It wouldn’t seem like it at first glance, but horror and comedy go together like chicken on rice. When the two genres meet, and the execution is done right, the comedy tends to heighten the absurdity of typical horror tropes. A good writer and director can completely subvert your expectations with a horror-comedy in interesting ways. Keeping that in mind, here are the 10 best horror comedy movies that’ll make you laugh yourself to death.
10. Army of Darkness
Evil Dead has always had a bit of a comedic streak, intentionally or otherwise, but it’s in Army of Darkness where the two genres are presented in equal parts. Sam Raimi continues Ash Williams’ story by sending him into the past, to medieval times; naturally, Ash is an unwelcomed guest to the primitive screwheads, but soon gains their trust, albeit, through the end of his “boomstick” and his ability for defeating Deadites.
What makes Army of Darkness one of the best horror-comedies is Bruce Campbell. His knack for delivering hammy lines in a way that isn’t ridiculous but endearing can only rivaled by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Of course, the excellent directing, writing, and practical effects shouldn’t be overlooked. You won’t see Evil Dead in this kind of light until Ash vs Evil Dead.
9. They Live
John Carpenter blended horror, comedy, and a critique on capitalism in a single film: They Live. Most people would likely nod off once you’ve started raging against the machine, but They Live intelligently, and comedically, unravels the issues with capitalist society. That’s where the true horror of the film lies.
The film introduces us to Nada (Roddy Piper), a drifter and a representation of the working class, and his struggles looking for employment. When he happens across a pair sunglasses and wears them, he soon discovers subliminal messages baked into advertisements by the ruling class, telling citizens to obey, submit, conform, consume, marry and reproduce. What’s most terrifying is, despite being released in 1988, They Live is more relevant now than ever before.
8. What We Do in the Shadows
What do vampires do in their free time? What We Do in the Shadows aims to answer that question by spinning together a mockumentary exploring the lives of three vampires: Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav (Taikai Waititi, Jonathan Brugh, and Jemaine Clement, respectively). You won’t find vampires hosting extravagant royal balls here, but plenty of hilarious twists on vampire tropes.
As it turns out, vampires are subject to the same tedious aspects of being alive, specifically in modern times, in addition to the consequences of immortality. They too argue over dishes, lock horns over friends and lovers, and bicker over personal boundaries in a bid to lead fulfilling lives. If you end up loving the film, the same humor extends to the television series of the same name.
7. Shaun of the Dead
When you’re working an unfulfilling, dead-end job, are you really any different from a zombie? Despite being a traditional zombie film, Shaun of the Dead plays up the tropes with so much wit and Edgar Wright’s signature style. It’s just as comfortable creating scenes full of gore and zombies as it is creating relatable characters you really want to root for.
The film introduces you to Shaun (Simon Pegg), a salesman without ambition. When a zombie outbreak ravages England, he becomes the unlikely leader to five other individuals, one of which is Ed (Nick Frost). They hack their way through the hordes of the undead to reach safety, and stop at the pub for a pint.