Comedy and horror don’t have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, they make quite a good pairing when done right. Some of the most memorable “horror” films lean more comedy than anything else. We broke down five of our favorite comedy horror movies (entirely subjective of course) that you can binge this October.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
You can’t go wrong with any film that has Edgar Wright’s name attached. Co-written with leading man Simon Pegg, the film stands as a staple in the comedy horror genre. It acts as an loving tribute to Dawn of the Dead but also manages to stand on its own. There are very few memorable zombie flicks set in the UK which adds a unique element to the humor as well. A scene that never fails to make me crack up is the epic zombie fight scene set to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
Cabin in the Woods (2011)
I feel like Cabin in the Woods doesn’t get enough credit. It does an amazing job at finding the humor in classic slasher films. That doesn’t mean it skimps on the horror though. It still has its fair share of jump scares, shock horror moments and a high kill count. If you’re a horror fan and know all the tropes, you’ll have a fond appreciation for this film.
Zombieland (2009)
We had to include this one on the list. I’m a huge Woody Harrelson fan so him shooting up zombies while professing his love for twinkies is right up my alley. What makes Zombieland stand out is that, much like Shaun of the Dead, it plays on the opposite of the zombie squad tropes. Instead of having a badass gunslinging hero, we get Jesse Eisenberg’s Columbus. A very dweeby neurotic trying to get to his family in Ohio. The badassery comes from the other characters in the group who “against all odds” become a weird family surviving the apocalypse.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
This is one of the most iconic horror comedies. Since I wasn’t born yet when this film came out, I can’t say for sure whether audiences really understood that it was a comedy and not exclusively horror. But in retrospect, John Landis did a great job at balancing the humor and the horror. It also features one of the most iconic body horror transformations in cinema.
American Psycho (2000)
Outside of being an amazing horror comedy, this is just an all around great movie in general. If I had to rank it on my top ten favorite films of all time, it would be number one. What’s crazy is Christian Bale almost wasn’t Patrick Bateman since Leo Dicaprio was competing for the role at the time. At the time of release it wasn’t super well received by critics but has become a cult classic. I will admit that I quote the business card scene in my everyday life far too often.
For more horror goodies, check out our Loot Fright crate, currently hosting a Blumhouse take over with some classic American blockbusters!
