The horror movie genre has always featured strong special effects throughout the decades. There’s one 80s horror movie, however, that’s often praised for its use of practical effects; and it’s now streaming for free.
Many of the horror films associated with the 1980s include slasher movies. The release of John Carpenter‘s Halloween in 1978 kicked off a subgenre that dominated the era. Friday the 13th, My Bloody Valentine, and The Prowler just to name a few.
By the late 1980s, however, supernatural horror movies started to make a comeback. This was no doubt helped in part by the success of Wes Craven‘s A Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984. Nevertheless, in 1987, there was a horror movie that seemed to feature every practical effect in the book.
This film has gone on to become a modern day cult-classic. It utilizes actors in suits, killer makeup effects, oversized sets, use of forced perspective, and some incredible stop-motion. It’s unlike anything else in the genre, and certainly unlike its own sequel that was released in 1990 that tried its best but just didn’t have the same budget.
The film, which can be streamed for free as of this writing at Tubi, is The Gate. Directed by Tibor Takács and written by Michael Nankin, the film seems to blend H.P. Lovecraft’s otherworldly gods in the best possible way with 80s metal and Goonies-esque kids.
Its story begins as 12-year-old Glen, played by a young Stephen Dorff, uncovers a geode in his backyard. This leads he and his best friend Terry, played by Louis Tripp, to discover a vast hole that existed beneath a tree in Glen’s backyard. This hole just so happens to be a gateway to a world of ancient evil gods.
This allows the film to have a dreamy atmosphere filled to the brim with unique monsters. A massive fan-favorite are no doubt the film’s “Minions,” tiny creatures that have growled and snarled their way into the hearts of horror fans. It’s a shame there isn’t any official merchandise with these guys.
Fans can also be on the lookout for the film’s Demon Lord, a massive entity brought to life with stop-motion. It’s an incredible creature and no doubt a throwback to Ray Harryhausen’s gorgeous stop-motion effects from decades prior.
The Gate is completely worth a watch, whether you’ve seen it before or not, and Tubi is a perfect place to do so while this 80s horror movie is streaming for free.