Effectively blending horror and comedy is no easy task, yet some movies managed to deliver laughs and chills in equal measure. While there are lots of comedy horror movies that lean a little bit too heavily into the humorous side of things, to produce a genuinely scary movie that still has audiences howling with laughter throughout is an accomplishment to be proud of. Several movies in recent years have managed this daunting achievement as biting satires, nostalgic throwbacks, or funny franchises had viewers covering their eyes while laughing hysterically.

Many of the scariest modern horrors from recent years have walked the fine line between side-splitting humor and truly unnerving terror. Modern horror directors grew up on genre-bending releases and bring this litany of influences to movies that cannot be categorized as either fully comedic or straight horror. These boundary-breaking films have pushed horror into new and fascinating directions as these hilariously horrific movies deconstruct and reflect modern society and contemporary culture.

10

Abigail (2024)

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett

The hilarious comedy horror Abigail contributed to the vampire revival of recent years, as seen from releases like Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu. One incredible horror release that may have flown under viewers’ radars was Abigail, which told of a group of kidnappers abducting the child of a powerful underworld figure with plans to hold her ransom for $50 million. However, these would-be abductors soon discovered that Abigail was anything but helpless as her incredible powers were unveiled.

While Abigail initially set up its тιтle character as a victim, the plot was hilariously turned on its head when the kidnappers were forced to fight for their lives in a terrifyingly thrilling story of survival. The exciting twists and turns of Abigail were bolstered by a talented ensemble cast who showcased that a horror movie would still be fun while delivering genuine scares. Coming from the same directing duo who made the 2022 Scream legacy reboot, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett once again proved they could balance comedy and horror with Abigail.

9

Heretic (2024)

Directed by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods

While Hugh Grant may have first come to prominence as a bumbling but charming leading man in British rom-coms, in recent years, he’s taken to more sinister roles, such as Mr. Reed in Heretic. This religious horror movie tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries who attempt to convert a reclusive middle-aged man only to discover he’s far more menacing than they ever imagined. With a healthy dose of humor, Grant’s ᴀssociation with comedies made the revelation of his evil intentions all the more effective.

As a thrilling game of cat and mouse between the confident Sister Barnes and timid Sister Paxton with the unnerving Mr. Reed, Grant’s portrayal was disarming and layered in a way that skillfully melded charm and menace. The script from directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods also deserves praise for its sharp and witty dialogue that got more intense as the film went on. Overall, it was Grant’s electrifying performances that elevated this genre-bending movie, which wrapped intelligent humor up in a terrifying package.

8

The Substance (2024)

Directed by Coralie Fargeat

The clever satire of The Substance was as hilarious as it was grotesque. As a thoughtful deconstruction of the unreachable nature of modern society’s overblown beauty standards, the way The Substance tapped into themes of acceptance, celebrity, and self-esteem got to the very heart of Hollywood’s obsession with cosmetic surgery and trying to halt the aging process. Demi Moore gave a career-best performance as Elisabeth Sparkle, an older woman who uses a black market drug to create a younger version of herself and reclaim her fading celebrity.

With Margaret Qualley as the young copy named Sue, The Substance provided plenty of laughs as the duo were forced to share their existence with one another and switch places every seven days. However, the satirical humor of The Substance got darker as the film progressed, and Sue began siphoning off the life force of Elizabeth in order to gain more time in the younger body. Dennis Quaid should also receive praise for his grotesquely hilarious performance as repulsive TV producer Harvey, whose shrimp-eating scene will stick in viewers’ minds well after the credits have rolled.

7

Y2K (2024)

Directed by Kyle Mooney

Anyone who grew up during the dawn of the new millennium will remember the panic of the Year 2000 Problem, where people feared a potential computer failure could cause total societal collapse as technology would break down. While this obviously didn’t occur, it did serve as the basis for Saturday Night Live alumni Kyle Mooney’s hilarious horror Y2K. As the story of a group of teenagers attempting to survive the society breakdown as tech turns against humanity, this coming-of-age narrative is packed with nostalgia.

Y2K featured great performances from its young cast, and Mooney himself popped up in the hilarious supporting role of Garrett, a dreadlock-sporting slacker who provides plenty of comic relief. The appearance of the early 2000s icon Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst playing himself was also a funny addition that added to its unique sense of humor. Although Y2K struggled at times to balance its ambitious concept with its comedic undertones, the film was still a shockingly funny release and a welcome horror movie debut from Mooney, whose underrated directorial debut, Brigsby Bear, signals him as a filmmaker to watch out for.

6

Smile 2 (2024)

Directed by Parker Finn

The psychological supernatural sequel Smile 2 was the rare horror follow-up that truly lived up to the original and helped prove this franchise’s potential. With a surprisingly accomplished performance from Naomi Scott as Skye Riley, this former child star rose above her Disney Channel origins to deliver a genuinely compelling performance. Following on from the death of Rose Cotter in Smile, Smile 2 saw the Smile Enтιтy, which can be pᴀssed by killing one murderous criminal in front of another, infiltrate the life of the pop star Skye just as she’s about to embark on a major tour.

Rather than simply rehashing the concept of the original movie, Smile 2 pushed its premise even further as it deconstructed the nature of celebrity and the expectations of fame. As the lines between fact and fiction began to blend and Skye became increasingly uncertain of what was reality and what was a terrifying nightmare, the film still maintained its unique sense of humor and comedic underpinnings. By striking a balance between horror and humor, Smile 2 was one of the most enjoyable sequels of 2024.

5

Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

Directed by Halina Reijn

Comedy, horror, and murder mystery all come together in the hilarious satire Bodies Bodies Bodies, a unique release from Dutch filmmaker Halina Reijn. Set at a house party, things take a spooky turn when the guest decides to play a murder-in-the-dark-style game called Bodies Bodies Bodies that becomes ᴅᴇᴀᴅly. With a talented cast that included Pete Davidson, Bodies Bodies Bodies addressed issues of class, privilege, technology, progressive politics, and Gen Z youth culture.

Bodies Bodies Bodies used dark humor to explore young people’s overreliance on technology and the internet, which Reijn explained as like “when the Wi-Fi goes out, it’s like they lose oxygen” (via NY Times.) While there are genuine physical threats in this horrific satire, virtual realities remain central to the plot as its characters relate to one another through online jargon and progressive terminology. Bodies Bodies Bodies cleverly mirrors the era out of which it was produced and reflects Gen Z back onto itself.

4

The Menu (2022)

Directed by Mark Mylod

The biting satire The Menu leaned into the horrific nature of class and privilege with a hilariously clever exploration of food snobbery. With an A-list cast including Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nicholas Hoult, The Menu explored a self-professed foodie who takes his date to a private island operated by celebrity chef Julian Slowik. What started with the guests enjoying carefully prepared luxury food soon devolved into the privileged guests being killed off as punishment for their excessive gluttony and elitist behavior.

The Menu made for thought-provoking social commentary but did not lose its sense of humor in the process. As a deliciously insightful take on modern culture’s glorification of food and consumption, the core message at the heart of its story was about how the wealthy know the price of everything but the value of nothing. This smart, sophisticated, and at times silly look at the pompous world of luxury cuisine played out like a scrumptious cinematic serving that left viewers totally satiated.

3

Trap (2024)

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

While writer and director M. Night Shyamalan made a name for himself making twist-filled horror movies that kept viewers guessing right up to the closing scene, he also possesses an underappreciated skill for blending comedy and horror. This was certainly the case for Trap, his serial killer story about a notorious murderer known as the Butcher evading the police while attending a pop concert with his daughter. While this family man tries to make it out of the venue without being apprehended, much of the comedy came from him not wanting to reveal his infamous idenтιтy to his daughter.

Josh Hartnett gave an incredible performance as the killer Cooper, whose cool and calculated portrayal perfectly melded the menace of his character and the comedy of his situation. Shyamalan’s daughter Saleka also made an impressive feature film debut as the pop singer Lady Raven, who becomes central to the killer’s escape plan. Trap was a tense, thrilling, and funny experience that proved Shyamalan still had the power to enthrall audiences a quarter of a century after The Sixth Sense.

2

M3GAN (2023)

Directed by Gerard Johnstone

The campy, over-the-top nature of M3GAN made it one of Blumhouse Productions’ absolute best movies. As an unapologetically silly box office hit, M3GAN delivered laughs and scares in equal measure. With a great performance from Alison Williams as the creator of the тιтular doll, this absurd satire dealt with themes of artificial intelligence, pᴀssing off the responsibility of children onto technology, and unhealthy grieving habits as an artificially intelligent robot forms an intense connection with an orphaned child.

As a highly relevant movie that came out in conjunction with the AI revolution, M3GAN features stunning visuals, a unique sense of humor, and an impressive amount of worldbuilding. With a sequel тιтled M3GAN 2.0 on the way as well as a spin-off called SOULM8TE, it looks like it’s just the beginning for the M3GAN franchise. This was a rare comedy horror that was equally accomplished at both style as it delivered laughs and chills in equal measure.

1

MaXXXine (2024)

Directed by Ti West

The X film series from director Ti West presented a richly imagined world that was elevated by some astounding performances from Mia Goth. MaXXXine was the third installment that acted as a sequel to X and added to the intrigue of the prequel Pearl. Together, this trilogy told a wildly funny yet equally disturbing tale of celebrity worship, the drive for recognition, and the innate tragedy of those who try to find meaning from the acceptance of others rather than from within.

Goth played the тιтular Maxine Minx, a 1980s adult film star who, after surviving her encounter with the elderly villain Pearl, was once again targeted by a mysterious killer. As a clever pastiche on the soulless nature of Hollywood and fame, MaXXXine’s infectious sense of humor was balanced with the dramatic heft of Ti West’s direction. As a visually stunning piece of filmmaking that once again showcased West’s status as one of the most exciting modern horror directors around, MaXXXine walked the fine line between humor and horror.

Source: NY Times