MOVIE NIGHTS: horror-comedies

issue no. 3

HORROR-COMEDIES

Horror movies are by no means my least-watched genre, but I still feel pretty new to watching them. I thought in my exploration of new films, I would start gentle and watch horror comedy films. They are quite contrasting tones but both have an element of the ridiculous so they can mix surprisingly well. As you will soon discover, not as well as I hoped.

🎥 issue no. 1: book-to-movie adaptations

🎥 issue no. 2: women take the lead

movie one: jennifer’s body [2009]

synopsis: A newly-possessed high-school cheerleader turns into a succubus who specializes in killing her male classmates. Can her best friend put an end to the horror? [view trailer]

age rating: 15

genre: horror, comedy

my rating: ★★★ 3/10

favourite character(s): Jennifer

I wanted to love this movie. I really did. In fact, I would still claim to love the Tumblr posts, gifs, quotes, and ideas from this movie.

It is iconic, and Jennifer was really entertaining and well-delivered. She carried all the humour with her one-liners. She is even more powerful if you consider when this movie was made. I’m aware that 2009 is not the 1800s, but how women are presented in the media has changed a lot. But Jennifer felt like a very bold character for that time, as proven by how long it took this movie to get a following.

Yet, I feel this movie was restricted by being made in 2009. Having watched it once, I don’t think I can fully commit to this opinion, but it was capable of more. It could have been more daring, more fun, and it felt like it wanted to but couldn’t. I also found it slightly boring. Not in a big way, but it was a bit of a drag to get through.

final thoughts: I’m mostly glad I watched it once.

movie two: ready or not? [2019]

synopsis: A bride’s wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric new in-laws force her to take part in a terrifying game. [view trailer]

age rating: 18

genre: horror, comedy, action

my rating: ★★★★★ 5/10

favourite character(s): Grace, Charity

As advertised, this was a deadly game of “hide and seek”. You can imagine what this film entails just from that simple sentence because it was exactly what it sounded like. It was a solid execution, just nothing special for me. It had bloody scenes, everything going wrong, and a trapped, thrilling feeling, but there were no grand twists or uniqueness to bring it to another level.

I appreciated how it got straight into the plot, with a thrilling ‘are you going to catch me?’ game. In fact, throughout the whole movie, there was less faff than in typical thrillers. It had snappy punches rather than a prolonged build-up. The characters had simple personalities but used subtle comedic freedom to flesh them out slightly more than the typical cliché.

⚠️SPOILER TERROIRTY⚠️: The most satisfying feeling I got from this movie was from the final display of righteous murder (and manic laughter). Throughout the film, you rooted for the underdog because of the narrative focus. Therefore it feels good when things go their way, and it goes wrong for the ‘villains’. The end scene, in particular, embellishes this feeling in a direct, non-cheesy way which I did enjoy.

final thoughts: I’m mostly glad I watched it once.

movie three: the final girls [2015]

synopsis: A young woman grieving the loss of her mother, a famous scream queen from the 1980s, finds herself pulled into the world of her mom’s most famous movie. Reunited, the women must fight off the film’s maniacal killer. [view trailer]

age rating: 15

genre: horror, comedy, drama

my rating: ★★★★★ 5/10

favourite character(s):

This was actually a more serious movie than I imagined. It is still fun and pokes at the horror tropes as it played with them smartly and subtly. Never making exaggerated jokes, but enough to make you smile. Although it did have some exaggerated, larger-than-life side characters.

It focused on emotions. The relationship focus was a mother and daughter. The mother had died three years prior, so it brought in some heavy emotions and genuinely explored them. Even when characters died, it was taken seriously instead of just a joke. It was a pleasant surprise, the humour, not all being OTT, trying to make the audience laugh at everything. It felt refreshing.

It was only a short movie which worked in its favour because the fast pace kept you entertained. I think this movie stayed in the average zone for me, but it succeeded at what it was trying to achieve. It was a uniquely fun time. Now it has ended, so I can forget about it.

final thoughts: I’m mostly glad I watched it once.

movie four: the babysitter [2017]

synopsis: When Cole stays up past his bedtime, he discovers that his hot babysitter belongs to a satanic cult that will stop at nothing to keep him quiet. [view trailer]

age rating: 15

genre: horror, comedy

my rating: ★★ 2/10

favourite character(s): Allison, Bee

The babysitter had its merits. Merits I didn’t necessarily predict it would have because I apparently judge movies before I have watched them. Firstly, The “babysitter” and “child’s” relationship was actually entertaining. It had a particular dynamic that felt like “friends-to-enemies”, so it had sweet moments alongside the murder. It was a weirdly nice balance. My favourite moments were when the plot focused on the two of them.

The next thing I liked was the humour. It leaned towards the ridiculous side, being over the top and unrealistic. Yet it had a slight subtlety and dryness that made me like it more. It wasn’t golden humour, but I found it genuinely enjoyable.

However, these things could not save the plot. Whilst I liked moments, I could not say I liked the movie. Ultimately, it was just a theatrical line of murders. Even though I didn’t need it to be groundbreaking, it was murder for murder’s sake, with no purpose or twists. It was very one-dimensional. Plus, the spiders and over-sexualised w/w kiss were a downer.

final thoughts: meh

movie five: bodies bodies bodies [2022]

synopsis: When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game turns deadly in this fresh and funny look at backstabbing, fake friends, and one party gone very, very wrong. [view trailer]

age rating: 15

genre: horror, comedy, thriller

my rating: ★★ 2/10

favourite character(s): Jordan

What a millennial experience. In fact, more of a mockery of millennials. Showcasing that stupidity will be young people’s downfall. Sometimes I found it a little too much, and other times, it made me smile at the ridiculousness of it. I mean, the end reveal. You had to laugh or cry at it. I chose the former.

The thrilling aspect, because the actual point of this movie was not just millennials existing, was how the friendship group turned on each other when one member was murdered. This was interesting because it looked at how quickly people turn on their friends in dire situations. I liked the gradual, logical way it showed the downfall.

This may be an unpopular opinion, but the “end reveal” made me like the exploration of distrust more. It showcased how you can look for something that isn’t that when you panic.

Other than that, I can’t say I enjoyed the film. I am getting bored of saying this, but I didn’t find it scary or funny, so what was there? It was an experience, just one I regretted halfway through watching it. Even the gag reel was boring.

final thoughts: meh.

Thank you for joining me for this watch party. Until next time…

follow me on letterboxd to stay up-to-date.

next theme

Jordan Peele’s films

Do you like scary movies? If so, please give me all your recommendations.