writing, “I can’t imagine a kid with the attention span to sit through a movie like Never cry wolf or night crossing none of them are like a traditional Disney movie.” Another user, Mickeyflynn, responded, “I was a kid when they were released and I saw both in theaters and I loved them both.” In other words, kids in the 80s enjoyed the darker Disney movies.
8 “Midnight Madness” (1980)
Want to watch the fun college bustle of the 80s? Look no further than midnight madness, Disney movie Scavenger Hunt. Five teams search for clues that cover multiple cities in one night. Glad to see Michael J. Fox debuts with the well-known 80s ensemble cast. This is college mayhem at its finest.
Reddit user Skater73 wrote of the film, “It was an attempt at a raunchy comedy that was clearly not meant for kids and families.” They went on to say that Disney did not list their name on the official release. “This was before Touchstone, so I believe it was unbranded. The home video release is now under the Walt Disney Pictures label.”
7 “Never Cry Wolf” (1983)
Another great Disney movie from the 80s. is Never cry wolf. The plot centers around a research scientist who is sent to the Canadian tundra to find out if wolves are responsible for killing caribou herds. Director Carroll Ballard (man behind another nostalgic great, black stallion), the film is a must-see for nature lovers.
On Reddit, reedzkee chimed in to say they loved the movie so much it moved them to tears. “Never cry wolf it is a masterpiece. I cry every time. This is so touching”. The emotional impact of the film on the viewer after so many years is a real achievement. Keep a box of tissues handy for this viewing.
6 “One Magical Christmas” (1985)
Disney is working on a live-action holiday movie One magical Christmas. It tells the story of a mother who does not have the spirit of Christmas due to financial difficulties, until an angel appears to teach her the true meaning of Christmas. The film starred a young Mary Steenbergen And Harry Dean Stanton.
User Skater73 wrote on Reddit about the mature themes that Disney was doing in the 80s: “Even One magical Christmas talks about the financial and emotional issues many people face during the holidays that most Christmas movies don’t address.” It’s a gripping and sweet story that has stood the test of time.
5 ‘Flight of the Navigator’ (1986)
Science fiction fans should check it out Navigator flight for a retro look at time travel. Director Randal Kleiser (the creative power of such cult films as Lubricant And Blue Lagoon), a film about a boy (played by Joey Kramer), who travels eight years into the future, where he discovers a talking alien ship.
The film pushed the boundaries for Disney by earning a PG rating. Redditor Skater73 discussed how the film was going into the studio, saying: “Navigator flight includes a lot of fantasy, but also includes a four-letter word that was rarely heard in Disney-branded films at the time.” Innovative and fun, this movie will appeal to kids of all ages.
4 ‘Dragon Slayer’ (1981)
Disney Dragon Killer a dark fantasy film about a young wizard who tries to kill a dragon that is devouring girls from a nearby village. He was sent Matthew Robbins (who went on to appear in films such as Crimson Peak And Pinocchio Guillermo del Toro). The VFX (which pale in comparison to today’s flashy standards) were state of the art at the time of its release.
“Dragon Effects were new, never seen before types of puppets, stop-motion animation and blends created by ILM’s Phil Tippett,” wrote MOOzikmktr on Reddit. “It was really good, but definitely NOT for kids. Some of the characters met a rather horrific end.” Dragon Killer this is a hidden gem worth seeing.
3 “Return to Oz” (1985)
Return to Oz This is a retelling of a famous movie. Wizard of Oz, and is one of the darkest live-action Disney films of that era. Dorothy is rescued from a psychiatric experiment and returns to Oz to fight the evil king with a team of new friends. It has a young Fairuza Balk (which we all know from Craft), and the movie is as bizarre as it sounds.
“Return to Oz is another dark and mature movie with a horrific scene depicting an early questionable mental illness treatment and that could be the trigger,” Skater73 wrote in a Reddit thread about Disney’s atypical ’80s live-action movies.
2 “Tron” (1982)
Disney live action movie Throne deeply immersed in computers long before Matrix They came together. The plot is about a computer engineer (brilliantly played Jeff Bridges) that infiltrated a computer system after attempting to hack it. He becomes a freedom fighter when he is forced to play against the Master Control program.
Viewers either love or hate the film (most prefer the 2010 sequel). Tron: Legacy), but many Reddit users feel that the original film is holding up despite the criticism. TheThetaDragon98 wrote: “I think people who think the visuals are ‘rough’ are photorealist addicts. Throne it was more about surrealism, clouds of energy merging in weird ways.”
1 “Something Evil Is Coming” (1983)
By far the most beloved live-action Disney film of the 80s is Something evil is coming. It follows two boys living in a small town who face evil when a demonic carnival comes to town. Based on the book of the same name written by Ray BradburyDisney’s creepiest live-action movie is hard to shake off.
“I haven’t rewatched this movie in a long time, and probably because of its violent themes of youth, age and regret. I remember watching it in theaters as a kid.” MonsieurLeDude posted on Reddit. “Now I’m old and ‘lost’, the scene is a nightmare and the movie is a masterpiece in my memory. May they never, ever remake it.”
Source: Collider
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