10 Horror Movie Deaths That Weren’t Meant To Be Funny (But Were)
Some horror deaths are so funny, it's hard to believe they were meant to be taken seriously.
A horror film's purpose is not just to entertain the viewer but to unnerve them. When you experience genuine fear while watching a scary movie, you know it's done its job.
But that doesn't the film can't inject a bit of humour. Classics like Jaws and The Thing are terrifying but they also have some laugh-out-loud moments. In fact, there are some horror movies that manage to depict death itself in a hilarious manner. Some of the kills in Child's Play or the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise are so over-the-top, you can't help but chuckle a little.
But we're not looking at those moments. We are looking at deaths that were unintentionally funny. Considering comedy is so difficult to pull off, it's bewildering when it's performed perfectly by mistake in, of all genres, horror. Unintended moments of hilarity can occur from bad special effects, ropey dialogue, shameless acting, or an absurd premise.
When you look at movies with headless dancers, butt aliens, and killer corn, how can you expect the viewer to react with anything but laughter?
10. Decapitated Dancing - Jeepers Creepers 2
Jeepers Creepers revolves around a bat-like beast called The Creeper that awakens every 23rd spring to feed on humans for 23 days. At the time, this film was considered to be the next big horror franchise. (It was produced by Francis Ford Coppola for crying out loud.) Two decades later, it's mostly forgotten... save for one moment in Jeepers Creepers II.
In this sequel, the Creeper attacks a high school bus, attempting to devour the students within. At one point, the creature envelopes a teenager called Dante in his wings before flying away. When his friends pull him from the Creeper's grasp, it momentarily appears as if Dante is saved.
As the camera looms on the horrified expressions of his friends, the viewer knows something horrible has happened. It then cuts to a shot of Dante's decapitated body spasming before dropping to the ground. Based on that description alone, this moment should be terrifying.
However, all angst and anxiety in the viewer vanishes the instant you see decaptiated Dante comically flailing around like he's dancing. This could've been the best kill in the whole movie and instead, it was the most ridiculous.