With the most recent example being Studio 666, released in February 2022, it’s clear that the horror-comedy genre is still going strong. However, in spite of such standouts in the genre like Beetlejuice, Elvira, and Gremlins being fantastic comedies, there are several examples in the medium that have more scares than silliness.
They might be billed as horror comedies, but there are multiple instances in the genre of films favoring the former half of that equation. While many still have that same twisted sense of humor about them, they can also be more than a little frightening even for veteran viewers.
The Babysitter (2017)
This Netflix slasher film is very tongue-in-cheek with its humor and delivery, but it still has quite the selection of terrifying kills centered around high-school-aged victims. Plus, the idea of harvesting innocent blood for a demonic ritual while the victim sleeps is more than a little uncomfortable and unsettling.
Bee and her cult of killer friends might be laughable and over the top at the best of times, but they’ve all got an overly violent nature. This results in some seriously graphic and gory kills that will pull the rug out from anyone expecting a stereotypical teen scream.
Stitches (2012)
Clowns aren’t exactly the most lovable characters when it comes to horror movies, but the idea of a zombie clown looking to seek revenge on the bratty kids that accidentally murdered him is certainly a ludicrous idea on paper. However. Stitches (played by stand-up comedian Ross Noble) is by far one of the most unsettling slasher characters, even for a horror comedy.
The movie is unapologetically gruesome, but in a way that utilizes the clown’s gags and motif. The undead clown scoops out a victim’s brains like ice cream, turns intestines into balloon animals, and has a fiendishly good time while doing so. Stitches might not be the happiest clown around, but he’s certainly one of the deadliest.
The Cabin In The Woods (2011)
Known to horror fans as the penultimate love letter to the genre, The Cabin in the Woods plays with almost every single slasher stereotype, pulling from movies like The Evil Dead, It, and more. As heavy on the Easter eggs as it is and as much fan service as it offers, the central narrative is still pretty unsettling.
A group of victims is brought to the titular cabin in the woods to be sacrificed to giant evil gods in a secret facility beneath the structure. While it might prevent the destruction of humanity, the idea of orchestrated human sacrifice going on around the world is a disturbing idea on a global scale.
Creepshow (1982)
Anything from the minds of Stephen King and George A. Romero has to be a special kind of warped. In the film’s defense, Creepshow is one of those horror movies that is just freakish and fun. It’s not meant to be taken too seriously, but that doesn’t mean it has a shortage of nightmarish moments.
While it has Stephen King doing the script, George A. Romero in the director’s chair, and Tom Savini doing the effects, it’s the comic book aesthetic that truly makes things stand out on the screen. This is especially true for scenarios with comedic actors like Leslie Nielsen committing acts of torture and murder with sadistic glee.
Nothing But Trouble (1991)
This freakshow might feature a host of Saturday Night Live actors, but it’s not exactly the easiest thing to watch. Aptly named, Nothing But Trouble is an attempt at a roadside horror movie by way of Beetlejuice from the likes of Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd.
While it has its humor, it gets uncomfortably weird multiple times. From an elderly and sinister judge to a skin-ripping roller coaster named “Mr. Bonestripper,” it goes from quirky to disturbing at the drop of a hat.
An American Werewolf In London (1981)
First-time viewers might be surprised to learn that this ’80s horror classic was brought to life by the man behind such iconic comedies as Animal House, The Blues Brothers, and Coming To America. Though renowned for his comedic genius, John Landis gave horror buffs one of the most terrifying werewolf movies of the era.
It’s not without its insanely rich dark comedy, but the film is also home to one of the most horrifying transformation sequences in the genre. It’s hard to laugh at a zombie’s sardonic commentary while someone’s bones and organs are being rearranged for a werewolf body.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
Of all the horror directors to do a complete 180 with their properties, Tobe Hooper really did a number for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. If the poster parodying The Breakfast Club wasn’t the first clue, the chainsaw-swinging sheriff played by Dennis Hopper definitely hit the nail on the head.
As wild as it was, the movie was still a horrific feature, especially with its opening kills and ocean of viscera beneath the abandoned theme park where Leatherface and his clan call home. Of course, the wild antics of Chop Top could certainly push things in either direction.
Ready Or Not (2019)
Easily one of the best suspense features of 2019, Ready or Not was a smart and witty horror comedy that came with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. It was certainly smarter than the average horror-comedy, but it was also a violent and gory affair that didn’t skip on the shock factor either.
It’s a safe bet that the film in question is pretty graphic when not even the children are spared a violent and splattery death. Of course, deals with the Devil come with a price. At least the Bride doesn’t have to worry about playing another round of her in-laws’ twisted games any time soon.
Evil Dead 2 (1987)
Sam Rami truly pushed the envelope with the horror afterlife comedy when he created Evil Dead 2. Although it added quite a heaping helping of comedic elements, it was still just as scary as its predecessor. Some would argue even a little more.
The scene in the cabin where everything goes possessed is one of the most laugh-inducing and disturbing sequences in horror, and easily a stand-out moment for the series as a whole. The image of a cackling deer trophy along with the maniacal Deadites isn’t one that will be leaving anyone’s mind.
Psycho Goreman (2020)
Psycho Goreman is what would happen if the Power Rangers mixed with a slew of ’80s B-Movies, and the results are equal parts horrifying and hilarious. The film about an alien warlord being awoken on earth has all the guts and gore of a Tom Savini project, but with a side of Joe Dante’s taste for incredible creature effects.
The premise of the film might be entirely ridiculous, but the kills are ultraviolent and extremely grotesque as the titular monster lays waste to a variety of victims in his quest for freedom from a little girl’s power. To call the movie gross, sick, or nasty would be putting it lightly.
