Not every movie that fits the Halloween season is a horror suited to keeping the viewer up at night, staring into the shadows for signs of creeping things. Sometimes, a movie comes out with the monsters, hauntings, and isolation of the best in horror, but with a tone of irreverence or jocularity that turns fear to laughter. If the darker offerings of the season are too much for you, or you're just looking for a brief reprieve in your Halloween viewing schedule, take a look at some of these. I will say, this list is subjective, and there are probably deserving movies that didn't do it for me, or that I haven't even seen. That said, let's get into the list. Entries will be hyperlinked to their imdb pages.
5. Ghostbusters (1984) [PG]
Ghostbusters is a classic 80s comedy. Usually, this is seen as another Bill Murray/Dan Akroyd vehicle in a long line of the same; but combined with the star power of Rick Moranis and Sigourney Weaver, this is a great line-up that would be known in film schools even if it had been terrible. Lucky for us, the film was not only an interesting conflation of established and up-and-coming stars of the decade; on top of it all, it was a good movie. It hit the sweet spot of a world that takes itself seriously, and characters that maintain an irreverent attitude that, nevertheless, never pulls back the curtain on what is, after all, a fairly absurd premise in worldbuilding. The central conceit of the film is a company that proves the existence of ghosts, and proceeds to market their services as one would market pest exterminators. Not only is it funny on the surface, but the symbolism in the film has led various comedy critiques to describe the movie as everything from a libertarian dream to a science-powered revolt against religion. Whatever your read on the film, the jokes hit soundly, and the premise maintains vast and ridiculous elements without risking losing the audience.
4. Little Shop of Horrors (1986) [PG-13]
Little Shop of Horrors is another film with Rick Moranis, and, while it's overshadowed in his filmography by such titles as Spaceballs and the Honey I Shrunk the Kids series, I consider it among his best performances. If this was before your time, imagine Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, but lampooning horror instead of super heroes. The songs have been parodied multiple times in Seth MacFarlane's work, and, again, this is a movie that picks a premise and sticks to it. This is a film of earnest and invested characters in a situation the audience can laugh at. There's a certain appeal to a film that trusts the audience to get the joke without constant fourth wall winks. The opposite has its place, but in a slew of movies that are either grim as gravel or lampshading so hard that the lighting crew goes on strike, its refreshing to reach into the past for a different way of getting the laughs.
3. Shaun of the Dead (2004) [R]
Shaun of the Dead is a fantastic comedy that mocks zombie movies and is generally regarded as the first in the Three Flavors Cornetto Trilogy. These are Simon Pegg/Nick Frost vehicles and are Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World's End. Personally, I think Shaun of the Dead is the trilogy's high point, which is no slight on the others. The story is tight and full of fun easter eggs that the filmmakers are content to leave as easter eggs. Some movies go out of their way to show off their cleverness, but movies that let the neat touches stay subdued can add a lot of interest. This is especially true in the internet age, when there's no need for every viewer to get the joke. If one viewer picks up on it, the world will know soon enough. A warning, this is one of the harder "R"s I've seen. Deadpool and The Punisher come to mind as rougher, but the harsh language in this is pretty much constant. Go in forewarned, but if that's no worry to you, have fun.
2. Young Frankenstein (1974) [PG]
Young Frankenstein is a movie from the excellent and peerless Mel Brooks, and starring the irreplaceable Gene Wilder and Frankie Boyle. I'll admit, too, that I haven't seen Marty Feldman in much otherwise, but his performance as Igor helped make the movie what it is, and, before I go off in heaping praise on literally everyone involved, I'll just say that this film is not only wonderfully acted, but so well cast as to heap commendation on the casting director. The plot follows the grandson of Victor Frankenstein returning to his grandfather's research and brings the hijinks, humor, and heart that any fan of Mel Brooks would expect from his work. It holds a coherent plot a little more strongly than Blazing Saddles, and stands as one of the best in the filmography of most involved.
1. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) [R]
. . . and, topping the list, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is a masterpiece of believable trope subversion. The plot turns every expectation of the horror genre on its head without ever actually feeling like a parody. It reminds the viewer of Joss Whedon's famous quote: "Make it dark, make it grim, make it tough, but then, for the love of God, tell a joke." The characters face trauma, gore, and horror, and everyone on all sides acts in terrified self defense, and the entire thing becomes a comedy of errors with deadly stakes. The core concept is innocent friends who happen to look like the classic "inbred, hillbilly maniac" horror villain are the victims of misunderstanding upon misunderstanding. If you can handle some blood, and enjoy dark humor, this is, in my opinion, probably one of the ten best movies ever made. Treat yourself.
Happy viewing, all.
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