5 Horror-Comedies That Masterfully Deconstruct Clichés Of The Genre
If you are tired of your typical horror and want to spice things up with a dash of comedy, you should definitely check these out.
The horror-comedy subgenre was arguably born with the release of Sam Raimi 's Evil Dead II (1987), which greatly increased the comedic elements that were barely present in the original and instantly gained cult status.
The filmmaker continued in this direction with the third film, Army of Darkness (1992), much to the appreciation of fans.
Over the years, many directors have tried the same approach and expanded the subgenre, so here are five of the best horror comedies that stand up to Raimi's work.
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2014)
Starring Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk, this film offers a fresh and hilarious take on the typical "evil redneck" trope.
A total misunderstanding between said rednecks and a group of college kids leads to some gruesome, but extremely funny results. You'll remember the quotes from this movie long after you've seen it.
What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Taika Waititi directed and starred in this iconic mockumentary about a group of vampire roommates.
You may have seen the 2019 TV series of the same name, which continues to this day, but many fans consider the original film superior in many ways.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
A classic from Edgar Wright, this is one of his many collaborations with Simon Pegg. As the title suggests, the movie tells the story of a zombie apocalypse taking place in London, as the protagonist Shaun tries to make sense of it all, along with other survivors.
A must see for any horror comedy fan.
Happy Death Day (2017)
No one really expected much from this movie when it was released, so it was a pleasant surprise to find out that it actually turned out to be great, combining two completely different concepts.
When college student Theresa is suddenly killed by a maniac in a baby mask, she finds herself in a time loop, so she has to discover the identity of the killer, who is dying over and over again, in order to break the cycle.
The sequel is quite good as well, offering a new take on the same theme.
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Heavily inspired by the aforementioned Evil Dead movies, The Cabin in the Woods manages to completely turn the concept on its head with a fresh take on horror clichés and some great plot twists.
If you are tired of predictable horror movies, you should definitely check it out.