With the spooky season fast approaching, we’re all slowly getting into the spirit. What a better way to set the tone for your Halloween than with a good scare — through your screen, that is. Horror films often get a bad rap, as some people simply don’t see the appeal of choosing to be scared. However, there are many horror flicks that go beyond gashes and gore — you just have to know where to look.
There’s a very interesting subset of horror movies that present themselves as traditional horrors, but are actually active commentaries on the genre. These are known as anti-horror horror films. They often go hand in hand with parody horror movies, which take advantage of the easy link between horror and comedy. If you want some laughter in your slasher or a closer look at the mechanics of a horror film, check out these movie suggestions for your spooky season.
Cabin in the Woods (2011)
This movie is one of the best recent examples of an anti-horror horror film. The movie follows its main characters, who each represent a classic horror movie character trope. Scientists in a lab are secretly orchestrating their every move to manufacture the perfect horror story for the sake of appeasing their angry “gods.” This film is smart, layered and a definite must-see. You can find it on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. Spoiler Alert! Proceed with caution! These ‘gods’ are revealed to be stand-ins for movie audiences who are often critical of horror films that don’t meet their exact expectations.
Scream (1996-2022)
This hit movie is another film that balances elements of true horror and horror commentary. The killers bring up more than once how their strategic killings play out so perfectly that they’d make a great horror movie. They even go so far as to suggest that they might go on another tirade one day because, in the words of the character Stu Macher, “Let’s face it baby, these days you gotta have a sequel.” The “Scream” movies exaggerate self awareness, making the films really engaging for viewers. The “Scream” series also recently announced it would be releasing a new film, “Scream 5” in 2022. This spooky season would be a great time to get caught up and get excited for the new releases. “Scream” is available on Amazon Prime Video and for free on Tubi.
The Scary Movie Series (2000-2013)
This series parodies many of the major staples of the horror genre. These films don’t take themselves as seriously as their blockbusting counterparts, and since most of the gorey scenes are played for laughs, they are a great choice for those looking for a less intense horror experience. These movies are available across multiple platforms including Tubi, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu.
A Haunted House (2013)
This movie is packed with references and comedic jabs at iconic horror flicks. It regularly mimics the found footage horror trope and adds a laugh factor to what would be ordinary jumpscare shots. The characters and their dramatic attempts at resolving their supernatural issues are hysterical. You can watch “A Haunted House” on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
It’s also worth noting that there’s often unintentional humor in horror movies. Whether it be low quality special effects, unconvincing acting or characters making ridiculous decisions, for better or for worse, comedy and horror go hand in hand in these films. These concepts come up quite often in animal or monster based films. If you’re into more goofy horror movies, be sure to check out movies like “Sharknado,” “Lavalantula”, and my personal favorite, “Lake Placid” on the Syfy channel.
