Horror Comedy Explained

         

          The first successful horror comedy to be recognized was "Frankenstein" directed by James Whale in 1931. Since then, a variety of horror comedies have hit the big screen, such as "Scream" (1996), "Shaun of the Dead" (2004), and "The Cabin in the Woods" (2012). Horror comedy has been described as a sub-genre that sets blood and screams right next to gags and laughs. The interesting thing about horror comedy is that it blends together a variety of contrasting elements (ex. death, jokes), and somehow remains an entertaining medium for audiences to watch. If you think about it, a scare and a laugh our both setup to have a reaction at the end. Due to the similarities in how humor and horror are constructed, the film industry has witnessed more horror comedies being put out. I think this is partly because audiences enjoy these types of films more than before, as they provide a film that is not too scary but still enough to make one feel scared.

          Opening sequences for horror comedies tend to include handheld tracking shots.The use of the handheld shot is present in many horror film openings and sets the tone for the movie better than a steadicam would. By following characters around using this camera angle, audiences not only get a view of where the film is set, but also a more personal viewpoint of the scene and what is happening. Another film technique used would be the "Red Herring", which distracts the audience with misleading clues that bring viewers to the wrong conclusion. A red herring can be done through many different camera shots, although the most prevalent is a close up of an object such as a window or a part of a character’s costume. Scores, which can be defined as original music made specifically for a film, play a huge role in building up suspense or heightening one's emotions during a scene. A well known score in horror films would be the sound we here in “Jaws” when the killer shark is approaching. In my next post, I will be completing a shot-by-shot analysis of the hit film "Scream", to see why it's opening sequence is so highly praised in the film industry.


Sources:
Renée. “Watch: How Does Horror Comedy Work?” No Film School, 19 July 2017, nofilmschool.com/2017/07/how-does-horror-comedy-work.


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