If you’re a fan of horror-comedy and meta-horror films like The Cabin in the Woods, you’re in for a treat. This genre blends scares with laughs, often offering a clever twist on traditional horror tropes. Here are 16 movies that capture the same spirit.
1. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
This film flips the script on the classic hillbilly horror trope. Starring Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine, it follows two well-meaning hillbillies who are mistaken for killers by a group of college students.
2. Scream
Directed by Wes Craven, Scream is a self-aware slasher that deconstructs horror movie clichés. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette.
3. The Final Girls
This movie combines horror and comedy with a heartfelt twist. Taissa Farmiga and Malin Åkerman star in this story about a group of friends who get sucked into a 1980s slasher film.
4. Shaun of the Dead
A brilliant mix of comedy and horror, this film stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Directed by Edgar Wright, it follows a man trying to survive a zombie apocalypse.
5. Evil Dead II
A sequel and a remake, Evil Dead II is a cult classic directed by Sam Raimi. Bruce Campbell stars as Ash, who battles demonic forces in a remote cabin.
6. Happy Death Day
This film is a horror twist on Groundhog Day, starring Jessica Rothe. She plays a college student who relives the day of her murder until she can identify the killer.
7. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
A mockumentary that explores the making of a slasher film, this movie stars Nathan Baesel and Angela Goethals. It offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at horror.
8. The Babysitter
Directed by McG, this film is a blend of horror and dark comedy. Starring Samara Weaving and Judah Lewis, it follows a young boy who discovers his babysitter is part of a satanic cult.
9. What We Do in the Shadows
A hilarious mockumentary about vampire roommates, directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. The film stars Waititi, Clement, and Jonathan Brugh.
10. You’re Next
This home invasion horror film has a darkly comedic edge. Starring Sharni Vinson and directed by Adam Wingard, it features a family under attack by masked assailants.
11. The Cabin Fever
Directed by Eli Roth, this film combines body horror with humor. Starring Rider Strong and Jordan Ladd, it follows a group of friends who fall victim to a flesh-eating virus.
12. Zombieland
A horror-comedy road movie starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin. The film depicts survivors navigating a zombie apocalypse.
13. The Frighteners
Directed by Peter Jackson, this film stars Michael J. Fox as a man who can communicate with the dead. It blends horror and comedy with a ghostly twist.
14. Slither
A blend of horror and dark comedy, this film is directed by James Gunn. Starring Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth Banks, it follows a small town overrun by alien parasites.
15. Housebound
This New Zealand horror-comedy stars Morgana O’Reilly as a woman under house arrest who suspects her family home is haunted. Directed by Gerard Johnstone, it offers a unique twist on the haunted house genre.
16. The Loved Ones
An Australian horror film with dark comedic elements, directed by Sean Byrne. Starring Xavier Samuel and Robin McLeavy, it follows a high school student who is abducted by a psychotic classmate.
