Horror is such a broad genre that it can still be enjoyed even if you hate being scared. One of my favourite subgenres is what I like to call “fun horror,” which I loosely define as horror films that are fun, silly, batshit, but not too scary (well, okay, some of them are kind of scary). As you’d expect, it includes a lot of horror comedy and slashers, but it isn’t limited to those parameters. If you’re looking for a horror film to enjoy this October that isn’t a safe family film like Practical Magic or Halloweentown, but isn’t scary as hell like The Conjuring or The Ring, then I’ve got you covered!
Happy Death Day
Happy Death Day is about university student Theresa ‘Tree’ Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) who finds herself reliving the same day over and over again—the day she was murdered. With a killer loose on campus, Tree realises that she must identify her killer and their motive if she has any chance of surviving. The film introduced me to talented writer-director Christopher Landon and the delightfully captivating Rothe. If you haven’t seen this ground-breaking slasher yet, it’s definitely one to check out!
Tragedy Girls
Tyler MacIntyre’s Tragedy Girls follows teenagers McKayla (Alexandra Shipp) and Sadie (Brianna Hildebrand) who are obsessed with death to the point of running an online show where they talk about true crime. Eager to cement themselves as modern horror legends, the friends use their show to send their small Midwestern town into a frenzy. A highly-stylised romp oozing with blood and humour, Tragedy Girls is Scream for the new generation.
The Loved Ones
Brent (Xavier Samuel) soon regrets his decision to turn down his classmate Lola’s (Robin McLeavy) invitation to the prom when she kidnaps him and ties him to a chair, ready to enact her wildly violent plan for revenge. This dark horror comedy is a hidden gem and was Australian writer-director Sean Byrne’s directorial debut, though he later went on to write and direct The Devil’s Candy.
Vamps
Everyone has seen Clueless, but did you know that writer-director Amy Heckerling also made Vamps, a horror comedy starring Alicia Silverstone and Krysten Ritter as vampires who were turned by ancient vampire Sigourney Weaver? Set in the modern day, the film follows Goody (Silverstone) and Sadie (Ritter) who are living the good nightlife in New York until love enters the picture and they both have a choice to make that will put their immortality at risk. Vamps is a light-heartened delight!
Sorority Row
When five sorority girls accidentally get one of their sisters killed in a prank gone wrong, they agree to keep it hush-hush so they can get on with their lives–but this proves to be easier said than done. After graduation, a mysterious killer goes after the five girls and anyone who knows their secret. Starring Jamie Chung and Rumer Willis, with Carrie Fisher appearing as a teacher, Sorority Row has much more life than its original, House on Sorority Row.
Malignant
I cannot even begin to summarise Malignant, but the less you know, the better! Madison (Annabelle Wallis) begins to see visions of gruesome murders which she soon realises are terrifying realities tied to her mysterious past. Directed by James Wan (The Conjuring, Insidious) and written by Akela Cooper (Megan, The Nun II), Malignant has one of those narratives which spins completely out of control. This giallo-inspired film is completely bonkers and entertaining as hell!
John Dies at the End
Directed by Don Coscarelli (Phantasm), John Dies at the End follows Dave (Chase Williamson) who recounts the story of his and his friend John’s (Rob Mayes) experiences taking a new drug which brings out-of-body experiences and changes their lives forever. This film, which is based on the book of the same name, is absolutely batshit and grows more and more insane. Lovecraftian in nature, it’s very stylised, fun, and goofy with lots of cool digital and practical effects. It also introduced me to the lovely Chase Williamson.
You Might Be the Killer
When counsellors at a summer camp are being killed off, Sam (Fran Kranz) worries he might be the killer. Instead of calling of the cops, he calls his best friend and slasher-film expert, Chuck (Alyson Hannigan), to discuss his options. You Might Be the Killer plays on all our favourite slasher tropes while providing lovable characters in silly situations. It’s a lot of fun and Kranz and Hannigan have a lot of over-the-phone chemistry.
Drag Me to Hell
When loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) denies the elderly and dishevelled gypsy woman Sylvia a third extension on her mortgage, Sylvia curses Christine which results in her once-promising life taking a startling turn. With a boyfriend (Justin Long) who doesn’t believe her, Christine turns to a psychic to try and lift the curse and prevent her soul from being dragged to hell. Written (with Ivan Raimi) and directed by Sam Raimi, Drag Me to Hell is a grisly, disgusting and entertaining rollercoaster with one of the most metal endings of all time.
Army of Darkness
Have you seen The Evil Dead but haven’t seen Army of Darkness yet? Well here is your sign to finally watch it (you should also watch Evil Dead II). During this instalment, Ash (Bruce Campbell) is sent back in time to England’s Dark Ages for some reason, where he romances a beautiful woman and faces legions of the undead, including stop-motion puppet skeletons. Nothing new here, just the same incredible formula amped up even higher: brilliant amounts of gore, absurd humour, and silly fun, with a particularly fantastic performance from Campbell.
The Perfection
The Perfection is another film where the less you know the better! Musical prodigy Charlotte (Allison Williams) seeks out the new star of her former school, Elizabeth (Logan Browning), which sends both women down a sinister path with grotesque imagery and shocking consequences. This film doesn’t maintain the perfection of its opening act, but its ability to transcend into batshittery makes it worthwhile. Williams and Browning are compelling leads who will keep you glued to the screen.
The Babysitter
Directed by McG (Charlie’s Angels, Uglies), The Babysitter follows Cole (Judah Lewis), a 12-year-old boy who stays up way past his bedtime only to discover that his babysitter (Samara Weaving) is part of a satanic cult. Even worse, she wants to kill him! Visually vibrant, remarkably gory, and full of teen angst and dark humour, this film, and its sequel, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, certainly delivers a unique take on the classic babysitter trope.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare
The cast and crew of A Nightmare on Elm Street are terrorised by Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) when he crosses over into the real world. While I would recommend the entire franchise, there’s something particuarly fun and eccentric about the seventh and final instalment, New Nightmare, thanks to Wes Craven’s adept ability to be self-referential. While plenty silly and fun, this is not only moving but is one of the smartest sequels to a slasher film ever made.
Scream 4
This film has the fanbase torn, but I’m team Scream 4! Ten years after Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has recovered from the Woodsboro murders, the Ghostface Killer returns for another round. King of meta horror Wes Craven strikes again in this modern sequel to his original 90s franchise. Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) is an absolute badass and Emma Roberts goes off the fucking rails alongside. Truly entertaining!
Bride of Chucky
My favourite in the Child’s Play series, Bride of Chucky continues Chucky’s (Brad Douriff) entertainingly dark adventures after he is resurrected by his old flame Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly). Together, they embark on a road trip to retrieve a special amulet that will allow Chucky to transfer his soul, currently trapped inside a doll, into a human body. Bride of Chucky is satirical and more self-aware than its predecessors, bringing plenty more horror, humour, and wit alongside its slasher elements.
Sleepwalkers
Sometimes all you need is a wonderfully deranged 90s thriller/horror, on which Sleepwalkers absolutely delivers on. Charles Brady (Brian Krause, Charmed) and his mother, Mary (Alice Krige), are Sleepwalkers, the last of a dying breed who need to feed on the life-force of the innocent in order to stay alive. The search for their next victim leads them to Travis, a small town in Indiana, where they meet beautiful teenager Tanya Robertson (Mädchen Amick, Twin Peaks). Sleepwalkers is the first film written by Stephen King that isn’t based on one of his pre-existing works. This film is visually beautiful, full of crazy cameos, and is totally wild for many reasons. One of them is that a man is killed by being stabbed with a cob of corn.
Spontaneous
Spontaneous, written and directed by Brian Duffield (No One Will Save You), is about a bunch of high school students who begin spontaneously exploding. Seniors Mara (Katherine Langford) and Dylan (Charlie Plummer) struggle to survive in a world where each moment may be their last. Blending horror, humour, and romance, Spontaneous is an absolute blast (literally). It’s fun, engaging, and surprisingly emotional.
The Substance
From French writer-director Coralie Fargeat (Revenge), The Substance follows Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a fading celebrity who uses a black market drug which creates a younger, better version of herself, played by Margaret Qualley. The unique cell-replicating substance has some strict rules, and things get a little more than bonkers when Elisabeth starts to misuse the drug. A commentary on ageism in society, particuarly in Hollywood, The Substance is equally gorgeous and disgusting as it heavily leans into its body horror as the narrative grows more and more out of control. A must-see!
If you’re looking for more suggestions, check out my “Fun Horror” list on Letterboxd.
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