Demon Freaks author J. R. R. R. Hardison knows a thing or two about comedy and horror, so he’s sharing 11 overlooked films in this genre. Happy Halloween!
About ‘Demon Freaks’
It’s the night before the SAT test. The forces of darkness are stirring.
Twin brothers, Bing and Ron Slaughter, know they’ve got to cram like their lives depend on it because their college plans sure do. If they don’t ace the test, they’ll be doomed to spend the rest of their days flipping burgers at the McDonald’s their parents run. That’s why they hatch a plan to meet up with the members of their punk band, the Ephits, spend the night studying at a secluded cabin in the woods, and maybe squeeze in a little jamming. What could go wrong with a brilliant plan like that?
Ancient evil. That’s what.
As a cataclysmic lightning storm rolls in, Bing, Ron and the rest of the Ephits find themselves tangled in a sinister plot to summon a demon. Yes, demons are real. To survive the night, the band must find a malevolent artifact, battle bloodthirsty monsters and stand against the most dangerous and powerful foe humanity has ever faced…the Golfer’s Association.
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11 overlooked horror comedy gems by J.R.R.R. Hardison
Horror and comedy go together like peanut butter and chocolate — two great tastes that taste great together. Or maybe more like tin foil and microwave ovens — two modern wonders that explode violently when you accidentally put one inside the other. Either way, the point is that horror and comedy make for a delightfully dangerous combination.
Most everyone I know who likes their horror served up with a side helping of comedy has heard of the iconic films of the genre. The Cabin in the Woods, Evil Dead 2, Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness, Scream, Shaun of the Dead, and Zombieland are excellent and fairly widely known. But there are some awesomely scary and hilarious films out there that aren’t quite as well known.
If you’re reading this article, it probably means you have some experience with the genre, which could very well mean you are not just reading out of idle curiosity, but out of an obsession more akin to insanity. If that’s the case, I will take two precautions to make sure you aren’t deeply offended by my list.
First, it’s not exhaustive, so your favorite overlooked gem might not be on here. If so, I’m deeply sorry. There are always more excellent movies than the maximum word count for this kind of article will allow.
Second, I’m not ranking these movies. I’ve specifically put them in alphabetical order so as not to show any kind of favoritism or give the slightest perception that I like one better than another. Great horror comedy movies are like your own children — you recognize their differences, but you love them all the same. And now, absolved of all blame, here are 11 horror comedy gems I just pulled off my video shelf.
Bubba Ho-Tep (2002): Bruce Campbell plays an ageing Elvis Presley, hanging out in a nursing home with Ossie Davis who believes he’s JFK, fixed up and dyed black after the 1963 assassination attempt. Then a mummy attacks. A must-see.
Deep Rising (1998): Mercenaries try to hijack a luxury ocean liner in the South China Sea, only to find they’ve been beaten to the punch by a mysterious monster. I was shocked this was not a bigger hit — it’s fantastic, and features my favorite use of the Muzak version of “Girl from Ipanema” in any horror movie.
Fright Night (1985): Charlie Brewster is your average suburban kid in the ’80s. That is, until a vampire moves in next door and Charlie decides it’s up to him to kill it. Unfortunately, Charlie’s a pretty lousy slayer of the undead. That’s why he enlists the help of Peter Vincent (excellently played by Roddy McDowall), a washed up B-movie horror actor and host of Fright Night, a late night TV scary movie showcase. Much hilarity ensues. Watch the original version. I didn’t like the remake. And I know best.
John Dies at the End (2012): A new drug called Soy Sauce does more than give you a bad trip. It blows the doors off reality and exposes the insane horror lurking behind the veil of existence. And it’s hilarious, too. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love it.
Joy Ride (2001): A true overlooked gem. A road trip gone horribly, horribly wrong because of an insane trucker. I wasn’t expecting much when I first went to see this one, but man did it deliver. Written by J.J. Abrams and starring Steve Zhan, Leelee Sobieski and the late Paul Walker. (Trailer can’t be embedded.)
Lake Placid (1999): A mysterious creature kills a man in a lake in Maine and the local game warden, a sheriff and a paleontologist try to track down the culprit. The much put-upon Sheriff Hank is a standout here, and aging actress Betty White plays a hilarious part.
Night of the Comet (1984): A passing comet triggers a global apocalypse that wipes out most of humanity. Two ’80s Valley Girls survive, only to find they must battle cannibalistic zombies in between music video montages at the mall. It’s every bit as good as it sounds.
The Return of the Living Dead (1985): Bumbling workers in a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a toxic gas the government has stored the zombies from Night of the Living Dead in. Once it gets out, it starts bringing corpses back to life and they, of course, have an insatiable appetite for human brains. Written and directed by Dan O’Bannon (he wrote the original Alien).
They Live (1988): Some folks might dispute that this one is a horror comedy and might just call it a horror movie, but it seems pretty clear to me that a lot of it was intended to be funny. Rowdy Roddy Piper brings both an everyman and a comedic touch to his role as a down and out drifter who stumbles onto a hidden alien conspiracy and kicks a bunch of ass.
Tremors (1990): When I first saw this one, my friends and I called it “Dirt Jaws.” Two down-on-their-luck handymen (beautifully played by Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward) have to try to save the tiny town of Perfection, Nevada, and themselves, when a mysterious monster starts killing off the locals. Stay on those residual boulders.
Tucker and Dale versus Evil (2010): A pair of good-natured rednecks decide to take a vacation at their dilapidated cabin in the woods, only to be mistaken for serial killers by a gang of college kids. Lots of hilarity and buckets and buckets of blood.
About the author
Jim has worked as a writer, screen writer, animator and director in entertainment and commercials since graduating from Columbia College of Chicago in 1988.
He is the author of The Helm, which YALSA praised as one of 2010’s best graphic novels for young readers, and has directed animated commercial and entertainment projects, including spots for M&M’s, AT&T, and Kellogg’s. He co-founded Character LLC in 2000 and has given story advice to many of the world’s largest brands, such as Target, Verizon, Samsung, McDonalds and Walmart, and has even appeared on NBC’s The Apprentice as an expert adviser on brand characters.
Jim lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, two kids and two dogs. Fish Wielder, Jim’s debut novel, was released in 2016 and Demon Freaks, his second novel, will be released in October 2017.