10 Best Horror Comedies Of The 2020s (So Far)

Horror builds tension and suspense, while comedy releases it. With both emotions working against each other, it sounds absurd for anyone to consider meshing the two.

But Shaun of the Dead, The Cabin in the Woods, and Evil Dead II prove that pairing them up can create some of the best either genre has to offer. In a way, the pair heighten one another, since viewers let their guard down when they laugh, making the imminent scare all the more petrifying. Alternatively, when a film throws in a dumb gag when you're expecting the fright of your life, the relief amplifies the humour.

And looking at recent trends, the horror-comedy sub-genre is still going strong. Since the beginning of the 2020s, there have been plenty of flicks that blend grisly violence with solid jokes. Several entries on this list lay the comedy on thick, to the point of parody. Others go in the opposite direction, maintaining the horror tropes, with a smattering of humour on the side.

Whether you found these films terrifying or gut-busting, it's likely they had you screaming one way or another.

In Zelda Williams' romantic zomedy, a socially-awkward teen called Lisa (Kathryn Newton) reanimates a Victorian corpse (Cole Sprouse), hoping to turn him into her boyfriend. Realising her Creature is still missing a few body parts, Lisa vows to "complete" her creation by any means necessary. 

Although the idea of modernising Mary Shelley's classic tale has been done to death, this dark romance puts a creative spin on Frankenstein. (Rejuvenating the Creature with a tanning bed instead of a bolt of lightning is a nice touch.)

The film focuses so much on the two lovebirds' blooming connection, there are times when you forget how ludicrous the whole scenario is. As a result, the comedic moments hit extra hard, especially when the quips and visual gags are tossed in with no buildup.

Though Newton knocks it out of the park, Sprouse deserves a lot of praise. Despite playing a mute, Sprouse has little difficulty conveying the Creature's mood and intent, thanks to his superb use of body language and subtle facial expressions.

Considering this is the first feature-length film Zelda Williams has directed, let's hope Lisa Frankenstein is the beginning of a prominent career for her.