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Why I Love Horror Comedies (and Some of my Favorites)

      Little Shop of Horrors (1986) - IMDb 

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    Consistency in tone is for suckers! At least if you have my tastes that is. I have always been someone who has a lot of differing tastes and ideas for what I want from media. I've almost never been able to put the things I love into neat boxes and have those really fit. These varying tastes have been a huge reason why I have come to develop an adoration for the horror-comedy genre. I always love the practical effects of classic horror cinema, but I'm just not always in the mood to be scared. Horror-comedies allow me to experience the passion and wonder of practical effects with a more relaxed atmosphere. Of course I also love camp, that's a big part of it too. 

    When it comes to my absolute favorite horror-comedies, it shouldn't be surprising that Little Shop of Horrors is near the top. I adore live theater and Little Shop has an absolutely amazing soundtrack that carries both the film and the stage show. All while backed up by an incredibly fun cast of characters! The film plays into itself and does not shy away from the pulp and the camp. That earnestness is one of the things I love most about horror comedies. The best ones not only know they're silly, they bathe in it. Little Shop of Horrors is also a great horror comedy choice because it doesn't lean too hard into the blood and guts of the genre. Of course, I can handle that, but a beginner might not. Having a film of this caliber to start newcomers off is honestly amazing. I do truly believe that there should be more horror-comedy musicals. The medium of song and the genre mesh in a really beautiful way that often flies under the radar.

     

    Funnily enough, my favorite horror-comedy series of all time also has a musical. Albeit a significantly less known one. Evil Dead is a truly amazing trilogy. The first film broke new ground in indie horror and established the careers of both Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi, Evil Dead 2 kickstarted much of horror-comedy as we know it, and Evil Dead 3 somehow manages to be just as good as the previous two films while changing a huge amount. I love the series as a whole but my heart will always belong to Evil Dead 2. It just has everything that I want out of a movie. A physically dangerous amount of blood, slapstick comedy, claymation, it even has puppets! Bruce Campbell attaches a chainsaw to his arm, what more could you ask for? In all seriousness, Evil Dead 2 has a bit of everything in a way that feels truly unique. It's one of those films that I think almost anyone can get something out of. 

     

    I could talk about horror-comedy for longer but I'm going to leave you with those two suggestions for now. Two titans of the genre that really exemplify everything it can be in a truly beautiful way. If you find zombies, blood, and carnivorous plants beautiful at least.

 

    

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