Welcome to an exciting year-long project here at The Nerdy. 1986 was an exciting year for films giving us a lot of films that would go on to be beloved favorites and cult classics. It was also the start to a major shift in cultural and societal norms, and some of those still reverberate to this day.
We’re going to pick and choose which movies we hit, but right now the list stands at nearly four dozen.
Yes, we’re insane, but 1986 was that great of a year for film.
The articles will come out – in most cases – on the same day the films hit theaters in 1986 so that it is their true 40th anniversary. All films are also watched again for the purposes of these reviews and are not being done from memory. In some cases, it truly will be the first time we’ve seen them.
This time around, it’s Feb. 28, 1986, and we’re off to see Hollywood Vice Squad, House, Pretty in Pink, and Salvador.
Hollywood Vice Squad
Was this supposed to be a pilot for a new police series?
The film is made up of multiple stories about different teams of detectives from the Hollywood Vice Squad. There is some intersection between them, but in general, they are separate stories. The film claims they are based on actual cases, but it’s pretty clear that a lot of liberties have been taken.
This truly did feel like it was meant to be a proposal for a TV series and somehow got turned into a movie. Considering the vice squad angle, and the sensibilities of the 80s, it is surprisingly low on nudity or exploitation. That isn’t a complaint, but merely a surprise.
The film is fine, but nothing special. I was somewhat enjoying it until the absolute absurdity of the porn film shoot fight. It was so poorly staged that you are in a bit of amazement.
It might be worth it just for that scene.
House
Sometimes a movie tries to serve too many masters, and this is one of those cases.
Roger Cobb (William Katt) is a well-known author who has been suffering writers block since his son went missing. When his aunt apparently commits suicide, he moves into her house to try to write his next book, and he learns the house may have more secrets than even he, as a horror novelist, can deal with.
Part horror film, part comedy, it just felt as though the film couldn’t fully commit to either one. The humor is never quite enough, and the ‘horror’ isn’t much more than a rubber suit trying for a jump scare. And when you get the explanation of why the house is haunted, it leaves you with a lot of questions of, “Why? How?”
It’s mildly amusing and did spawn three sequels, but it is certainly not something you must absolutely see.
Pretty in Pink
John Hughes continues his domination of 1980s teen films.
Andie Walsh (Molly Ringwald) is a high school senior who lives with her unemployed father, has a best friend who goes by “Duckie,” (Jon Cryer) and works in a record store. One day, Blane (Andrew McCarthy), a “richie” at the school takes a liking to Andie and starts trying to woo her for a date, but Duckie is also trying to come to terms with his feelings for Andie. Which one will she choose.
I have a confession to make: This was my first time seeing Pretty in Pink.
I know, I know. It was baffling to me as well, but I just never got around to it before. And I wish I could say I understood why people love it so much, but I just have no clue. Throughout most of the movie, I just found myself wanting to yell at Duckie to run and get away from everyone else in this film, as they are all unlikable on some level. Except, of course, for Iona (Annie Potts), but I’m biased when it comes to her in any role.
But, honestly, I never connected with Andie. I don’t blame Ringwald for this at all, I feel the writing let her down, and she just came across as somewhat vapid and uncertain of herself. While accurate for a teenager, it’s not something you always want in your entertainment.
And, of course, I have to address the infamous swapped ending where originally she ended up with Duckie. I still would tell him to run.
Salvador
I’m not sure I ever remember hearing about this movie existing, so it was definitely new for me.
Richard Boyle (James Woods) is a photojournalist who has hit hard times. When he hears about things heating up in El Salvador, he heads down there with his friend Doctor Rock (James Belushi) and tries to rekindle his career. He gets a bit too involved and finds himself ending up on the deahtlist of some of the parties involved in the fight for the country.
It’s clear why Woods received an Academy Award nomination, but there are times when the character just feels a bit too big. It’s not so much his performance as the script just seems to try to oversell his personality. There are times when he just feels like putting together for someone supposedly dealing with substance abuse issues to the extent he supposedly had.
The movie doesn’t shy away from the rough, unpleasant edges of the conflict in El Salvador, and can be an unsettling watch at times. For a conflict that isn’t discussed much, it’s an interesting watch, but I would definitely take a lot of what has to say with a grain of salt.
1986 Movie Reviews will continue on March 7, 2026, with Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation, Desert Hearts, Highlander, and Nomads.
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