The Cabin in the Woods

What’s that saying? Dying is easy, comedy is hard? That must mean pulling off death and comedy together is the hardest. The balancing act between two very contrasting tones can feel like an awkward dinner party where a spooky vampire and Don Rickles are both vying for attention. They keep talking over each other’s sentences, and both the jokes and the scares don’t land.

But when it’s done right, it’s blissful. What’s better than that buildup of suspense, followed by the release of a solid laugh? I can think of one thing, maybe. But that’s a different list. In any case, I’ve rarely had a better time at the movies than when I was watching one of these horror comedies:

Shaun of the Dead, 2004

I’d venture to say that, in geek circles, this is the most loved horror comedy in recent memory. Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, whose British TV series Spaced is at once a delightful slacker sitcom and a brilliant deconstruction of genre tropes, also teamed for this film, which follows a chronic underachiever and perpetual man-child as he tries to grow up and win back his girlfriend. Complicating circumstance? Zombies, natch. The humor varies from dry to over-the-top slapstick–a classic sequence has Shaun sleepily go through his daily walk to the corner store, all the while oblivious to his (now) staggering undead neighbors and a bloody handprint on the refrigerator case. In the end, what makes this movie so special is, while it’s relentlessly clever, it’s also genuinely touching. It’s the perfect coming-of-age story for 29-year-old nerds.

Dark Star, 1974

Going back to 1974 … Directed by John Carpenter and written by Carpenter and Dan O’Bannon, who went on to co-write the not-so-funny classic Alien. This very black sci-fi comedy is part 2001 satire, part Cabin Fever. It’s uneven in places, but really gets under your skin. This is one my dad took me to, thinking it was funny with a capital “fun.” Bad call, Dad. I couldn’t sleep without the lights on for weeks. It ain’t no Galaxy Quest.

The Cabin in the Woods, 2012

Joss Whedon co-wrote this with the supertalented Drew Goddard (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Cloverfield), who also directed. Produced by the long-troubled MGM, this one fell between the cracks and ended up on the shelf. Fortunately, Lionsgate picked it up, and it has an April 2012 release date. A group of teens go into a cabin in the woods to party—I don’t need to tell you that’s a bad idea. But in classic Whedonesque style, this movie doesn’t just have fun with the genre, it blows it up. Deconstruction is kid stuff—this one delves deep into the psychology behind the universal need to confront evil. The turns it takes are pretty mind-boggling, and the end of the movie is truly demented. You’ll still be laughing, but nervously.

Zombieland, 2009

This recent hit grabs you from the opening list of “rules” on how to survive in a post-apocalyptic world (“enjoy the little things,” “cardio”), as seen through the eyes of Jesse Eisenberg’s character—a slightly OCD geek. It’s visually bold, genuinely funny, and features great performances from the entire cast, which includes Emma Stone in one of her first major roles. It has a breezy self-awareness, making fun of horror-movie clichés while managing to be downright eerie at times. And Bill Murray’s cameo is delicious. Assuming you’re hungry for brains.