The best horror comedy films

[Dazza235]

Hi all, I've been thinking lately about horror-comedy films.

Specifically, the ones that manage to be both great horror movies and great comedies.

From the more recent to the older, examples include;

Shaun Of The Dead (a mostly successful blend, but one with a dramatic mis-step near the end that makes it hard for me to rewatch (I don't want to raise the particular point for spoiler purposes. That moment would have been fine in a horror film but for me undermines the comedy aspect, hopefully people who've seen it know the moment I mean.))

The Scream series (with the possible exception of 3, which I only saw once and remember very little about. All in all, probably too clever for their own good but still genuinely scary and genuinely funny)

Evil Dead 2 (a film with some great slapstick moments and also true, dark horror. I wouldn't count Army of Darkness since the balance went askew, the comedy outweighs the horror too much for me)

The Return of the Living Dead (mid '80s, more comedy than horror but still a nice blend of both)

Gremlins (only the first one. The second was much more a comedic, metafictional self-parody. I love it, but it was played almost exclusively for laughs)

American Werewolf In London (the perfect blend, often using comedy to defuse a tense situation before almost immediately hitting you with a major shock. This seems to be the film that introduced the formula to modern Hollywood, although I'd love to find out about others anyone thinks are more responsible.)

The Fearless Vampire Killers (mid '60s Polanski film with some highly disturbing moments crossed with lots of silliness -eg, riding a coffin as a toboggan down a mountainside. Highly recommended vampire movie for any vamp fans - very influential on the genre, ripped off heavily by Van Helsing, for one).

Speaking of Van Helsing, I'm not thinking of that type of film - that was more of a horror/action mashup film with the odd joke.

So, can anyone recommend any others that belong on this list? I'm quite fond of this subgenre and would like to know what else you think might belong in this camp. I know there are some I've missed but I'm hoping to find out about others I've never seen.

 

[BloodRed87]

You need to see Braindead aka Dead Alive ASAP:

 

[JoleneBrody]

"Party's over"
I really wanted to thank bloodred 15 times for that but sadly, I could only once.

My current obsession (for the last 4 years) has been "Behind the Mask : The Rise of Leslie Vernon"
It is a mockumentary about the entirety of the horror/slasher flick genre. Some college kids follow around the next big supernatural serial killer and get behind the scenes footage while he sets up his big debut. It is a FUCKING MASTERPIECE!
I feel like I don't want to give away too much but it has a nice surprise about two thirds of the way through that any film geek will cream over.
The cast is amazing and features some sweet cameos from some horror legends.
I really could go on for three pages so I'll hush. Just watch it!
Parts were filmed right down the street from where I lived in Portland too!

 

[JickyJuly]

Killer Klowns from Outer Space comes to mind
The Toxic Avenger
ANYTHING with Elvira involved. I love her 100X over.
The Bat
I'd probably put House of 1000 Corpses and Devil's Rejects in here too.

 

[Dazza235]

Braindead - how could I forget that one?

While I was making that list, I kept looking at the same section of my bookshelf but couldn't see the main chunk of dvd's coz of another pile in the way (yes, I have too many dvd's) and now I know why, that's where my Braindead is.

"I kick ass for the lord" :-D

Thanks for adding it BloodRed, must check out that one JJ mentioned too

 

[AmberCutie]

I didn't think that the Scream series was comedy at all. Now, the spoofs they made of them, called the Scary Movie series is obvious. Is that what you meant?

 

[lordmagellan]

I didn't think that the Scream series was comedy at all. Now, the spoofs they made of them, called the Scary Movie series is obvious. Is that what you meant?

Oh they were comedy. Maybe they weren't meant to be, but they were.

Actually, I believe they were made to satirize the slasher horror genre, mostly through the character that kept talking about the movies (who I found to be utterly annoying).

 

[AmberCutie]

I didn't think that the Scream series was comedy at all. Now, the spoofs they made of them, called the Scary Movie series is obvious. Is that what you meant?

Oh they were comedy. Maybe they weren't meant to be, but they were.

Actually, I believe they were made to satirize the slasher horror genre, mostly through the character that kept talking about the movies (who I found to be utterly annoying).

Hmm, go figure. I'd have never thought that since these movies scared the FUCK out of me when I was young. But they certainly aren't listed as a "comedy" film in any description. Unlike Shaun of the Dead which most likely has that as it's genre. "Horror, comedy".

 

[Dazza235]

Maybe it's just me on the Scream films, but I found them incredibly funny as well as very scary (particulary 2 on the humour). Probably more just witty dialogue than outright comedy, but they fit for me .

 

[SweepTheLeg]

the first scream was meant to be satire of the horror genre but then it started to take itself far too seriously. And then scary movie came out to be a spoof of scream. So scary movie was a spoof of a satire of the horror genre.

 

[schlmoe]

When I saw the topic, I immediately said "Creepshow"! I'm only suggesting the first one.

 

[SweepTheLeg]

Young Frankenstein obviously, dracula: dead and loving it also provided me with some laughs.

And yes only watch the first Creepshow, i stumbled upon creepshow 2 on tv when hanging out with a friend and remembering how much I loved the first one. I watched far too much of it and it just made me more and more upset. First the raft skit and even worse was the hitchhiking skit, my friend is still yet to let me live it down for making him watch it.

 

[lordmagellan]

The second Chainsaw Massacre. Dennis Hopper. Chop Top. Chili.
Fun stuff.

"Bubba's got a girlfriend! Bubba's got a girlfriend!"

 

[MrRodry]

Love the Tremors and Feast series.

 

[schlmoe]

Well, these are more "campy"...but maybe worth a look:

In today's "PC" environment, I don't think this could be released...soooo bad, it's a hoot!


Yes, this is a movie about killer rabbits:


The title says it all:


PS, the last movie is specifically for Amber... :lol:

 

[LailaBaise]

'Nuff said.

 

[SatanJonez]

"Dead & Breakfast", "Prom of the Dead" & "Boy Eats Girl" :thumbleft:

 

[JoleneBrody]

"Dead & Breakfast", "Prom of the Dead" & "Boy Eats Girl" :thumbleft:

Dead & Breakfast is a seriously overlooked batch of awesome!
Oooh I have to add "Slither".

 

[MrRodry]

Speaking of the Devil... Final Destination 5 "Saved by the Bell" parody

 

[EmilyConrad]

Totally ridiculous but fun to watch and Leighton Meester looks hot in it.

 

[JoleneBrody]

Totally ridiculous but fun to watch and Leighton Meester looks hot in it.

Holy shit!! I totally forgot I watched this!! It's really quite bad! :lol:

Oooh oo!
Gingerdead man! starring Gary Busey! it's so so so bad!

 

[JRSlim79]

Also, I can give a big +1 to Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon! Definitely a classic.

There's obviously the Evil Dead series. Army of Darkness was the most entertaining to me, but the others are great too in a slightly less tongue in cheek way. I watched Feast for the first time a few days ago, it was great. I haven't seen Dead-Alive yet. I think I have it in my netflix queue.

 

[JoleneBrody]

:shock:
VAGINA DENTATA!
Looooved it!

 

[lordmagellan]

Hey, Jolene:

http://www.facebook.com/BeforeTheMask?s ... 4847175105

In case you missed it.

On topic, there's a film called 'Deadgirl' that has a bit of a different spin on "zombie movie." I think it took itself a little too seriously at times, but that jut makes it funnier in my opinion.

Also, 'House of 1000 Corpses.' Shit made me laugh, partly because Zombie took it so seriously; just too outrageous to be scary, thought. Still a good time.
There's an old movie called 'Frogs' that is fucking hilarious in that it's meant to be horror, and social commentary on pollution/chemical waste.



I like unintentional comedy.


Edited to make 'Deadgirl' one word. There is apparently a completely different film with a two word title.

 

[JoleneBrody]

Hey, Jolene:

http://www.facebook.com/BeforeTheMask?s ... 4847175105

In case you missed it.

On topic, there's a film called 'Deadgirl' that has a bit of a different spin on "zombie movie." I think it took itself a little too seriously at times, but that jut makes it funnier in my opinion.

Also, 'House of 1000 Corpses.' Shit made me laugh, partly because Zombie took it so seriously; just too outrageous to be scary, thought. Still a good time.
There's an old movie called 'Frogs' that is fucking hilarious in that it's meant to be horror, and social commentary on pollution/chemical waste.



I like unintentional comedy.


Edited to make 'Deadgirl' one word. There is apparently a completely different film with a two word title.

Whoa! Thank you so much! I have been meaning to look up the info but keep getting distracted by boobs.
Deadgirl blew me away! I consider that to be the best movie of the last year! It was just... amazing! Gave me emotions I can't easily describe. I was giddy with disturbance... I think that's the best I can do.

 

[JoleneBrody]

Ooo and I must add "The Toxic Avenger" !!
Thank you Troma films... for everything.

 

[nerdguy]

I really don't know if this was intentionally funny or not. I mean come on.

​

 

[Rose]

Win! When BJ and I went on vacation to Gatlinburg for Halloween last year he ended up getting really sick so we watch the whole Tremors series in one night. Since I don't think anyone else listed it though, Zombieland is pretty awesome. I've watched it several times. It's still awesome and the funny parts are pretty funny.

 

[zinfull]

The classic Saturday the 14th.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NmRGR45azo

 

[JickyJuly]

The new Fright Night was pretty bad/good. A lisa loeb cameo was also in therre. :love5: