IT’S ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL SOMEONE LOSES AN EYE! Or several body parts in a frenzied massacre in the woods!

There are few things in life that gratify us like watching a good movie. But what if you aren’t sure what you’re in the mood to watch? A Comedy Horror choosing might just resolve that conundrum. I mean, it has comedy and horror so what more could the ordinary mortal ask for really?! To be fair, the majority of modern horror movies have some comedic elements to the them especially within the Slasher and Monster Horror sub genres. There are some movies though, that rely to heavily on the comedy aspect and to me personally, these titles do not belong in this category. I think a Comedy Horror film should stay true to the horror genre and should not be just all about the laughs.

I have chosen a handful of titles that are stellar examples with the ideal mix of horror and comedy. These films masterfully blend the fundamentals and are, (in my humble opinion) some of the best to pick from.

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981): The handiwork of legend John Landis; perhaps best know for The Blues Brothers (1980) and the brilliant video for Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1983)- this movie blends the scares and the dark comedy with such sublime precision. It is simply one of the greatest werewolf films made. The premise- two American backpackers are attacked by a werewolf while exploring the United Kingdom. One dies, the second awaits the full moon to bring about his impending curse; to become like the very creature that bit him. His ‘ghostly’ friend Jack provides the punctilious comic relief while David (the protagonist) advances through a gruesome transformation, physically and symbolically. This movie has plenty of gore for a pre-CGI period film and although it is a fraction dated in some aspects it has definitely withstood as one of the pivotal horror films of it’s generation. There are profound moments of terror in the narrative, and the special effects are arguably second to none, particularly as David physically becomes the beast. This 40 year veteran of the genre is undeniably one of the greats.

THE BABYSITTER (2017): When I found out that McG was directing a horror film for Netflix I was quite intrigued and anticipated a kick ass soundtrack, meticulously engineered kill scenes and a tonne of explosions. And I was pretty spot on! This movie is a visually spectacular, full throttle (obvious pun intended), supremely enjoyable thrill ride. It blends a crazy amount of butchery with a solid amount of wit, and would give any parent reason to reconsider hiring the hot sitter for their kids. The characters are equal parts deranged and deluded, the cast are perfectly assigned and the premise, though it might not be all that original, is still well executed. The protagonist Cole is a 12 year old outcast, bullied and ostracized by almost everyone within his age group. His parents head off on a romantic/therapeutic weekend leaving him with his regular reliable sitter Bee, whom he adores in all ways. The weekend takes a sour turn when Bee invites her group over for a little satanic ritual/gathering. What ensues is pure chaos, in the best possible way. For a purely entertaining event, watch The Babysitter. 

CHILD’S PLAY (1988):  There is real validity to why this movie has remained a cult favourite since it’s 1988 release. Directed by Tom Holland, and created by Don Mancini, Child’s Play is a fusion of absurdity and terror. A violent, psychotic criminal named Charles Ray gets shot by a police officer and uses a type of black magic to transfer his dying spirit into the nearest, obtainable vessel- a Good Guys Doll. The doll is gifted to a young boy named Andy who is delighted to learn his new friend “Çhucky” can talk. The friendship takes a sour turn of course when Chucky, aka Charles, continues on his murderous rampage choosing to make Andy his scapegoat. Dolls are inherently creepy, there is no disputing that fact. The symbolism of childlike innocence makes for an uncomfortably effective figure of evil which is probably why dolls have been terrorizing the masses since the early days of cinema. This movie has a genuine shock factor to it and is packed with plenty of bloodstained moments. The 2019 remake or reimagination as it where, just simply did not work. 

THE FINAL GIRLS (2015): On paper the Final Girls probably reads like a ridiculous and somewhat cliched plot. HOWEVER, I really enjoy this movie for so many different reasons. It is a comedy horror without argument but it is a clever and stylish one. Aside from it’s sterling cast, there is an invigorated narrative that pokes fun at all the classic tropes while remaining just kitsch enough to be cool. Directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson, Final Girls tells the story of Max a teen who’s B actress mother is killed in a car accident. The deeply effected Max heads to a screening of her mother’s most famous film; a B grade, now cult classic horror Camp Bloodbath (aka basically the entire plot of Friday the 13th). While watching with friends at the theatre, there’s a fire and the group somehow are transported into the film. While stuck inside this structure, they and the casted camp counsellors are killed off by the masked killer. Max is able to reconnect with her mother via an Inception type phenomenon helping her to heal and to become the survivor, or final girl. The humour is fantastic and the story has real depth. There are several surprises to keep the viewer intrigued while the film’s substance itself does more than enough to please. 

FRIGHT NIGHT (1985): Its no secret that I love a Vampire movie or ten, but I am actually also an ardent 80s enthusiast. I love the music and (most) of the pop culture. The era brought the radical eruption of all things extravagant and with that propelled the explosion of the ultra violent slasher craze. Directed by Tom Holland (Child’s Play) the film is a mish-mash of cliches but it sustain well because of it’s heart. Charley Brewster has a new neighbour who he discovers is a vampire. He then enlists the help of a washed out tv star/vampire expert to save his entranced girlfriend (and neighbourhood) from the mysterious villain. There are plenty of laughs in this film and the aesthetic delivers with a softened scale of blues and purples giving it an often moody appearance which works well with the overall tone of the narrative. The effects are mostly good and there is still a large enough volume of blood spillage to satiate the coveted requirements. The film was remade in 2011 with some substantial changes to the style and storyline. The remake wasn’t too bad but the original is still the standout for me.

IDLE HANDS (1999): I will admit that this movie does not have the greatest amount of substance but what it does have is pure entertainment value. The premise- A teenaged stoner discovers his parents’ blood-soaked bodies in his house and learns that his hand has become possessed by a murderous entity causing him to be responsible for the deaths. Not only has he killed his mother and father but he then goes on to kill his 2 best friends and several other community members. The cast are a prominent powerhouse of rising and established young talent (Devon Saw, Seth Green and Jessica Alba) with some screen veterans (Fred Willard) making a prominent appearance as well. Its a fun film with loads or carnage, absurdity and a really great 90s soundtrack. There are a lot of slapstick oriented sequences involving Sawa’s character Anton and his best friends Pnub and Mick, generating that madcap vibe. But, there also some great ‘actual horror’ moments. The film is a bit of cult favourite and is definitely worth a watch if you are in the mood for something that is both bloody and insane.

READY OR NOT (2019): Firstly- this movie was a surprise package for me. I was not actually sure what to expect when I watched it and I absolutely enjoyed it. The premise- Grace (Samara Weaving) is about to marry into the LeDomas family; a board game creating dynasty of obnoxiously wealthy lunatics (for want of a better word). On the wedding night the tradition is to play a game with the whole family, chosen by a mechanical box, at midnight. The card drawn is Hide and Seek; a seemingly innocent albeit nonsensical choice. Grace’s now husband, the youngest LeDomas Alex, is mortified and refuses to play, however the decision is final and the family send her of to “hide”. What follows is a preposterous, excessively brutal hunting spree as each armed and mostly psychotic family member “seek” Grace out to kill her, as are the rules of the game. In fact if they do not find and kill her they will all meet sudden demise because the reason for their longevity and success is due to their long serving allegiance to the dark master himself. There are plenty of extremely gory deaths, plenty of laugh out loud moments and the film is never dull. A few curveballs keep the story interesting.