Campy horror movies have a bad reputation that is somewhat unfounded. With rare exceptions, critics tend to universally ignore them, and audiences are often turned away from the lack of high-budget special effects or named actors. But many young filmmakers cut their teeth on exactly this kind of project. Director Sam Raimi famously made his name in the field of campy horror, and elements of his earlier work continue to find their way into his films to this day.
For those willing to give them a shot, there are hidden gems to be found within the campy horror subgenre. While lofty horror was undoubtedly the dominant horror genre of the 2010s, sometimes audiences just want something they can have fun with that doesn’t have them thinking too hard about what’s going on. Here are 10 campy horror movies that are so easy to fall in love with.
11 Bride of Chucky
No one can claim that the Child’s play franchise has always been a purely serious affair, but the first movie had an eerie sheen of mystery and dread that faded more and more in subsequent entries.
Bride of Chuckythrew just about every sense of subtlety right out the window and managed to give the franchise a much-needed shot in the arm in the process. The always hilarious Jennifer Tilly stars as the titular bride, a role she continues to embody to this day in the popular SyFy series, Chuckie.
The surprisingly grounded story is wonderfully supported by over-the-top kill scenes and the Chucky’s iconic back-talk (dutifully brought to life, as always, by Brad Dourrif), and it all builds to a finale that is as cinematic and epic as it is surprisingly gripping.
10 The Slumber Party Massacre II
The Slumber Party Massacre II is undeniably a product of its time and almost has to be viewed to be believed. Where the first entry was essentially a rip off of Halloween and Black Christmas (a popular approach to horror at the time), the sequel turned its killer (the aptly named “Driller Killer”) into a murderous Bugs Bunny analog, complete with fourth-wall breaks and even a musical number.
The first and second films technically share characters and continuity, but all the actors have been replaced and the style of the two films can no longer be at odds, so watching the original Sleepover massacre is only really necessary for completionists.
9 Happy death day
Happy death day masquerades as a by-the-numbers slasher with a characteristically unlikely lead role, but soon reveals his true colors as a spiritual remake of Groundhog Day drenched in a bloody horror subplot.
Jessica Rothe’s performance as Tree is both increasingly unhinged and sincere, as she relives the worst day of her life over and over, each time ending in her own gruesome and agonizing death (sometimes by the killer, sometimes self-inflicted). There is even a funny sci-fi aspect to it that will be further expanded in the sequel.
While the franchise’s small but devoted fan base has been hoping for a confirmed third entry, things aren’t looking good.
8 Jennifer’s body
For whatever reason, Meghan Fox seems to be regularly excluded from conversations about truly gifted actors. Every view Jennifer’s body should definitively correct that for any doubters. The rest of the cast is nothing to scoff at either, with Adam Brody, Amanda Seyfried and JK Simmons throwing even more A-list star power into the mix.
There are all sorts of symbolism and deeper meanings to be found for anyone willing to scratch the surface of this criminally underrated possession classic, but even if you only look at it on a superficial level, the special effects and monster designs are so original and effective that it hard not to stop. be pulled in.
7 Gremlins 2: The New Party
The first Gremlins film is a sweet camp party in itself, but Gremlins 2: The New Party goes completely off the rails in the best possible way. While initially disappointing audiences looking for a more traditional follow-up, director Joe Dante’s proverbial middle finger to the concept of horror sequels has rightly earned a strong cult following in the years since its release.
For those unfamiliar with the story, the basic idea is that Dante initially declined to direct a sequel, believing that Gremlins functioned perfectly as a standalone movie. Not wanting to give up on the highly lucrative critters so easily, the studio took the idea to several other filmmakers before returning to Dante, hat in hand, giving him complete creative control. The result is truly unique – and deserves to be seen and appreciated, not just by horror fans, but by anyone who believes that filmmakers are always at their best when they are allowed to make their own decisions.
6 Freddy vs. Jason
Let’s get one thing out of the way real quick: Freddy vs. Jason is much better than it has a right to be. Frankly, by the time this movie came out, wider audiences had largely written both characters off as one-trick ponies from increasingly monotonous (and wacky) franchises. And while the one-trick pony accusation may be valid, it’s easy to just forget about it how good Freddy and Jason perform that trick. Freddy vs. Jason is a reminder of that.
The movie brings the two franchises together in a way that never feels forced, and the final payoff of the title fight between these two horror juggernauts gets a lot more screen time and choreography than certain other major fictional mashups of recent memory that will remain nameless.
5 From sunset to sunrise
Part vampire gore-fest, part western shoot-em-up, all great, From sunset to sunrise is a brilliant collaboration between writer Quentin Tarantino and director Robert Rodriguez. This absolutely bonkers tale features kidnapping, bank robbery, and even more extreme depictions of crime and depravity, all of this in just about the first 20 minutes, before the absolutely horrific monsters (played by legends like Salma Hayak and Danny Trejo) are revealed.
Violence and subject matter From sunset to sunrise are undeniably over the top and certainly not for the feint, but for those who can bear it, the final, fiery, blood-soaked showdown between the unlikely crew of survivors and the vampiric, snake-like creatures that haunt the Titty Twister strip club is not to be missed.
4 Underworld
Underworld is in no way a critical treasure. Yet somehow, against all odds, this seemingly maligned vampire action flick has managed to score not one, two, or even three, but four sequels. That probably has a lot to do with the detailed world-building surrounding the war between the vampires and the lycans (and the initial similarities with The Matrix probably didn’t hurt either).
It’s not a particularly deep movie, but the Romeo and Juliet The style romance between Selene, Kate Beckinsale’s death dealer, and Scott Speedman’s hybrid monster, Michael, is well executed and utterly believable. Plus, the action and costumes are just so classy.
3 Abraham Lincoln vampire hunter
History buffs need not care Abraham Lincoln vampire hunter but for those looking for a well-executed, stylish action movie that treats its decidedly silly premise with surprising respect, there’s plenty to enjoy in this underrated Tim Burton-produced adventure fantasy.
The story spans Lincoln’s full life and political career in very broad terms, while painting a fantastic picture of a secretive existence as a vampire hunter who never goes anywhere without his trusty axe. For those concerned about divisive political ideas being shoved down their throats, the film largely steers clear of such concepts, unless one rejects the historical claim that the Civil War was won because Lincoln defeated the vampires of the Confederacy, as a kind of coded message.
Anthony Mackie stars in a role that probably didn’t hurt his chances when he auditioned for the role of Sam Wilson in the MCU.
2 Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes has a never-ending joke that, depending on who you ask, is either brilliant or sickening. Conceived as a spoof of so bad they’re good B-movies, its non-existent budget and amateurish presentation landed it right in that box itself, whether intentionally or not. It was overwhelmingly disliked by critics, and it is often mistakenly referred to as a serious attempt at horror that failed.
That aside, there’s plenty to love about this eccentric horror comedy. The theme song alone is worth the price of admission. Plus, the franchise is more important to movie history than you might think, with the sequel being one of the first times the world saw Hollywood megastar George Clooney in a leading role.
1 Army of Darkness
The original evil death, while he admittedly displayed certain comedic leanings, he was firmly planted in the realm of gory, unrelenting horror. The sequel took steps to broaden that palette, with heavy slapstick elements painted over Bruce Campbell’s much crazier portrayal of Ash Williams. Still, Ash remains inside mostly alone and terrified Evil Dead II (except the dead who try to tear him apart), with very few chances to participate in the banter he would become known for (although he did receive his iconic chainsaw arm).
But it was in it Army of Darkness that the character really got into his own camp. Catapulted back into a fictional past filled with magic and mystery, Ash must embark on a quest to defeat an army of the dead and return home. Hilarity and one-liners ensue. Sam Raimi’s camera work and idiosyncrasies are on full display, and Bruce Campbell stars as the signature dim-witted hero who just can’t seem to get out of the way.