We generally watch scary movies to be scared. However, sometimes laughter goes well with screams. Sometimes it’s an intentional bit of comic relief, while other times it might be the movie itself going so ridiculously over-the-top that it ends up being unintentionally hilarious. Here are five moments in scary movies that produce laughs instead of gasps.
5 Hilarious Moments in Scary Movies
Photo by Nathan J Hilton via Pexels1. Scream – How to Survive a Horror Movie
Scream does an excellent job of blending genuine horror with a deconstruction of the horror movie genre. Nowhere is this more evident than when the characters are discussing how to survive a horror movie. There are three simple rules: never have sex, never drink alcohol, and most importantly of all, never, under any circumstances, say, “I’ll be right back,” because you won’t be. It’s hilarious because, for the most part, it’s true. Many deaths in scary movies happen to people who break those rules.
2. Dracula – “They’re All Crazy!”
The classic 1931 version of Dracula is still creepy today, but it also has a few laughs. Many of them come from Martin, a sanitarium worker who doesn’t hesitate to comment on the ridiculousness going on around him. One of his best moments happens when a maid comments, “He’s crazy!” about Van Helsing. Martin responds, “They’re all crazy! They’re all crazy except you and me. Sometimes I have my doubts about you.” However, instead of being offended, the maid simply says, “Yes.” The unexpected reaction always gets a laugh.
3. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – “Wind! Wind! WIND!”
Speaking of Dracula, there are quite a few unintentionally funny moments in Francis Ford Coppola’s over-the-top adaptation. The movie creates a love story between Dracula and Mina, who is Dracula’s reincarnated lover. When Mina sends him a goodbye letter, the vampire is, of course, heartbroken. So what do vampires do when their hearts are broken? Well, Dracula shouts out, “Wind! Wind! WIND!” and creates a storm, of course. Gary Oldman’s over-the-top acting in this scene turns what is supposed to be a devastating moment into a hilarious one.
4. Saw – Adam’s Terrible Acting
The Saw movies don’t have much room for levity, but there is one moment that brings a laugh. In the first Saw movie, Dr. Gordon is tasked with killing Adam. He thinks he’s found a way out of it by pretending to poison a cigarette and having Adam pretend to drop over dead after he smokes it. Unfortunately, Adam pretends to die in the most unconvincing, over-the-top way possible. The charade doesn’t succeed, but the acting is hilarious. The Saw films are some of the most gruesome, scary movies you’ll ever see, but this moment gets a genuine laugh.
5. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – “Thank God!”
Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Frankenstein is heartbreakingly emotional, but we have a moment of genuine laughs. The monster has escaped right after his creation, and Dr. Frankenstein worries about what it could be up to. However, when his friend Henry tells of a cholera outbreak, saying the newborn will be especially susceptible, Frankenstein reacts, “Thank God.” Frankenstein is thinking that the nightmare with the monster is over, but to Henry, it sounds like he’s relieved that babies are dying. It’s as funny as it is morbid.
Final Thoughts
Scary movies don’t have to be terrifying for every minute. Sometimes a laugh can be a momentary relief from the scares. Laughs and scares can combine to make a complete experience. So, the next time you and your friends watch some scary movies and break into unexpected laughter, don’t be embarrassed. Just enjoy how the movie can make you feel many different ways.
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