Comedy in horror

[rabkala]

How much comedy do you like in your horror games? When does it ruin the mood? Do you enjoy decidedly tongue-in-cheek twist like Horror Rules by Crucifiction Games?

[Mulsiphix]

I think it depends on the setting. Comedy can be an asset in a setting like Scream where the setting brings to light some of the more idiotic tendencies the horror genre is well known for. In a very serious setting like Darkness I don't comedy would be very appropriate. I don't think that comedy necessarily lessens the tension in high suspense situations. If anything it can serve as a nice distraction right before you get the bajeezus scared out of you. As far as Hollywood is concerned though, comedy in horror settings usually is nothing but bad puns and cheap storylines. In a good novel, like one from Clive Barker - Steven King - Dean Koontz, I think comedy can be used quite successfully without distracting from the atmosphere at all.

[Drohem]

It is a real fine line to mix comedy and horror/suspense: add just a pinch too much and it becomes Cheese Whiz.

Pvt. Hudson from Aliens is probably the best example that immediately comes to mind as a good example.

An American Werewolf in Paris was another good mix of horror and comedy.

Shaun of the Dead was another one.

Oh, how could I forget the movie that made me laugh the hardest I have ever in my life:

Evil Dead II

[Mulsiphix]

The relationship between Vasquez and Drake in Aliens is another great example of comedy done right in suspenseful situations. I find any zombie setting to be perfect for comedy. Zombies are always a constant for fear and suspense so the comedy doesn't really take away from it. Another great example of comedy and horror done right is Eight Legged Freaks :D

[fmitchell]

I'm a fan of having horror and comedy in the same story, but keeping the two separate. Horror is still horrifying, but characters have moments of comedy (sometimes dark comedy) amidst the horror.

Aliens is one example, and if you ignore the TV-budget effects the Buffy TV series is another. The new Doctor Who series has some creepy/horrifying elements, and even entire episodes: "Blink", "The Girl in the Fireplace", "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances", "The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit", and "Human Nature/The Family of Blood", among others, spring to mind.

The key, I think, is to keep the threat credible, even though characters are wisecracking ... and perhaps the situation is absurd. Angelus can say (darkly) humorous things but he's still a monster; statues, clockwork androids, and a cursed child crying for its "mummy" are absurd, but they can still kill you.

[Drohem]

I'm a fan of having horror and comedy in the same story, but keeping the two separate. Horror is still horrifying, but characters have moments of comedy (sometimes dark comedy) amidst the horror.


Yes, that's exactly how I see it as well.

[rabkala]

The Doctor Who reference is spot on. The Aliens movie also rather well done.

I am less of a fan of things like Tremors, Critters, and Eight legged Freaks.

I think going the complete spoof route might be fun with the right group though.

[Mulsiphix]

I remember thinking very fondly of Gremlins I was growing up. I rented it and watched it recently and it was horrible. Just horrible :(

[Drohem]

Pvt. Hudson- "Hey Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken as a man?"

Pvt. Vasquez- "No. Have you?"

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Pvt. Hudson- "Hey, maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events, but we just got our asses kicked, pal!"

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Pvt. Hudson- "Right, right. Somebody said "alien" she thought they said "illegal alien" and signed up!"

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Pvt. Hudson- "Game over man... Game over!"

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Pvt. Hudson- "Yeah right, man, Bishop should go. Good idea!"

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hehehe....Pvt. Hudson has to be one of my most favorite Red Shirts in movie history, LOL.

[Mulsiphix]

I couldn't agree more. I've never been the type to rewatch a movie time after time, but I've seen Aliens over 50 times. I've seen every released version of it including special editions and Laserdisc. I can pull more one liners from than then the entire Lord Of The Rings trilogy :D

[Mulsiphix]

Anybody else have any recommendations for horror movies that contain comedy "done right"? Any other thoughts, pro - con - neutral, on whether comedy in horror is a good thing or not? Surely this thread cannot have ended before stretching to at least a second page :eek:. Please share more of your thoughts.

[boulet]

On top of my head : Shaun of the Dead, Fido, Braindead, Bad Taste. I personally don't care for zombie movies, but zombie comedies yeah ! any day :)

[Mulsiphix]

Shaun of the Dead was fantastic. So was the last 30 minutes of Hot Fuzz.

[Drohem]

I still need to see Hot Fuzz. It's on my Netflix list :)

[Mulsiphix]

It is worth picking up ;)

[rabkala]

I just saw One Missed Call. It was laughable, but not what we're looking for...

[Mulsiphix]

Anybody seen Andre The Butcher? It stars Ron Jeremey and has some of the most "original" script and sex scenes I've ever seen. I rented it from blockbuster. It isn't an adult film. It is quite R ;)

[Jonathan Kwiat]

How much comedy do you like in your horror games? When does it ruin the mood? Do you enjoy decidedly tongue-in-cheek twist like Horror Rules by Crucifiction Games?



This is not a dead on reply to your question but I felt...well I'd be honest. Horror movies used to give me nightmares when I was a kid. Then I started watching the teenage movies filled with sex, violence, and camp and that wasn't funny at all.

I watched the Original Re-Animator while eating a TV dinner and it was in one ear and out the other.

I need comedy when we start-roleplaying really serious things but the comedy is usually provided by the people I am playing with. That's why I would not show up for a "horror" game and not know anybody there. People can get really gruesome and think they are being really funny.

Well, hope that answers your question.

Be Well,

Jonathan