Some of the best horror movies have a little bit of humor to them. There are very few successful horror movies that don't have a moment where you chuckle.

It is smart. Unless you are a master- and a real master- that kind of tension cannot be held for a feature length movie. If you break it up with humor, you can wind the tension better.

The interesting thing is that things that are funny in the horror genre generally aren't funny on a normal basis- they are strictly funny based on what is going on. One of the best punchlines in a horror film comes from Silence of the Lambs. At the end, Dr. Hannibal Lecter is going to 'have an old friend for dinner'. This only works in the context of the film, which makes the phrase into a play on words that is guaranteed to get at least a smile out of you.

Another aspect to this is the unspoken connection between comedy and horror films. If horror isn't done correctly (either overdone or underdone) then it is funny. There are some people- and I am one of them- who take quite a bit of amusement out of finding bad horror movies that are very funny. It goes into the ridiculous category- you start thinking "Dang, did he get a discount on all that blood?" or "Wow, did they really just say that?"

Even good horror can turn ridiculous and funny in the right circumstance. While watching The Ring, during a moment of prolonged suspense (I can't remember the moment) someone in the audience yelled out "Well that's about enough!" Everyone in the theater started laughing.

The emotions are tied together- they almost have to be. The release of horror is humor- it's easier to watch a block of horror movies if you break it up with a couple of funny movies- and that's why if you ever tell a scary story the conversation normally runs into jokes.

It's a genius, really to integrate horror and humor seamlessly into the same movie.

Learn more about this author, Leigh Harper.
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