More Than Just Sunday Scaries

​For years, my dad and I have watched so many horror movies on Halloween that I could hardly sleep without fearing that Freddy Krueger would chase after me in my dreams. However, as the tradition continued, I became desensitized—horror movies no longer scared me. Because of this, I’m always taken aback by the “I can’t watch horror movies, they’re too scary” excuse, which is, frankly, abused by the average movie enjoyer.

Of course, I don’t blame anyone for being afraid while watching horror—that is the point of the genre. But, I do lament the fact that so many people are missing out on a Halloween season staple. Then, I stumbled across a subgenre that sounded so absurd that even the concept was hilarious: horror comedy.

What could be funny about a horror movie? Turns out, the subgenre is quite flexible, taking classic horror tropes, such as the “final girl” (“Halloween”) or the psychotic hillbillies (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre”), and turning them on their heads. It also involves placing characters into classic horror scenarios so exaggerated that the situation becomes satirical instead of “scary” (“Sharknado”). For scaredy cats who want to get into the Halloween mood without having to constantly look over their shoulders, this genre is for you.

“Tucker & Dale vs. Evil”

​A personal favorite, this movie follows two kindhearted, yet socially awkward, hillbillies, Tucker and Dale, who just bought a lakeside cabin in the woods. On the way to their “vacation home,” the duo encounters a group of college students who are frightened by their “threatening” demeanors. (The pitchfork that Tucker was holding probably didn’t help, either.) When the college students encounter Tucker and Dale at the lake again, they believe the duo is planning to kill them—the situation only escalates from there. Tucker and Dale’s obliviousness, combined with the college kids’ irrational fears, make for an entertaining film that will leave you guilty for laughing despite the gore.

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“Attack of the Killer Tomatoes”

​Yes, you read that right. “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” is a 1978 parody film that follows America’s scramble to prevent attacks by large, sentient tomatoes. Riddled with references, satire and dated special effects, the movie plays on the films “Jaws” and “The Birds.” If you’re looking for humans undercover as tomatoes in an attempt at espionage, the hit song “Puberty Love,” and a heartwarming love story all in one, this is definitely for you.

“Scary Movie”

​“Scary Movie” and its sequels are perhaps the most well-known horror comedies. A clear spinoff of the movies “Scream” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” this film follows a group of teenagers being stalked by a serial killer—but the teens aren’t entirely innocent either. While this sounds like a setup for a classic horror film, the character’s absurdity is what makes this a horror comedy. Bumbling figures as “Doofy Gilmore” and “Cindy Campbell” bring a different take on stereotypical horror scenarios that will make you look at all horror movies in a comedic light.

“Scream”

​I’m aware I just mentioned that “Scary Movie” spoofed “Scream,” but this film still has many satire elements that let us classify it as a horror comedy. As one of the scarier movies on the list, maybe wait until you can stomach a jumpscare or two. Still, “Scream” is still not a conventional horror movie. The film is entirely self-aware, even going so far as to list the “rules” to survive a horror movie (i.e., never say, “I’ll be right back”—you aren’t coming back). Such subtle dramatic irony is present throughout the film, making it pioneering in its genre.

“Zombieland”

​This take on a classic zombie film sees a group of eclectic apocalypse survivors who go by the names of the cities they’re from, traveling across the country to find a sanctuary free from the zombification virus. Similarly to “Scream,” there are certain rules the protagonist, Columbus, believes he has to follow to survive, though he learns to let go of his rigidity with the help of his companions. While somewhat less satirical, some elements are extremely humorous (for example, rough-and-tumble “manly man” Tallahassee spends a majority of the film searching for a Twinkie), and others pull at your heartstrings, making for a more emotional watch.

“Willy’s Wonderland”

​“Willy’s Wonderland” was everything that I wanted from the 2023 “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie—and more. This 2021 film depicts Nicolas Cage as a completely silent protagonist only listed as “the janitor.” Cage must survive the night in the titular abandoned family entertainment center, where the animatronic mascots come to life and attempt to kill him. The contrast between Cage’s intense surroundings and his unperturbed character makes the film very entertaining, especially when Cage takes an hour break from his job to drink soda and play pinball (even leaving mid-fight with a murderous animatronic—when you’re off the clock, you’re off the clock).

“Bubba Ho-Tep”

​Have you ever wanted to watch a movie where an elderly Elvis Presley and African American John F. Kennedy ’40 fight an ancient mummy in a nursing home? If so, this is for you! Elvis, played by Bruce Campbell, claims that he was sick of all the fame and switched places with an Elvis impersonator, who died in 1977. JFK, played by Ossie Davis, claims he survived the 1963 assassination, but, afterward, his skin was dyed brown, and he was abandoned in a nursing home by Lyndon B. Johnson, who wanted the presidency. While both backstories are already ludicrous, the introduction of the cowboy mummy “Bubba Ho-Tep,” who feeds on the souls of the elderly, adds another layer of madness to the film.​

The “Evil Dead” Franchise

​The original “Evil Dead” trilogy sees the protagonist Ashley “Ash” Williams fighting demonic spirits, called “Deadites,” unleashed by the ancient book, the “Necronomicon Ex-Mortis.” While the first movie is action-based, the next two lean into the comedic aspects of the Deadites. Fun fact: Jason, the main killer in the “Friday the 13th” franchise, is hinted to be a Deadite in the 1993 film “Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday,” and there is a crossover comic called “Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash” that confirms they exist in the same universe! And, check out the TV series “Ash vs Evil Dead” if you didn’t get enough of Ash dismembering Deadites in the first three movies.

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“Panman”

​If anyone else has heard of this movie (besides those I’ve already mentioned it to), I would be extraordinarily surprised. This underground indie film that introduced me to the “horror comedy” genre follows a serial killer who sports a pot on his head—though they couldn’t call him Potman for obvious reasons—and kills people with a frying pan. While embarking on his murderous rampage against a specific culinary class, Panman meets a girl, falls in love, and avoids eating pesto along the way. Though this may seem utterly absurd and unrelated, I can’t say more for fear of spoilers. I wholeheartedly believe that “Panman” deserves to be among the famed cult classics such as “Donnie Darko” and “Galaxy Quest.”

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There are scores of bad horror movies coming out that use famous children’s cartoon characters, such as “Popeye the Slayer Man” and “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey,” since the copyrights have expired and the original characters are now public domain. 

Out of fear I’ve rambled on for far too long about this kitschy genre, this listicle must come to an end. Yet I could recommend so many more films. If you don’t want to watch any of the ridiculous movies I’ve listed, but still want to tackle horror, I’ll leave you with some advice: imagine what horror movies look like without the special effects. When you watch them through the correct lens, any horror movie can be a comedy.

​Eden Bridge-Hayes ’29 (edenbridgehayes@college.harvard.edu) is one of 12 fans of “Panman,” and the other 11 are people that she’s forced to watch it.