It is not unreasonable to say that allhorrormoviemakers have the best intentions in mind to craft an experience that will leave audiences shaking in their seats. At the same time, others aim forcomedyby merging two genres, exemplified by films likeEvil Dead 2orShaun of the Dead. Yet,among the so-bad-it’s-good and intentional humor, there is a gray area that some horror movies can fall into, where the original intention to scare instead turns into comedy gold.
These movies are one-of-a-kind in the way they are now often approached as comedies instead of their original intended horror. Of course, the 1980s were one of, if not the best, eras for horror, so narrowing down these picks to the decade gives us our best window into these 8 unintentional horror comedy classics.
8’Things' (1989)
Friends Don and Fred head out to a family member’s cabin to unwind. Yet, when they arrive, they slowly start to unravel that the owners, Doug and Susan, were involved in bizarre experiments by the deranged doctor with a passion for the occult. The result of the experiments is that Susan gives birth to a bizarre, insect-like creature, which then begins to terrorize Don and Fred.
A Canadian Classic
ThingsmakesManos: The Hands of Fatelook likeApocalypse Nowin comparison;there is a case to be made that the low-budget Canadian horror movie is the worst film ever made. Of course, this would put the intended scares ofThingson the back burner, instead highlighting the awkward dialogue, poor visual quality due to ineptitude, subpar monster design, and nonsensical plot development.Thingsgoes beyond theso bad it’s good' label, and becomes an unintentional comedy in its complete ineptitude. Leaning on Canadian stereotypes of beer-guzzling hosers does not hurt either.
10 Best Horror Movies on Tubi You Definitely Haven’t Seen
Tubi has the largest selection of horror available for streaming, including some of the best of the genre you have not seen.
7’Devil Story' (1986)
Devil Storystarts with a deformed nazi on a killing spree across a remote country area, boasting some decent gore. From there the movie weaves several plot points together, including a honeymooning couple with one having psychic visions brought on by a cat, an old man who hates a horse, the deformed nazi helping a gypsy fulfill a curse, a pirate ship in the mountains housing treasure, and a mummy and an ancient queen being reborn.
Disjointed Plot Makes for Unintentional Comedic Gold
Devil Storymay have the most confusing plot ever in a horror movie. Still, this seems unintentional, and the purpose is certainly to shock, as the opening scene depicts a rather brutal killing spree before devolving into a series of absurd plots.
The movie does not look bad, necessarily, but it makes so many odd choices within its already confusing attempts at story building. This includes an old man who hunts a horse with infinite shotgun ammo, taking hundreds of shots throughout the film’s runtime as the film constantly cuts back to his antics.You will never laugh harder at a nazi having his face kicked off by a horse.Devil Storyis a strange horror movie that is 100% comedic gold.
6’Crawlspace' (1986)
Crawlspace
Karl Gunther (Klaus Kinski), the disturbed son of a nazi scientist, runs a large home where he rents out rooms to women. Creating a series of traps and means to travel through the building’s air ducts, Karl begins to stalk his most recent resident, who becomes the first to fight back against the violent landlord.
Remember To Check Your Air Ducts for Klaus Kinski’s
At face value,Crawlspaceis a decent horror flick. However, those familiar with Klaus Kinski, both as an actor and a persona, will likely find this movie to be more comedic.One of the most recognizable and eccentric actors ever, Klaus Kinski, playing the role of a stalker who uses air ducts and a trolley to get from point A to B, is accidentally hilarious. This one is an ideal choice to watch with friends familiar with the actor’s legacy, as he still brings all the bravado expected, despite the silliness of the role.
5’Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare' (1987)
Famous hair-metal band Triton is gearing up to release their new record, opting to travel to a remote barn with a studio to focus solely on the upcoming album. Yet, the group and their girlfriends soon discover that there aredemons set on terrorizing them. As the bodies start piling up, the band’s lead singer, John Triton, reveals that he may be the only one destined to battle the demons.
Welcome to My Nightmare
The popularity of hair metal led to some questionable films throughout the 1980s, all of which feature a degree of unintentional humor alongside unchecked machismo. Yet,Rock ’n’ Roll Nightmarestands above the rest with its awkward dialogue, shoddy monster design, and general ineptitude throughout.The hiring of Canadian singer Jon Mikl Thor to fill the role of John Triton did not so much bring legitimacy to the production as give it an actor who was way in over their head and stumbled through the film. As a result, ‘Rock ’n’ Roll Nightmare’ became more of a comedy in the guise of a horror movie.
The 20 Best Horror Sequels of the 1980s, Ranked
The 1980s saw many classic horror films turning into long-running franchises. These are the 20 best films that came out of that sequel deluge.
4’Chopping Mall' (1986)
Chopping Mall
Park Plaza Mall has just installed the latest security system, featuring robots that will apprehend anyone after hours who cannot prove they are an employee at the mall. Yet when lightning strikes the building on the first day of operation, the robots go haywire. A group of friends who work at the mall end up coming face-to-face with the killer robots after their planned overnight party in a furniture store makes them a primary target.
The Mall Will Now Be Closing
Here is one flick that can be debated as a horror-comedy to its core, yet the movie maintains a serious tone throughout, beyond a few visual gags outside the horror elements, which makes us beg to differ. Instead,Chopping Mallhighlights the shortfalls of B-movie predictions of future tech,with the “killer robots” maybe feeling futuristic on release, but now as intimidating as a bucket on top of a remote-control car with a knife attached to it. Specifically, the movie is now an accidental comedy as it asks viewers to buy into the automated threat when it seems more likely that a blanket or running in a zigzag pattern would utterly defeat it.
3’Pieces' (1982)
On a Boston campus, a killer is stalking women and brutally murdering them to collect various body parts. This leads a team of three: Lt. Bracken, undercover officer Mary Riggs, and a student named Kendal, who work together to put an end to the killing spree. As the three unravel a dark past that has pushed the killer into the grim task of making a human puppet, the three become increasingly at risk of becoming victims themselves.
‘Pieces’ Will Have You in Stitches
Piecesmakes some bizarre choices throughout. Yes, it features some great over-the-top gore sequences, but there is a certain unintentional campiness to these scenes. Additionally, there are numerous nonsensical plot twists and scenes. Notably, to help build up one of the “clones of Bruce Lee,” for a different film, they gave Bruce Lee a brief cameo where he randomly attacks a student and performs some kung fu only to leave a moment later. Yet,the final scene is so unintentionally funny it feels as if the whole film was a build-up to a single joke; it needs to be seen to be believed.
2’Lady Terminator' (1989)
Lady Terminator
The Queen of the South Sea is betrayed and killed by a lover. Before she passes, she uses her last breath to leave a curse on the future generations of the man’s family. Decades later, a young anthropologist named Tania, while investigating the legend, accidentally reawakens the queen and becomes possessed. Now, the queen uses Tania’s body to get her revenge on her killer’s great-granddaughter.
An Almost Shot-For-Shot Remake of a Classic With Comedic Charm
Beyond the initial set-up, the bulk ofLady Terminatoris a knock-off of 1984’sThe Terminator, almost shot for shot. Instead of a robot, you do get a monster, but the movie is still around a 90% blatant rip-off. Yet, there is enough low-budget charm here, combined with the audacity of this Indonesian project, that it becomes an unintentional comedy. The movie also features more horror elements thanThe Terminator,as it leans less on sci-fi and instead relies on black magic as the driving force behind the ruthless killer known as theLady Terminator.
10 Best Terminator Ripoffs From the ’80s and ’90s
Terminator was a global hit, and with it came many films trying to capitalize on the interest in sci-fi action. These are the best.
Rawhead Rex
An ancient pagan deity, the titularRawhead Rex, is accidentally re-awakened after some farmers in Ireland upset an ancient stone idol. This event aligns with the visit of American researcher Howard Hallenbeck and his family to the region, where they are exploring folklore and history. Hallenbeck becomes the only one who can figure out how to defeat the deadlyRawhead Rexafter a series of killings, including that of his son.
Clive Barker’s Folk Horror Script Gon Awry
Rawhead Rexhas a solid foundation; it is, after all,from the mind of Clive Barker.The movie takes a strong concept and a fascinating creature, but fails to capitalize on its premise in all regards. There is a lot of unintentional comedy throughout, particularly when Rawhead Rex is on-screen, as the monster appears more goofy than terrifying. Dialogue delivery also creates a lot of humor.Rawhead Rexhas remained a cult hit not because it nails horror, but because it is an accidental comedy.
