The weather up here in the Northeast is improving and as we all get a little more Vitamin D from the sun I suspect the regional seasonal affective disorder is waning. Perhaps this is why I felt compelled to move toward the lighter side of the horror genre. Join me in celebrating some of the funniest horror comedies from over the years. I am going to preface this list by saying that I did not purposefully bias the list toward the 1980s (despite my overt preference for the decade). The 1980s are naturally a crucible for horror comedy and from a numbers standpoint this decade easily dominated the others with its overwhelming marriage between horror and cheese. The list is in chronological order as to not influence your expectations; the descriptions are a combination of my thoughts and imdb. I must also thank USA Up All Night for introducing me to most of these masterpieces.
Young Frankenstein (1974):
Dr. Frankenstein’s grandson, after years of living down the family reputation, inherits granddad’s castle and repeats the experiments. Gene Wilder, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn. You will never view Everybody Loves Raymond the same way after watching this flick!
Student Bodies (1981):
A killer named the Breather tallies up a score of teenage bodies in this scathing parody of slasher films.
Haunted Honeymoon (1986):
Larry Abbot, speaker in the radio horror shows of Manhattan Mystery Theater wants to marry. For the marriage he takes his fiancée home to the castle where he grew up among his eccentric relatives. His uncle decides that he needs to be cured from a neurotic speech defect and exaggerated bursts of fear: he gives him a shock therapy with palace ghosts. Gene Wilder, Gilda Radner, and Dom DeLuise in drag!
Little Shop of Horrors (1986):
A nerdy florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed. Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, and Ellen Greene steal the show in this musical comedy horror.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988):
Aliens who look like clowns come from outer space and terrorize a small town.
Elvira Mistress of the Dark (1988):
When her great aunt dies, famous horror hostess Elvira heads for the uptight New England town Falwell to claim her inheritance of a haunted house, a witch’s cookbook and a punk rock poodle. But once the stuffy locals get an eyeful of the scream queen’s ample assets, all hell busts out and breaks loose.
Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989):
The U.S. government, eager to protect the nation’s avacado supplies, recruits feminist professor Margo Hunt to make contact with the Piranha Women, an all-female tribe who believe men are only good as a source of food. Accompanying Dr. Hunt on her trip are Jim, a guide of questionable competence, and Bunny, a student of unquestionable incompetence.
(On another note Shannon Tweed + Bill Mahar + cannibals = one great movie)
Parents (1989):
A young boy living in 1950s suburbia begins to wonder where his parents get their meat from… This film lets your imagination run wild and makes you think twice about what lies beneath the perfect suburban shell.
Serial Mom (1994):
John Waters brings us yet another masterpiece , in this case it is an interesting look at what happens when the repressed suburban mother lets loose.
Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood (1996):
The cryptkeeper returns to tell the story of a funeral parlor that moonlights as a vampire bordello. This film includes a little of everything, the return of Corey Feldman, Dennis Miller, Angie Everhart, and amazing one liners.
