Creating a horror story requires a lot of variables: setting, interesting characters, tone, a good villain, etc. One of the most important elements that can make or break a horror movie is timing. From good jump scares to perfect music cues, timing enhances terror at every turn. There is also another genre in which timing is of the essence: comedy.
At first, comedy and horror may sound like opposites of a spectrum, and for some elements they really are. However, they are also most similar even in their differences. Hitting the timing of a joke is just as important as hitting the target when a ghost appears on screen and scares the audience. Likewise, these are the two genres that aim to provoke truly visceral responses – laughter and screaming (which, physiologically, are pretty close). That’s why some movies take them both together to create a scary and funny story.
2022 has had some great comedic horror movies that make audiences scream and laugh – sometimes in the same scene. Here are the best horror comedies of 2022.
8/8 violent night
Maybe gore, over-the-top action sequences and humor wouldn’t be the first things that came to mind when I thought of Christmas and Santa Claus. However, violent night comes to show how these elements can work together and create a truly unforgettable night.
The movie received some backlash, which is nothing new for horror stories that take beloved characters (like Santa Claus) and turn them into something darker. violent night director Tommy Wirkola and star David Harbor (Stranger things) embrace the over-the-top aesthetic, making this an entertaining movie for both horror and action fans, even if the movie may have a weak script.
7/8 Wendell and Wild
Wendell and Wild comes from two of horror and comedy’s most brilliant minds: Henry Selick (The nightmare Before Christmas) and Jordan Peele (Get Out, Key & Peele). The filmmakers co-wrote the screenplay, and Peele voices one of the titular demonic characters, while his former sketch comedy co-star Keegan-Michael Key voices the other.
A sequel to his masterpieces TheNightmare before Christmas and Coral, Selick’s stop-motion feature film is very different from anything else. The visuals and imaginative design of Wendell and Wild are great, although the many storylines can be a bit confusing, which covers numerous big topics such as prison reform, trauma, death, urban education and more. Nevertheless, the horror and humor work really well in this punk rock story about a girl dealing with grief – and her demons.
6/8 sissy
sissy is an unpredictable film that takes you on a journey full of carnage and dark humour. A story that takes and critiques social media, especially the idea of influencers and mental health, sissy focuses on bullying and how social media itself can be a kind of bully, leaving people incapable of socializing in real life.
Past traumas are front and center when the protagonist, Cecilia (Sissy on the Internet), is invited to a bachelorette party (here called a bachelorette party, as the film is Australian). This is a different kind of slasher movie that isn’t afraid of blood, especially in the third act. Despite its morbid brutality, this story isn’t ultimately scary, but it isn’t either sissy‘s real purpose.
5/8 Fresh
Fresh is an interesting story when it comes to horror with dark humor. This one is a bit more mellow when it comes to its comedy, but it’s there nonetheless, albeit in a rather twisted way. The story begins and camouflages itself in a romantic comedy as Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones), tired of online dating, eventually falls in love with Steve (Sebastian Stan), a man she met at the supermarket.
The humor lasts for a while, and then it quickly turns sour. The cannibalism part of the story has some elements that could be considered funny if you have a sick sense of humor, though this movie is definitely not for the faint of heart.
4/8 Barbarian
While Barbarian deals with several serious issues, especially regarding the difference between women’s and men’s realities, it has funny elements to its story, mainly thanks to a hilariously self-centered and narcissistic performance from Justin Long, who had an excellent year between this, House of Darknessand Christmas with the Campbells.
Long plays AJ, a self-righteous director who believes he is being wrongfully prosecuted for sexual assault. When he flees Los Angeles to sell part of his property in a bad neighborhood, he finds himself in a truly nightmarish situation. His reactions to potentially dangerous scenarios tell a lot about the main issue the movie deals with, while also being utterly hilarious. In this case, AJ finds a hidden basement that connects to creepy rooms with human-sized cages. What is AJ’s response? Find the tape measure – this extra basement space adds value to the home!
3/8 Dead stream
shudder
Dead stream is a Shudder original that pushes the phenomenon of YouTubers and ghosts to its limits, creating one of the funniest movies of the year. The Blair Witch Project of this decade, the movie treats elements that couldn’t be more modern with a funny twist: cancel culture, YouTube monetization, white privilege, etc.
This is also mostly a one-actor movie, and Joseph Winter knocks it out of the park. His overacting is something present in most of these YouTube videos and makes it an extra layer of fun. This mix of found footage with live streaming is surprisingly funny and scary.
2/8 Scream (2022)
Scream (2022) premiered in January and kicked off one of the best years for horror movies in quite some time. Since the original scream, comedy has been a huge part of this story and is what makes fans love it so much. Some say this episode is the best since the first movieand it’s the fifth, so that means a lot.
The connection between the new characters and the original ones was a great idea, combined with the core elements of this movie (like the girl on the phone in the opening scene), making it clear that the movie understands the essence of this franchise. So much so that a sequel, Scream VIwill hit theaters next year.
1/8 Bodies Bodies Bodies
Bodies Bodies Bodies is one of the funniest horror comedies made in a very long time. While playing Gen Z in the best way possible, the movie cleverly built its story between the horror of thinking someone you know is a killer and the funny comments and solutions the characters find to solve their problems. When a fun game becomes a real killer hunt, comedy is one of the elements that is certainly not missing.