10 Hidden Comedy Horror Movie Gems You Need To Watch
Scream or laugh? Why not both?
Horror and comedy have a lot in common, despite seemingly being at opposite ends of the spectrum. Fear and humour evoke powerful emotions, provide a cathartic experience, require precise timing, regularly subvert expectations, rely on the suspension of disbelief, and are excellent tools for social commentary.
Because of their similarities, it's no wonder the two genres work so well together. While watching a slapstick vampire flick or a paranormal parody, it's hard to know what's going to happen next, which intensifies the scares and gags exponentially. Young Frankenstein, Re-Animator, and Evil Dead II perfectly balance these elements, which has helped to popularise the sub-genre over the years.
As great as it is to see these type of movies being appreciated, there are quite a few that never found their audience. Sure, cinephiles should be familiar with The Cabin in the Woods, An American Werewolf in London, and What We Do In the Shadows, but there is a mountain of hilarious frightfests just itching to be discovered.
Here are ten lesser-known horror-comedies that are sure to make moviegoers laugh, scream, and laugh again.
10. Warm Bodies
Warm Bodies tells the story of a zombie called R (Nicholas Hoult), who's been shuffling around an airport with his flesh-eating companions for eight years. After encountering the beautiful Julie (Teresa Palmer), R finds his heart beating for the first time since his zombification. R hopes to develop a romantic relationship with Julie, despite the obvious dilemma that he's dead and she's not.
Although Warm Bodies received positive reviews and turned a decent profit, it seemed to come and go without making much of an impact. Because the majority of zomcoms try to emulate Shaun of the Dead, it's refreshing to see Warm Bodies approach the same subject from a different angle.
Rather than churning out formulaic jokes, the film focuses more on sharp writing and delving into the connection between the leads. The story has the exact right amount of humour that creates a lighthearted atmosphere, without undermining the seriousness of the apocalyptic situation.
Even though the story does the whole "who is the real monster?" shtick, the concept is explored creatively, so it never comes across as cliched.