Saturday, October 6, 2018

Top 10 Horror Comedies

So, with yesterday's post, it's clear my Halloween tastes likely run a little lighter than most in terms of favorite films for Halloween.  So I thought I would start with a narrower list: my favorite horror comedies.  The films on this list mostly have minimal gore and scares, but instead rely on humor within typical scary movie settings.  These films run the gamut from classic to cult, from the 1940s to the 2010s, and range from slapstick to satire. Just a few favorite not-so-scary classics.

In order of release:
  • Arsenic & Old Lace (1944) - a classic comedy with light horror touches and a Halloween backdrop.  Truly one of the funniest premises ever written.  Raymond Massey doing a great Karloff.  Peter Lorre.  And Cary Grant at his best one of my favorite comedies.
  • Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) - Peanut butter and chocolate.  The horror icons Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange, and Lon Chaney, Jr. combined with the excellent comedy Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.  The slapstick you expect, but with some great quick lines as well.  Always a favorite.
  • Young Frankenstein (1974) - There is such a loving devotion to the classic Frankenstein films present in this satire that is amazing.  These are the best comedians at the top of their game.  And Peter Boyle has to be the second greatest Frankentsein's monster behind Karloff.  My second favorite Mel Brooks film.  I loved seeing this with Mel Brooks introducing it at the TCM Film Festival.
  • The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) - The cult classic that is just as much fun to interact with.  This is THE Tim Curry performance.  The music is put together better than the film itself, but its still so much fun to watch.  Let's do the time warp, indeed. One year - the goal is to see this at a midnight show, in costume.
  • Ghostbusters (1984) - Another group of amazingly talented comedians at the top of their game.  Such an iconic song, such a great movie.  
  • Little Shop of Horrors (1986) - The music makes this.  Levi Stubbs as Audrey II.  That's classic.  A great cast and another great premise.
  • Beetlejuice (1988) - One of the best Tim Burton films.  From the Handbook for the Recently Deceased to The Banana Boat Song at the dinner table.  Delightfully whimsical and such great performances.
  • Bubba Ho-tep (2002) - I never knew I needed an elderly Elvis fighting a reanimated mummy.  Add the fact that Elvis is played by the always great Bruce Campbell.  And then add Ossie Davis as someone convinced he is JFK. A great B-movie with several fun quotes.
  • Shaun of the Dead (2004) - I adore the Cornetto Trilogy and while I might have a slight preference for Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead is just as excellent.  I love that it spells out the plot in the first few minutes.  I love the way Edgar Wright works and this is such a great ensemble.  
  • Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010) - This is the most violent and gory film on the list, but it is so hilarious.  I love Alan Tudyk and Tyler Levine in general and they are on in this film.  Two good natured hillbillies who are mistaken for crazy killers.  This premise is mined for such comedy gold.
What are your favorite genre mixtures?

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