9. More Genre Mash-Ups
Generally speaking combining horror with other genres can be great. Take Shaun of the Dead, which is a brilliant homage to Romero zombie movies and a charming romantic comedy that everyone can enjoy. In the same vein, Robert Rodriguez's From Dusk Till Dawn (spoiler warning) is a movie which contains no hints it's a vampire movie, until halfway through it when Salma Hayek's awesomely named Santanico Pandemonium bares her fangs and rips Quentin Tarantino's throat out. Before this transpires the film is a tense thriller/road movie, in which criminals Seth and Richie Gecko (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino) are attempting to cross the Mexican border. The genius of this movie is that the vampires come out of nowhere. One minute the audience is enjoying the tense power play between Seth and his captive Jacob (Harvey Keitel) and the next second, vampires. I want more horror movies like this. Imagine a Bromance-comedy set during a bachelor party where the groom is suddenly attacked by a giant hell spider. Or consider a family drama where the father is late to see his daughter's piano recital which somehow causes the end of the world. I know these are terrible ideas but you get the point. (Just in case, you find them brilliant, Bachelor Party vs. the Hell Spider is my idea! No stealing! I'm looking at you Paul Thomas Anderson).