| Author | Message | ||
     Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
Can anyone recommend some great Horror Comedies that really work, getting the balance between laughs and scares just right? The best examples, off the top of my head, for me would be 'Carry On Screaming', 'Shaun Of The Dead' or 'The League Of Gentlemen' on TV. Any others comparable I'm maybe unaware of? It's a genre that usually sucks - e.g. 'Lesbian Vampire Killers'  | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.20.31.211 |
Some of Alan Ayckbourn's plays work this way: for example, 'Way Upstream' and, more explictly, 'Snake In The Grass'. Brilliant writer. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 69.157.42.161 |
Jacques Tourneur's The Comedy of Terrors is excellent. The Grotesque starring Alan Bates (based on Patrick McGrath's novel) has some grimly comedic moments. Also, Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers. | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
Jacques Tourneur's The Comedy of Terrors is excellent. You've reminded me of how well Vincent Price did sinister comedy! Both Dr Phibes movies and of course the brilliant 'Theatre Of Blood'. Not familiar with Alan Ayckbourn's writing but is it horror? | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.69.74.178 |
There's a superb Spanish horror comedy called The Day of The Beast, about a catholic priest who teams up with a heavy metal fan to fight Satanic forces. Unfortunately I don't think this is available on DVD. Other great horror comedies are Satan, a French film starring Vincent Cassel, An American Werewolf In London, Freaked - which is very very silly but anything that has Mr T as a bearded lady and Bobcat Goldthwaite as a man with a sock puppet for a head can't be all bad -, Gremlins, and that's pretty much all I can think up right now. There must be tons more that I'm forgetting. Actually, Joe Dante's TV series Eerie Indiana is also rather good, though only the first season. The tupperware party one makes the Stepford Wives look normal. | ||
| Barbara Roden (Nebuly) Username: Nebuly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 216.232.176.111 |
"Shaun of the Dead" "Theatre of Blood" "Fright Night" | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
Of course 'An American Werewolf In London' is probably the best horror comedy I've seen. 'Fright Night' is excellent too. Then, going way back, there's 'The Cat And The Canary' & 'The Ghost Breakers' with Bob Hope. Anyone remember Hammer's 'The Horror Of Frankenstein' with Ralph Bates, which made me laugh. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.181.88 |
I was just about to mention The Ghost Breakers, Stephen. There's Abbott and Costello, of course, and The Old Dark House has comedic elements. Also, The Raven and Tales of Terror, The Fearless Vampire Killers, the Doctor Phibes films... Later on there is the likes of the Evil Dead movies (Darkman, etc.), and the films of Frank Henenlotter. Beetlejuice, Waxwork, Tremors, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Peter Jackson's films... | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.181.88 |
I almost forgot Michele Soavi's wonderful Dellamorte Dellamore (Cemetery Man). There are plenty of Asian horror comedies too, especially Chinese-language productions like Mr. Vampire. I'm sure I'm forgetting many, many others. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.20.31.211 |
>>>Not familiar with Alan Ayckbourn's writing but is it horror? Not really, except for the play 'Haunting Julia', which is a wonderful and powerful ghost story. A classic that sadly remains largely unknown in the field. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.181.88 |
The Korean film The Quiet Family (and the Japanese version The Happiness of the Katakuris) work for me. | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
I love the work of Frank Henenlotter! Whatever happened him? Got all the DVDs. I wouldn't call the first 'Evil Dead' a comedy though the second and third definitely are - only increasingly less effective as films. I find Sam Raimi an often inspired but damn frustrating director who never really lived up to the promise of his debut. 'The Fearless Vampire Killers' is one of the best examples and I'd also call 'The Tenant' a horror comedy. Haven't seen 'Delamorte Dellamore' and long to... As for Peter Jackson I'm probably alone in considering the likes of 'Bad Taste' & 'Braindead' the best things he's ever done (though 'The Frighteners' is seriously underrated). What about some more horror-comedy TV - and I do consider myself a fan of 'The Addams Family' & 'The Munsters'. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.181.88 |
Stephen, if it's horror/comedy TV you're after, have you seen Garth Marenghi's Darkplace? It's hilarious in places. | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
The Korean movie, The Host, is a pretty good blend of horror and comedy. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.178.142 |
Good call, Simon. Uzumaki has some humour in it too, though of a decidedly dark sort. Then there's Hong Kong's Biozombie, and Takashi Shimizu's Great Horror Family. | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
Anyone here remember the great horror/sci-fi spoof from the 80s 'Killer Klowns From Outer Space'? I recall being freaked out by the brilliant make-up effects and wonder is it available on DVD? I'm just realising what a wealth of horror-comedy material there is out there! | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.69.51.233 |
It is, I watched it with the Missus just the other week. Unfortunately the clown make-up is pretty much the only thing that is any good about the movie. | ||
| John (John) Username: John Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 82.24.1.217 |
I remember the trailer for Killer Klowns a lot more vividly than I remember the actual movie. I'm a big fan of Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat, but there wasn't much in the way of real horror in there. The first 'House' film springs to mind. And perhaps Poltergeist. | ||
| Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey) Username: Ramsey Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
I thought Final Destination 2 was a kind of black slapstick, with setups worthy of Keaton or Harold Lloyd. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.5.4.31 |
I've discovered the source of the Final Destination movies: Pulse (1988), starring little-kid Joey Lawrence, which malevolently personified electricity - there's no overt evil here, it's all in shots of plugs and cords and appliances.... Not a great film, not nearly as good as the FD movies, but surely their inspiration. | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
It is, I watched it with the Missus just the other week. Unfortunately the clown make-up is pretty much the only thing that is any good about the movie. But what make-up!! Who was responsible for that anyway and did they work on any other films? I always remember the scene in the prison cell being genuinely scary and the one with the clown crouched down beckoning with its finger to a little child with a ridiculously large mallet hidden behind its back. I think I'm right in saying the kid gets splattered? There were a slew of similarly goofball horror/sci-fi parodies in the 80s: 'The Deadly Spawn', the brilliant remake of 'The Blob', various Gremlins, Ghoulies & Critters flicks and probably best of them all 'Tremors'. Any more I've forgotten? | ||
| Chris_morris (Chris_morris) Username: Chris_morris Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 12.165.240.116 |
I've always been fond of The Return of the Living Dead. Also, David Lynch's movies often crack me up. The dinner scene in Eraserhead just kills me. | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
God yeah, Lynch walks a fine line between the nightmarish and the absurd - somewhow always seeming to get the balance just right. I was very impressed with 'Inland Empire' in the cinema - quite possibly his masterpiece and his only other film that matches the nightmare intensity of 'Eraserhead' for me! The only other director I can think of whose work is comparable would be Jan Svankmajer. 'Conspirators Of Pleasure' had me crying with laughter one minute and chilled to my bone the next. Perhaps horror works best when mixed with absurdist humour? Surely I'm not the only one who was as much disturbed by the imagery of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' as amused by it? | ||
| Niki Flynn (Niki) Username: Niki Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.32.69.29 |
Re-Animator is my favourite, though I can't say it's ever really scary. | ||
| Giancarlo (Giancarlo) Username: Giancarlo Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 85.116.228.3 |
Atomik Circus, Slither, Black Sheep, Squirm.... | ||
| Giancarlo (Giancarlo) Username: Giancarlo Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 85.116.228.3 |
...The Stuff, about people being eaten by a strange kind of ice cream... | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
'Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes' of course and 'Night Of The Lepus' about giant flesh-eating bunnies! I've seen the DVD of 'Black Sheep' and was wondering if it was any good? 'Hot Fuzz' has plenty of horror elements in it, being virtually a parody of 'The Wicker Man'. I think if they had marketed it as such it would have done even better. 'Society' is another one that works. | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.143.178.131 |
Black Sheep is rubbish. Society is ace. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Black sheep depends on how low your expectations are. set the bar on a very basic level and it works quite well. Drink half a bottle of sambucca and it's even better. It made me chortle merrily several times while watching it (even sober). Think of Peter jackson's Bad taste with sheep but not quite that good. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.246.152 |
We agree, Weber - I really liked BLACK SHEEP! My expectations were damned low, and I was pleasantly surprised by it.... | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
I've just decided I hated it. Not a single redeeming feature... | ||
| Chris_morris (Chris_morris) Username: Chris_morris Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 12.165.240.116 |
FWIW I didn't like BLACK SHEEP. I think my low expectations weren't low enough. | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 145.229.156.40 |
One to watch through beer goggles by the sound of it! 'Severance' & 'The Cottage' were other recent efforts to capture the vibe of 'Shaun Of The Dead' that while watchable enough and fairly amusing didn't quite live up to expectations. But then by comparison with 'Lesbian Vampire Killers' they are positively inspired! | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.143.178.131 |
Severance suffers from having Danny Dyer in it. He should just stick to the Nick Love films. Bruvver. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
An American Werewolf in London The Howling Frank Henenlotter's entire output. | ||
| John (John) Username: John Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 82.24.1.217 |
Danny Dyer shouldn't be in anything. Ever. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.115.127 |
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN!!! | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
I can't believe I didn't remember 'Young Frankenstein'!! Good call - pure gold!! | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.77.145 |
FRANKENFISH had its moments. | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.143.178.131 |
Danny Dyer currently has his own show on Virgin called: Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men. What an utter utter c**t. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Is his acting dyer? (dire... I'll get me coat) Who is he anyway? | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.185.94 |
I'm a Frankenfish fan, Ally! I love mutant/monster movies (even the cheesy ones). Lake Placid was fun, as well. | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.143.178.131 |
Don't ever ever find out, otherwise you'll have to see a Nick Love film. Similar to stuff like Crank. Lowest common denominator blokey films that reinforce stereotypes. I think Dyer was also in Human Traffic too if you ever saw that. Tiresome drug pic. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
has anyone ever seen Kindred - 80's pic, tagline was "Half brother, Half something else" i seem to remember that being reasonably good (but I was 15 when I saw it so it possibly isn't really) | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.185.94 |
The title is certainly familiar, Weber. Was Rod Steiger in it, as a doctor or professor, or something? | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
I'm sure there were two films of this title around on video in the 80s. i saw them both, and neither has remained in the memory banks. I do, however, recall something called "The Beast Within", an Australian film where someone turned into a giant katydid at the end... | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.251.197 |
Similar to stuff like Crank. Lowest common denominator blokey films that reinforce stereotypes. Are we talking about the same CRANK? The Jason Statham film? Because if we are - I friggin' love that movie! Hilarious film, totally bonkers over-the-top, crazy insane - it's self-parody on the extreme subtlety level of TROPIC THUNDER. And they actually made a sequel to it?!? (Released this week in the States.) | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 145.229.156.40 |
Oh that's who Danny Dyer is... Am I dreaming or was there a horror film with Rod Steiger and Michael J. Pollard in it that was kind of funny? Speaking of Rod Steiger one of my favourite macabre black comedies is 'No Way To Treat A Lady' (1968) in which he plays a Vincent Price-like serial killer/master of disguise. Brilliant movie - funny and very sinister! | ||
| Thomasb (Thomasb) Username: Thomasb Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 69.236.171.108 |
I'm funny about "horror-comedies;" I know theoretically that they're supposed to be intimately related, but I find the ones that work are either too scary to be funny (a good thing); or funny, but not scary at all ("Young Frankenstein"). The best ones may not be strictly comedy, but are done with certain grinning capering glee, like "Reanimator" which could have wound up a very bad, unscary unfunny movie, but didn't. (I"m afraid I don't like Peter Jackson's early horror comedies at all; too broad and cartoony to scary and not particularly funny, to me at least.) "Theatre of Blood" is another great one--more gleeful wit with a minimum of buffoonery. I get it about a sense of absurdity being always present, especially in supernatural horror (I remember Joyce Carol Oates writes about this somewhere); it can work as absurd humor; or it can be a portrayal of the Universe as an insane meaningless place. A favorite of mine (and I know I'm going to catch some hell for this) is "A&C Meet Frankenstein" where Bud & Lou's comedy is kept separate from the monsters who play it straight (esp. with Bela as Dracula--both an excellent performance and an excellent take on the character.) If I have a choice, when it comes to horror, I'll pick being scared *every* time. New essay at: http://www.redroom.com/blog/thomas-burchfield/shoptalk-7-a-tale-two-chapters-cha pter-30 | ||
| Chris_morris (Chris_morris) Username: Chris_morris Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 12.165.240.116 |
It's a balancing act, at best. It's true that horror and humor are related, imo, but it's also true that they're polar opposites. If you tip too far toward humor, you've destroyed some of the horror, and vice-versa. Best, I think, is to couch an ironic humor -- a tongue-in-cheek humor -- within the horror. That way you can preserve the scares and keep the laughs, if your audience is inclined to laugh at it. John Hawkes did this, years ago, with The Cannibal. Brian Evenson does it all the time today. Lynch does it routinely as well. It's tough to pull off, I think, but it's probably my current favorite flavor of fiction. | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
Given a choice I'll always go for straight scary horror every time as well. But when horror-comedy is done right it still gives me the same thrill I got as a child watching 'Doctor Who' (with the best Doctor, Jon Pertwee) or even the likes of 'Scooby Doo, Where Are You?' (long before Scrappy came along and ruined it by not being afraid of the ghosts), 'The Munsters' (a reassuring antidote to being scared witless by those old Universal movies), 'The Addams Family' (I always found Lurch a truly unsettling presence as a kid), 'Carry On Screaming' (that scene in the lab with Jon Pertwee, again, or poor Charles Hawtrey being flushed down the lav really scared me), the 'Abbott & Costello Meet...' movies (of which only Frankenstein is truly worthwhile but why couldn't it have been made 10 years earlier with Laurel & Hardy instead). Great adult horror-comedy such as 'Shaun Of The Dead', 'The Fearless Vampire Killers' or 'An American Werewolf In London' recaptures the feeling of being a kid again better than any other genre I believe. It's fun to be scared and that's what these type of films celebrate. That's my theory anyway. Speaking of Laurel & Hardy, and knowing Ramsey to be a fan, I remember laughing myself sick at the same age at their antics on TV. What one always stuck in my mind most? 'The Laurel & Hardy Murder Case' with them being chased round a haunted house by "ghosts" just like Scoob & Shaggy - and the scary butler intoning "I hope you have a nice looooonnnggg sleep." while they sat quaking in bed - still cracks me up. So for me horror-comedy (the nightmare absurdities of Lynch & Svankmajer aside) is probably all to do with nostalgia... | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.23.255 |
Now you are talking Stephen - The Fearless Vampire Killers - love it. | ||
| Stephenw (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
Yeah, Jack MacGowran & Polanski himself made an inspired double act. There's nothing funnier than two incompetents getting in way over their necks against the powers of darkness! A tradition I would love to see properly revived. |