It is not unreasonable to say that all horror filmmakers have the best intentions, crafting experiences that leave audiences shaking in their seats. At the same time, others aim for comedy by merging two genres, exemplified by films like Evil Dead 2 or Shaun 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 rather than their originally 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 that will bring you back to watching VHS tapes in the wood-paneled-lined basement with your friends (yes, I am that old of a horror nerd).
Why You Should Trust Me: I have been watching horror films for over three decades now and writing about them for over a decade. Here at MovieWeb, horror lists and features have been one of my primary focuses.
‘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 experiments result in Susan giving birth to a bizarre, insect-like creature that then terrorizes Don and Fred.
Things makes Manos: The Hands of Fate look like Apocalypse Now in 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 of Things on the back burner, instead highlighting the awkward dialogue, poor visual quality due to ineptitude, subpar monster design, and nonsensical plot development. Things goes beyond the so bad it’s good’ label, becoming an unintentional comedy in its complete ineptitude. Leaning on Canadian stereotypes of beer-guzzling hosers does not hurt either.
‘Devil Story’ (1986)
Devil Story starts 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.
Devil Story may have the most confusing plot in a horror movie ever. Still, this seems unintentional, and the purpose is certainly to shock, as the opening scene depicts a brutal killing spree before the narrative devolves 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 an infinite-ammo shotgun, firing hundreds of shots over the film’s runtime. You will never laugh harder at a nazi having his face kicked off by a horse. Devil Story is a strange horror movie that is 100% comedic gold.
‘Crawlspace’ (1986)
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 of travel through the building’s air ducts, Karl begins stalking his most recent resident, who becomes the first to fight back against the violent landlord.
At face value, Crawlspace is a decent horror flick. However, those familiar with Klaus Kinski, both as an actor and as a persona, will likely find this movie more comedic. One of the most recognizable and eccentric actors ever, Klaus Kinski, playing a stalker who uses air ducts and a trolley to get from point A to point 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 expected bravado, despite the role’s silliness.
‘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-turned-studio to focus solely on the upcoming album. Yet, the group and their girlfriends soon discover that there are demons set on terrorizing them. As the bodies pile up, the band’s lead singer, John Triton, reveals he may be the only one destined to battle the demons.
The popularity of hair metal led to some questionable films throughout the 1980s, all of which featured a degree of unintentional humor alongside unchecked machismo. Yet Rock ’n’ Roll Nightmare stands above the rest with its awkward dialogue, shoddy monster design, and overall ineptitude. 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.
‘Chopping Mall’ (1986)
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. 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 ends up coming face-to-face with the killer robots after their planned overnight party in a furniture store makes them a primary target.
Here is one flick that some might argue is a horror-comedy at its core, yet the movie maintains a serious tone throughout, aside from a handful of visual gags sitting outside the horror elements, which makes us beg to differ. Instead, Chopping Mall highlights the shortcomings of B-movie predictions about future tech, with its “killer robots” perhaps feeling futuristic on release but now about as intimidating as a bucket strapped to a remote-controlled car with a knife taped on. In effect, the movie has become an accidental comedy, asking viewers to buy into an automated threat that seems like it could be defeated by a blanket or simply running around a few sharp corners.
‘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 makes 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 Le (yes, with one E) 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 that it feels as if the whole film was a build-up to a single joke; it needs to be seen to be believed.
‘Lady Terminator’ (1989)
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.
Beyond the initial setup, the bulk of Lady Terminator is a knock-off of 1984’s The 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 than The Terminator, as it leans less on sci-fi and instead relies on black magic as the driving force behind the ruthless killer known as the Lady Terminator.
‘Rawhead Rex’ (1987)
An ancient pagan deity, the titular Rawhead Rex, is accidentally reawakened 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 deadly Rawhead Rex after a series of killings, including that of his son.
Rawhead Rex has 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 every regard. There is a lot of unintentional comedy throughout, particularly when Rawhead Rex is on-screen, as the monster seems goofier than terrifying. The delivery of the dialogue also creates a lot of humor. Rawhead Rex has remained a cult hit not because it nails horror, but because it is an accidental comedy.
There are plenty of 80s horror movies that unintentionally became comedies. Make sure you let us know which of your favorite horror-turned-accidental comedies are from the 80s.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
