Tammy and the T-Rex + Q&A with Stewart Raffill screens Thursday, October 10th at 8:30pm
“Horror is a lot like comedy, you feel whether it’s working or not.” — Ari Aster
Whether it be David Gordon Green directing a Halloween trilogy, John Krasinski directing a sequel to A Quiet Place, or Jordan Peele remaking Candyman, the Hollywood trend of comedic filmmakers transitioning into horror shows no signs of stopping. With the R-Rated release of the 1994 horror-comedy film Tammy and the T-Rex coming to The Frida Cinema this Thursday, let us look at some overlooked films in the horror-comedy genre.
Dude Bro Party Massacre III (2015)
Based on a 5-second sketch from the appropriately named troupe 5-Second Films, Dude Bro Party Massacre III plays as a wonderful homage to campy, slasher films, following a frat party at a cabin in the woods and a bro-hunting serial killer who proves to be a real fun-slayer. With a supporting cast including Greg Sestero (The Room) and Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille) and cameos by Larry King and Andrew W.K., 5-Second Films creates rapid-fire comedy, packing a dizzying array of laughs into the film’s brief run time.
Murder Party (2007)
From the director of Blue Ruin and Green Room, Jeremy Saulnier’s directorial debut, Murder Party is surprisingly similar to his later films. Following a loner parking officer who gets invited to a “murder party” and ends up being hunted by a group of pretentious art students, Murder Party started a trend of protagonists on the run from a violent group of murderers. While Saulnier’s later films are presented as deeply serious, Murder Party portrays its violence with slapstick humor, making no attempt to create empathy for its pathetic hero. Saulnier fans will love seeing the early stages of his filmmaking prowess.
The Love Witch (2016)
The Love Witch was a personal passion project for its director Anna Biller, who also wrote, edited, and scored the film as well as designed the film’s production and costumes. Shot to match the 1960s technicolor aesthetic and written to embrace the camp of 1960s horror, The Love Witch follows recently widowed Elaine as she uses potions and spells to seduce men in her desperate search for affection. The film’s spellbinding technicolor is bolstered by a universally lauded performance from Samantha Robinson who deftly balances the film’s tone of horror and comedy.
One Cut of the Dead (2017)
Since the 2004 hit film Shaun of the Dead, zombie comedies have become commonplace in American film, but none of the post-Shaun films hold a candle to Shinichiro Ueda’s One Cut of the Dead. It is best to go into this high-concept film with as little knowledge as possible, so if you plan on watching this film do not watch any trailer or read any plot summary. Just know that the film breathes life into the zombie comedy genre with its delightful gags and plays as an homage to zombie films and to cinema as a whole.
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2011)
Fans of backwoods horror will revel in Eli Craig’s riotous directorial debut Tucker & Dale vs Evil. As seen in the recent Netflix film Little Evil, Eli Craig has a talent for turning established horror tropes on their heads—with hilarious results. In Tucker & Dale vs Evil, the titular brothers build a cabin in the woods hoping to have a quiet and peaceful retreat. When a group of awful teenagers breaks onto their property, the brothers attempt to be friendly, but blunder into frightening the teens into a series of gut-busting bloodbaths.
