My Favorite Films of 1981

"I have run out of time. I have lost it all. So I can't work fast enough to catch up. I can't run fast enough to catch up. And the only thing that catches me up is doing my magic act."

Directed by Michael Mann
Written by Michael Mann
Music by Tangerine Dream
Cinematography by Donald E. Thorin
Editing by Dov Hoenig

"It's a good scream... It's a good scream..."

Directed by Brian De Palma
Written by Brian De Palma
Music by Pino Donaggio
Cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond
Editing by Paul Hirsch

"Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?"

Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by George Lucas, Philip Kaufman and Lawrence Kasdan
Music by John Williams
Cinematography by Douglas Slocombe
Editing by Michael Kahn and George Lucas

"We're going to get you. We're going to get you. Not another peep. Time to go to sleep."

Directed by Sam Raimi
Written by Sam Raimi
Music by Joseph LoDuca
Cinematography by Tim Philo
Editing by Edna Ruth Paul

"You are all WEIRDOS!"

Directed by Jim Henson
Written by Tom Patchett, Jay Tarses, Jerry Juhl and Jack Rose
Music by Joe Raposo
Cinematography by Oswald Morris
Editing by Ralph Kemplen

"I told the others, they didn't believe me. You're all doomed. You're all doomed."

Directed by Steve Miner
Written by Ron Kurz
Music by Harry Manfredini
Cinematography by Peter Stein
Editing by Susan E. Cunningham

"Have you tried talking to a corpse? It's boring."

Directed by John Landis
Written by John Landis
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Cinematography by Robert Paynter
Editing by Malcolm Campbell

"Roses are red, violets are blue, one is dead, and so are you."

Directed by George Mihalka
Written by Stephen A. Miller and John Beaird
Music by Paul Zaza
Cinematography by Rodney Gibbons
Editing by Gérald Vansier and Rit Wallis

"It's the survival of the human race, Plissken. Something you don't give a shit about."

Directed by John Carpenter
Written by John Carpenter and Nick Castle
Music by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth
Cinematography by Dean Cundey
Editing by Todd C. Ramsay

"A secret society exists, and is living among all of us. They are neither people nor animals, but something in-between."

Directed by Joe Dante
Written by John Sayles and Terence H. Winkless
Music by Pino Donaggio
Cinematography by John Hora
Editing by Joe Dante and Mark Goldblatt

"Greetings from The Humungus! The Lord Humungus! The Warrior of the Wasteland! The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla!"

Directed by George Miller
Written by George Miller, Terry Hayes and Brian Hannant
Music by Brian May
Cinematography by Dean Semler
Editing by Michael Balson, David Stiven and Tim Wellburn

"All right. We're gonna do this the scanner way. I'm gonna suck your brain dry! Everything you are is gonna become me. You're gonna be with me Cameron, no matter what. After all, brothers should be close, don't you think?"

Directed by David Cronenberg
Written by David Cronenberg
Music by Howard Shore
Cinematography by Mark Irwin
Editing by Ronald Sanders

"Madam, just because I drive a truck does not make me a truck driver."

Directed by Richard Franklin
Written by Richard Franklin and Everett De Roche
Music by Brian May
Cinematography by Vincent Monton
Editing by Edward McQueen-Mason

"We met it seems, such a short time ago. You looked at me, needing me so. Yet from your sadness, our happiness grew. Then I found out, I need you, too. I remember how we used to play. I recall those rainy days, the fires glowed, that kept us warm. And now I find, we're both alone. Goodbye may seem forever, farewell is like the end. But in my heart's a memory, and there you'll always be."

Directed by Ted Berman, Richard Rich, Art Stevens, David Hand and Wolfgang Reitherman
Written by Larry Clemmons, Ted Berman, David Michener, Peter Young, Burny Mattinson, Steve Hulett, Earl Kress and Vance Gerry
Music by Buddy Baker
Cinematography by
Editing by James Koford and James Melton

"They never found his body, but they say his spirit lives in the forest. This forest. A maniac, a thing no longer human. They say he lives on whatever he can catch. Eats them raw, alive maybe. And every year he picks on a summer camp and seeks his revenge for the terrible things those kids did to him. Every year he kills. Right now he's out there. Watching. Waiting. So don't look; he'll see you. Don't breathe; he'll hear you. Don't move; you're dead!"

Directed by Tony Maylam
Written by Tony Maylam, Harvey Weinstein, Brad Grey, Peter Lawrence and Bob Weinstein
Music by Rick Wakeman
Cinematography by Harvey Harrison
Editing by Jack Sholder