Comedy has been a key aspect of scary movies since the genre’s early days. Fear and humor are interconnected in many respects, andhorror filmsdo an excellent job of riding the line between them. Several of thebest horror movies of all timebenefit from their comical qualities. Entire franchises have even been constructed on this concept alone. Unlike other genres, horror films tend to accrue a cult following that gives them a special degree of creative independence.
Since they typically require a substantially low budget, there isn’t much risk involved. Directors can create movies that make the whole production look like a practical joke, but people will still love them. Absurdism was a prominent film movement in the early 20th century, but it seems to have strongly resurfaced in modern horror. Manyupcoming horror movieswill be released in 2025, some of which will feature similarly crazy plots. In a genre filled with wild premises, certain titles stand out among the crowd.
Directed By Charles Band
Funny horror moviestend to excel at taking the most seemingly innocent objects and turning them into terrifying killing machines.Classics likeGremlinsandChild’s Playdemonstrate that no matter how cute something is, there’s still a chance it will try to murder everyone.Charles Band’sGinderdead Manis no exception to this trope.
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Nobody would expect a gingerbread man to come to life and start terrorizing people, but that’s exactly what happens in this film. After a serial killer is sent to the electric chair, his witch mother mixes his ashes into a gingerbread spice jar. The mysterious mixture shows up at a bakery, and when Sarah (Robin Sydney) accidentally sends electricity into the oven, the cookie man comes to life.Seeking revenge on Sarah for her testimony, the sentient cookie begins a horrific killing spree,taking down innocent people in the most gruesome ways.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Cast
Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a 1988 science fiction horror comedy in which aliens resembling circus clowns invade a rural town. They capture unsuspecting victims using unconventional methods, including entrapment in cotton candy cocoons, leading local residents to confront the bizarre extraterrestrial threat.
When it comes to wacky scary movies, Stephen Chiodo’s 1988 horror sci-fiKiller Klowns from Outer Spaceis easily one of the most recognizable titles.The very existence of this film proves that directors can do whatever they want with enough resources.It’s as if someone had a dream about this happening, and decided to create a movie out of it.
The premise is exactly as the title suggests. When an asteroid smashes into Earth, a group of teens discovers that it’s carrying murderous circus clowns. Assuming the teens are pulling a prank, the unsuspecting town proceeds to get terrorized by the wrath of the hilarious creatures.The movie promises killer clowns, and it goes above and beyond.Stephen Chiodio has suggested an idea for anunconventional continuation ofKiller Klowns from Outer Spacein the form of a sequel TV show, which would be welcomed with open arms.
Zombeavers
Zombeavers is a comedic horror film directed by Jordan Rubin. Released in 2015, it follows a group of college friends who find their vacation at a remote cabin interrupted by a swarm of deadly, zombified beavers. The film blends elements of horror and dark humor, offering a unique twist on the creature-feature genre.
Murderous animals are one of the most popular and profitable avenues within the horror genre.Typically, the creatures are either massive, have evil powers, or there are just tons of them.Elizabeth Banks’Cocaine Bearmanaged to rake in millions of dollars off the concept of a drugged-out black bear. The possibilities are virtually limitless, but some of the concepts are much wackier than others.
Director Jordan Rubin apparently wanted to set a new standard of peculiarity with his 2014 filmZombeavers.Beavers aren’t traditionally thought about in a threatening context, but that isn’t the case in this horror comedy.The plot follows a group of college friends who quickly find their forest getaway interrupted by a swarm of undead beavers that turn their victims into buck-toothed killer zombies. One by one, the characters transform into creatures as they leave a river of gore in their wake. It’s as weird of a movie as they come, featuring on-theme deaths that are hysterical.
Tusk
When Wallace Bryton interviews an eccentric old sailor, Howard Howe, for his podcast, the old man tells him of a walrus named “Mr. Tusk” who once saved his life. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there, as Howard’s obsession with Mr. Tusk means he has some disturbing plans for Wallace.
Horror movies with out-of-the-box premises tend to unlock new fears for members of the audience.In the case of Kevin Smith’sTusk, the fear revolves around getting kidnapped and surgically transformed into a walrus.Never in a million years would anyone be concerned about this, but it seems like a more rational thought after watching this film. At the center of the story is Wallace (Justin Long), a podcaster who visits an old man named Howard (Michael Parks) in hopes of getting an interview.
Johnny Depp has an uncredited role inTusk,where he plays a detective in disguise.
It turns out that Howard once had his life saved by a Walrus, and he’s obsessed with them. So, he proceeds to drug Wallace and transfigures him into an anatomically functioning Walrus. For the remainder of the plot, Howard forces the poor creature to acclimate to his new way of life.As absurd as this film is,Tuskis surprisingly scary and captivating in certain moments.There is something so unsettling about the sheer insanity behind Howard’s actions. Like mostA24 horror movies, there aren’t many quite like this one.
Troll 2
Troll 2 is a 1990 horror film directed by Claudio Fragasso. It follows a family vacationing in a small town called Nilbog, where they encounter strange and malevolent creatures. Despite its title, the film has no connection to its predecessor, Troll. Troll 2 is often noted for its low budget, quirky performances, and has gained a cult following for its unintended humor and unique narrative.
Claudio Fragasso’sTroll 2deserves to be at the top of the list of thebest so-bad-they-’re-good movies.It’s no secret that corniness has been an integral aspect of horror from day one. However, films of this nature typically have a degree of self-awareness.Despite how ridiculous a movie may be, it’s usually apparent if the creators were trying to be serious or not.
Troll 2stands alone among its counterparts becauseit genuinely feels like they were trying to make something scary but failed miserably.It’s truly a masterclass in comedic horror. The story is about a town called “Nilbog,” or goblin spelled backwards, where the inhabitants are secretly cannibalistic creatures. Everything from the costumes to the delivery of lines is outlandish and downright laughable. To top it all off, there isn’t even a single mention of trolls throughout the entire runtime.
Dead Alive
Dead Alive follows the story of a young man, Lionel Cosgrove, as he contends with his overbearing mother who becomes a zombie after being bitten by a rare Sumatran rat-monkey. Set in a suburban neighborhood, Dead Alive offers a unique take on the traditional zombie narrative.
Peter Jackson has asserted himself as one of the most impressive filmmakers of the modern generation. Although most are familiar with his masterful work onTheLord of the Rings & Hobbitmovies, his earlier projects haven’t received nearly as much attention.The director’s third full-length film,Braindead, orDead Alivein North America, is easily one of his craziest.
Braindeadheld the record for the most fake blood used in a movie up until 2013, when theEvil Deadremake passed it up.
This horror comedy follows a wacky zombie invasion that breaks out after Vera (Elizabeth Moody) is accidentally bitten by a Sumatran rat monkey while spying on her son at the Zoo.Some of the kills featured throughout the plot are among the most creative to ever grace the silver screen.All the deaths are over the top, and they’re only improved by the egregious amount of cheesy gore. Considering the type of projects that Jackson creates now, it’s frankly unbelievable thatBraindeadcame to fruition by his hand.
4Blood Diner (1987)
Directed By Jackie Kong
Cannibalism has proved to be an intriguing topic in the realm of horror movies,but few others have made anything like Jackie Kong’sBlood Diner.This film provides an illustrious example of the cinematic horror trends that characterized the 1980s. From the cheesy practical effects to the synth-heavy soundtrack, it’s got all the right components ofclassic indie horror.
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First, they greet you, then they eat you.Blood Dinertells the story of two cannibalistic brothers who plan to awaken Sheetar (Tanya Papnicolas), an ancient Egyptian goddess. To do this, they need to collect a series of stitched female body parts to create a special dish for her.As unsuspecting girls enter their vegetarian restaurant, they are swept away by the brothers to be turned into a blood buffet.The premise alone would be enough to qualify this film as unconventional, but as the plot unfolds, things only get crazier.
Considering thatSocietywas only Brian Yuzna’s second film, it’s wild that the director went in the direction he did.The movie is so wild that it would only make sense coming from a seasoned director with nothing to lose. Nevertheless, Yuzna decided to come out swinging in this horror mystery and the results speak for themselves. The story follows Bill Whitney (Billy Warlock), a teen boy who doesn’t trust his parents.
After discovering a shocking tape, he comes to realize that they are a different species who are members of a social elitist cult. These creatures amalgamate with one another into an amorphous blob and consume those who are below them in society.Thus, the premise is meant to be a play on the idea that the rich always feed off the poor.It’s absurd in an entertaining way, but some of the visuals are utterly disgusting.Society’sendingmakes this very apparent, showing the mass of flash engaging in an orgasm as it absorbs a victim.
2Deadly Friend (1986)
Directed By Wes Craven
The horror genre wouldn’t be the same today without the legendary Wes Craven’s contributions.FromScreamtoA Nightmare on Elm Street, he has delivered some of the most iconic scary movies in existence. Although the director’s works are widely recognized, his 1986 horror sci-fiDeadly Friendis one of the fewWes Craven movies that most people haven’t seen.
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This film is built upon a relatively basic premise, but it’s stretched to extreme ends. After their friend Samantha (Kristy Swanson) is put into a state of brain death, kids Paul (Matthew Labyorteaux) and Tom (Michael Sharrett) attempt to resurrect her by putting their robot’s microchip into her brain. As these things usually go,Samantha comes back to life, turns malicious, and attacks anyone she sees.Deadly Friendisn’t Craven’s magnum opus by any means, but it’s got the right amount of crazy to make it a cult classic.
Rubber
Rubber is a 2010 film that follows a group of people gathered in the California desert to watch a sentient, homicidal car tire named Robert. Set in the late 1990s, the narrative unfolds as Robert becomes fixated on a mysterious woman and causes chaos in a desert town.
Quentin Dupieux’s 2010 indie comedy horrorRubberis the type of movie that will leave the viewer wondering if they are stuck in a weird dream. It’s hilarious to imagine the writers of this film sitting down in a room together and coming up with the idea. In a genre packed with unconventional concepts,Rubbertakes the cake by a long shot. The entire plot is based around a run-of-the-mill tire named Robert who suddenly comes to life.
Although he appears normal, Robert can move independently and instantaneously explode objects with his mind. For the rest of the movie, he rolls around the desert on a murderous spree, only leaving guts in his wake. If it wasn’t wacky enough, there isn’t even an explanation or origin story for Robert’s consciousness or power. He just becomes self-aware and immediately decides to start killing everything. It’s a hysterically intriguinghorrorfilm by all measures and certainly deserves a watch, even if it’s just to prove that it exists.
