Angie's Horror Recs: The Best of the Best (Horror/Black Comedies)
TODAY'S SUB-GENRE:
HORROR/BLACK COMEDIES
ZOMBIELAND
(2009)
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin.
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer.
Rated: R
Yes, this is a zombie film -- I mean, it's in the title. But I have to say, this is more a black comedy and a found family story than a zombie flick. And while the zombies are pretty grody and oozy and quite a few are just downright terrifying (CLOWNS = TRAUMATIZING; ZOMBIE CLOWNS = THERE IS NO GOD), the horror of the undead in Zombieland do not overshadow the sheer hilarity that this film delivers.
There are no names in Zombieland, because none of the survivors want to risk getting close to someone who may need to be brutally killed later. Our guide through this new, violent America is Columbus (Eisenberg), a neurotic college student trying to find his parents for want of anything better to do. Columbus is a puss, and stricken by multiple phobias, but he's survived because he has a list of Rules that he follows religiously (Rule #2: Double Tap, Rule #13: Beware of Bathrooms). It's not long before Columbus finds himself traveling with the brash and fearless Tallahassee (Harrelson), and the pair of unlikely buddies are quickly joined by the ruthless sisters Wichita (Stone) and Little Rock (Breslin). This found family of oddballs have one unlikely goal in mind: the Pacific Playland theme park in California, which Wichita has promised her sister is zombie-free.
"Whaddaya think? Zombie Kill of the Week?"
I'm a sucker for found family stories -- they resonate more with me than sweet tales of actual, biological families, because I've always felt that the family you choose for yourself is incredibly important. So already this is high in my favourites; throw in zombies, a fantastic cast of characters, and the funniest dialogue I've enjoyed in a while, and I'm pretty much in love. Nearly every line/moment of Zombieland is hilarious, but there's also plenty of heart and emotion, too. With such a short run time (it's only about an hour and a half), you don't have a chance to get bored with anything and actually find yourself longing for more. Luckily, a sequel's already in the works.
Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone have both shot to stardom in the past year thanks to The Social Network and Easy A (and a confirmed role in the future Spider-man reboot), and for good reason. They're both fantastic actors, and they bring a lot to Columbus and Wichita -- they also have incredible chemistry together. Woody Harrelson has never been better as the ridiculously bad-ass Tallahassee (in my humble opinion), and Breslin brings plenty of spunk and sass to Little Rock.
Even if you're not a big fan of zombie films or horror in general, you have to see Zombieland. It's truly amazing in terms of comedy, writing, acting, and production values. Even my MUM enjoys this movie, and she can't stand zombie films. It's only an hour and a half out of your life! Give it a chance, and I can promise that you won't regret it.
GHOSTBUSTERS
(1984)
Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver.
Directed by: Ivan Reitman.
Rated: PG-13
This recommendation is probably entirely unneeded -- I'm sure just about everybody has seen this film. But maybe it's been a while; maybe you haven't thought about Ghostbusters in a dog's age; maybe you just need a family-friendly picture for Halloween this year. Well, let me remind you about the greatness that is this film.
Drs. Venkman (Murray), Stantz (Aykroyd), and Spengler (Ramis) find themselves suddenly jobless when the college they've been sponging off of cuts their paranormal research funding. Venkman decides they should go into the ghost hunting business, using the proton packs Spengler invents to trap troublesome spirits. It isn't long before they find themselves swamped with work in a suddenly ghost-plagued New York -- they hire Winston Zeddmore (Hudson) for the extra support, and Venkman begins to realize that the new object of his affections (Weaver) is at the heart of the ectoplasmic trouble when she finds the demon Zuul in her refrigerator.
The hottest ghost hunters until Sam and Dean.
There's a reason why this is a classic: it's 26 years old, and still feels as inventive, fun, and fresh as it did in 1984. No matter how many times you've seen this, I can guarantee it'll still elicit smiles and chuckles, if not outright laughter. The dialogue is smart and witty, and Murray's deadpan delivery remains priceless. The ghosts themselves are wacky or creepy, and don't tell me you don't still love the arrival of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. "Ray, if someone asks you if you're a god, YOU SAY YES." Oh God, how I love this film.
BLACK SHEEP
(2006)
Starring: Nathan Meister, Danielle Mason, Peter Feeney, Tammy Davis.
Directed by: Jonathan King.
Rated: R
If you haven't noticed, I have a serious soft spot for Kiwi films. Black Sheep is very much in the vein of Peter Jackson's early work, which makes sense considering his special effects company, the WETA Workshop, designed and created the eponymous ravenous mutant sheep. Yes, you read that correctly: this is a film about mutant, carnivorous sheep that turn their victims into WERESHEEP.
WERE.
SHEEP.
...Just wanted to emphasize that. If you want a ridiculous, laugh-out-loud premise and menace, look no farther than Black Sheep. Henry (Meister) suffers from a crippling fear of sheep thanks to his older brother Angus (Feeney)'s cruel prank when they were children. It takes a lot of courage for him to return to the ancestral farm in order to sell Angus his share of the homestead. But his quick trip turns into a long nightmare when the environmental extremist Experience (Mason) and her nutty boyfriend unintentionally unleash a mutated sheep into the farm's flock, quickly turning the entire stock into ravenous carnivores who attack Angus' investors and create dozens of rampaging weresheep. So it's up to sheep-phobic Henry, the New Age Experience, and the farm's handyman Tucker (Davis) to find a cure and stop the sheep.
THE STUFF OF KIWI NIGHTMARES.
There's plenty of comedy to be had from the insane premise but there's also some great slapstick (TACKLING SHEEP!), trippy animatronics/special effects, and wonderfully funny dialogue/reactions. For example:
Experience: What is wrong with you?
Henry: Ovinophobia, my therapist calls it.
Experience: Well, what's that?
Henry: Just the completely unfounded and irrational fear that one day this is going to happen!
It's silly, it's ridiculous, it's gory, and you've also got the breathtakingly beautiful New Zealand countryside to admire in between the sheepy attacks, which is always a bonus in any film. If you're planning a party and want something goofy to put on in the background while everyone chats, Black Sheep would be a great choice.
DEAD & BREAKFAST
(2004)
Starring: Ever Carradine, Erik Palladino, Jeremy Sisto, Bianca Lawson, Oz Perkins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Directed by: Matthew Leutwyler.
Rated: R
This movie has moments of seriousness, but overall it feels like the cast and crew just turned the camera on and goofed off for two hours. This was intentionally made to be a B-movie, with next to no cash, only a few gallons of Karo syrup and tempera paint for the gore effects, and some silly plastic puppet heads. The acting is all WAY over the top, some of the lines are laughably weird, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan pretty much steals the show as the aphorism-wielding Texan sheriff.
A bunch of twentysomethings are driving across Texas on their way to a wedding; unfortunately, they find themselves stuck in the tiny town of Lovelock when the owner of the B&B they stop at dies of a heart attack following the brutal murder of his cook. The sheriff is incredibly suspicious of them, but it turns out he should really be worried about an evil spirit accidentally released by one of the friends. Once loose, the demonic Kuman Thong begins to possess the townsfolk, turning them into violent zombies on a quest for world domination.
JDM's wise-cracking sheriff, the splatterstick physical comedy, and the dramatic attack on the local barn dance aren't the best things about this outing, though they're all incredibly enjoyable. No, it's the fact that this is also a MUSICAL. We have a SINGING ZOMBIE NARRATOR, and there's even a SQUARE DANCING ZOMBIES NUMBER.
Yes, SQUARE. DANCING. ZOMBIES.
"Blood as sweeeeet as moonshine whiskey!"
It's the soundtrack that makes Dead & Breakfast stand out. The songs are silly and incredibly catchy. You'll find yourself singing "We're Coming to Kill Ya" and "Quiet Little Town" long after the credits roll. And you've got to love having the narrative advanced by a yokel zombie who uses some ridiculous rhymes and references to porn. X^D
Here's another film that would be great at a party; mocking with a large group of friends is half the fun, really, and there's plenty of solid laughs and catchy songwriting to make this a worthwhile watch.
BEETLEJUICE
(1988)
Starring: Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder.
Directed by: Tim Burton.
Rated: PG
And I'll close this round of recs with another oldie but a goodie, and one of my favourite Tim Burton creations. As much as I love the original Batman and Batman Returns, this is Michael Keaton's best picture in my books. It's also one of Burton's most visually impressive pieces of work, back when Burton's goth zaniness was refreshing and creative and not just "another crazy film by Tim Burton".
Barbara (Davis) and Adam (Baldwin, lol, what a coincidence) are a young couple with big plans for their beautiful old house. Unfortunately, they're also dead and unable to stop the new inhabitants from redecorating. Unable to move on in the afterlife and desperate to regain control of their house, they turn to the wild, crazy, and untrustworthy poltergeist Beetlejuice (Keaton) for some haunting tips and assistance. When the gothic daughter of the new owners, Lydia (Rider), befriends the ghostly couple and catches the amorous eye of Beetlejuice, something drastic will need to be done to set things right.
I've always been fond of Beetlejuice, though some of the imagery (especially the sandsnakes, UGH) was a bit traumatizing when I was younger. What I love about this film is how creative, layered, and darkly funny it is: the enigmatic mystery of the afterlife is completely dispelled by showing it to be nothing more than a vast waiting room full of paper pushers and apathetic secretaries. The spirits of the dead look just as they did when they died -- burnt to a smoky crisp, blue from blood loss due to slit wrists, or flattened by a steamroller -- which is both disturbingly macabre and quite hilarious. Adam and Barbara's increasingly desperate attempts to scare off the Deetz family is amusing, and the wise-cracking Beetlejuice is almost always a frenetic riot.
It seems most people have seen Beetlejuice by now, but on the off chance you've missed this dark gem, I highly recommend it. There's claymation monsters! That infamous dance around the dinner table! Ghostly footballers!
HORROR/BLACK COMEDIES
ZOMBIELAND
(2009)
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin.
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer.
Rated: R
Yes, this is a zombie film -- I mean, it's in the title. But I have to say, this is more a black comedy and a found family story than a zombie flick. And while the zombies are pretty grody and oozy and quite a few are just downright terrifying (CLOWNS = TRAUMATIZING; ZOMBIE CLOWNS = THERE IS NO GOD), the horror of the undead in Zombieland do not overshadow the sheer hilarity that this film delivers.
There are no names in Zombieland, because none of the survivors want to risk getting close to someone who may need to be brutally killed later. Our guide through this new, violent America is Columbus (Eisenberg), a neurotic college student trying to find his parents for want of anything better to do. Columbus is a puss, and stricken by multiple phobias, but he's survived because he has a list of Rules that he follows religiously (Rule #2: Double Tap, Rule #13: Beware of Bathrooms). It's not long before Columbus finds himself traveling with the brash and fearless Tallahassee (Harrelson), and the pair of unlikely buddies are quickly joined by the ruthless sisters Wichita (Stone) and Little Rock (Breslin). This found family of oddballs have one unlikely goal in mind: the Pacific Playland theme park in California, which Wichita has promised her sister is zombie-free.
"Whaddaya think? Zombie Kill of the Week?"
I'm a sucker for found family stories -- they resonate more with me than sweet tales of actual, biological families, because I've always felt that the family you choose for yourself is incredibly important. So already this is high in my favourites; throw in zombies, a fantastic cast of characters, and the funniest dialogue I've enjoyed in a while, and I'm pretty much in love. Nearly every line/moment of Zombieland is hilarious, but there's also plenty of heart and emotion, too. With such a short run time (it's only about an hour and a half), you don't have a chance to get bored with anything and actually find yourself longing for more. Luckily, a sequel's already in the works.
Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone have both shot to stardom in the past year thanks to The Social Network and Easy A (and a confirmed role in the future Spider-man reboot), and for good reason. They're both fantastic actors, and they bring a lot to Columbus and Wichita -- they also have incredible chemistry together. Woody Harrelson has never been better as the ridiculously bad-ass Tallahassee (in my humble opinion), and Breslin brings plenty of spunk and sass to Little Rock.
Even if you're not a big fan of zombie films or horror in general, you have to see Zombieland. It's truly amazing in terms of comedy, writing, acting, and production values. Even my MUM enjoys this movie, and she can't stand zombie films. It's only an hour and a half out of your life! Give it a chance, and I can promise that you won't regret it.
Click to view GHOSTBUSTERS
(1984)
Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver.
Directed by: Ivan Reitman.
Rated: PG-13
This recommendation is probably entirely unneeded -- I'm sure just about everybody has seen this film. But maybe it's been a while; maybe you haven't thought about Ghostbusters in a dog's age; maybe you just need a family-friendly picture for Halloween this year. Well, let me remind you about the greatness that is this film.
Drs. Venkman (Murray), Stantz (Aykroyd), and Spengler (Ramis) find themselves suddenly jobless when the college they've been sponging off of cuts their paranormal research funding. Venkman decides they should go into the ghost hunting business, using the proton packs Spengler invents to trap troublesome spirits. It isn't long before they find themselves swamped with work in a suddenly ghost-plagued New York -- they hire Winston Zeddmore (Hudson) for the extra support, and Venkman begins to realize that the new object of his affections (Weaver) is at the heart of the ectoplasmic trouble when she finds the demon Zuul in her refrigerator.
The hottest ghost hunters until Sam and Dean.
There's a reason why this is a classic: it's 26 years old, and still feels as inventive, fun, and fresh as it did in 1984. No matter how many times you've seen this, I can guarantee it'll still elicit smiles and chuckles, if not outright laughter. The dialogue is smart and witty, and Murray's deadpan delivery remains priceless. The ghosts themselves are wacky or creepy, and don't tell me you don't still love the arrival of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. "Ray, if someone asks you if you're a god, YOU SAY YES." Oh God, how I love this film.
BLACK SHEEP
(2006)
Starring: Nathan Meister, Danielle Mason, Peter Feeney, Tammy Davis.
Directed by: Jonathan King.
Rated: R
If you haven't noticed, I have a serious soft spot for Kiwi films. Black Sheep is very much in the vein of Peter Jackson's early work, which makes sense considering his special effects company, the WETA Workshop, designed and created the eponymous ravenous mutant sheep. Yes, you read that correctly: this is a film about mutant, carnivorous sheep that turn their victims into WERESHEEP.
WERE.
SHEEP.
...Just wanted to emphasize that. If you want a ridiculous, laugh-out-loud premise and menace, look no farther than Black Sheep. Henry (Meister) suffers from a crippling fear of sheep thanks to his older brother Angus (Feeney)'s cruel prank when they were children. It takes a lot of courage for him to return to the ancestral farm in order to sell Angus his share of the homestead. But his quick trip turns into a long nightmare when the environmental extremist Experience (Mason) and her nutty boyfriend unintentionally unleash a mutated sheep into the farm's flock, quickly turning the entire stock into ravenous carnivores who attack Angus' investors and create dozens of rampaging weresheep. So it's up to sheep-phobic Henry, the New Age Experience, and the farm's handyman Tucker (Davis) to find a cure and stop the sheep.
THE STUFF OF KIWI NIGHTMARES.
There's plenty of comedy to be had from the insane premise but there's also some great slapstick (TACKLING SHEEP!), trippy animatronics/special effects, and wonderfully funny dialogue/reactions. For example:
Experience: What is wrong with you?
Henry: Ovinophobia, my therapist calls it.
Experience: Well, what's that?
Henry: Just the completely unfounded and irrational fear that one day this is going to happen!
It's silly, it's ridiculous, it's gory, and you've also got the breathtakingly beautiful New Zealand countryside to admire in between the sheepy attacks, which is always a bonus in any film. If you're planning a party and want something goofy to put on in the background while everyone chats, Black Sheep would be a great choice.
DEAD & BREAKFAST
(2004)
Starring: Ever Carradine, Erik Palladino, Jeremy Sisto, Bianca Lawson, Oz Perkins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
Directed by: Matthew Leutwyler.
Rated: R
This movie has moments of seriousness, but overall it feels like the cast and crew just turned the camera on and goofed off for two hours. This was intentionally made to be a B-movie, with next to no cash, only a few gallons of Karo syrup and tempera paint for the gore effects, and some silly plastic puppet heads. The acting is all WAY over the top, some of the lines are laughably weird, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan pretty much steals the show as the aphorism-wielding Texan sheriff.
A bunch of twentysomethings are driving across Texas on their way to a wedding; unfortunately, they find themselves stuck in the tiny town of Lovelock when the owner of the B&B they stop at dies of a heart attack following the brutal murder of his cook. The sheriff is incredibly suspicious of them, but it turns out he should really be worried about an evil spirit accidentally released by one of the friends. Once loose, the demonic Kuman Thong begins to possess the townsfolk, turning them into violent zombies on a quest for world domination.
JDM's wise-cracking sheriff, the splatterstick physical comedy, and the dramatic attack on the local barn dance aren't the best things about this outing, though they're all incredibly enjoyable. No, it's the fact that this is also a MUSICAL. We have a SINGING ZOMBIE NARRATOR, and there's even a SQUARE DANCING ZOMBIES NUMBER.
Yes, SQUARE. DANCING. ZOMBIES.
"Blood as sweeeeet as moonshine whiskey!"
It's the soundtrack that makes Dead & Breakfast stand out. The songs are silly and incredibly catchy. You'll find yourself singing "We're Coming to Kill Ya" and "Quiet Little Town" long after the credits roll. And you've got to love having the narrative advanced by a yokel zombie who uses some ridiculous rhymes and references to porn. X^D
Here's another film that would be great at a party; mocking with a large group of friends is half the fun, really, and there's plenty of solid laughs and catchy songwriting to make this a worthwhile watch.
BEETLEJUICE
(1988)
Starring: Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder.
Directed by: Tim Burton.
Rated: PG
And I'll close this round of recs with another oldie but a goodie, and one of my favourite Tim Burton creations. As much as I love the original Batman and Batman Returns, this is Michael Keaton's best picture in my books. It's also one of Burton's most visually impressive pieces of work, back when Burton's goth zaniness was refreshing and creative and not just "another crazy film by Tim Burton".
Barbara (Davis) and Adam (Baldwin, lol, what a coincidence) are a young couple with big plans for their beautiful old house. Unfortunately, they're also dead and unable to stop the new inhabitants from redecorating. Unable to move on in the afterlife and desperate to regain control of their house, they turn to the wild, crazy, and untrustworthy poltergeist Beetlejuice (Keaton) for some haunting tips and assistance. When the gothic daughter of the new owners, Lydia (Rider), befriends the ghostly couple and catches the amorous eye of Beetlejuice, something drastic will need to be done to set things right.
I've always been fond of Beetlejuice, though some of the imagery (especially the sandsnakes, UGH) was a bit traumatizing when I was younger. What I love about this film is how creative, layered, and darkly funny it is: the enigmatic mystery of the afterlife is completely dispelled by showing it to be nothing more than a vast waiting room full of paper pushers and apathetic secretaries. The spirits of the dead look just as they did when they died -- burnt to a smoky crisp, blue from blood loss due to slit wrists, or flattened by a steamroller -- which is both disturbingly macabre and quite hilarious. Adam and Barbara's increasingly desperate attempts to scare off the Deetz family is amusing, and the wise-cracking Beetlejuice is almost always a frenetic riot.
It seems most people have seen Beetlejuice by now, but on the off chance you've missed this dark gem, I highly recommend it. There's claymation monsters! That infamous dance around the dinner table! Ghostly footballers!