Anna and the Apocalypse
Out of all the genres out there, horror, comedy and musical are by far my three favorites. So, it’s no wonder a film that combined all three would be one of my all-time favorites. This 2018 film, based on the short film Zombie Musical, follows a group of high schoolers who must fight to survive after a zombie apocalypse breaks out right before Christmas. Along with being a fun horror comedy, Anna and the Apocalypse is also just a good musical as well, to the point that some people I know who don’t like horror movies have enjoyed this movie. Along with that, the cast is charming, the practical effects look great and the comedy is very funny.
Anna and the Apocalypse is currently available to stream on Shudder, Tubi and Roku.
Cold Storage
Based on the book by Jurassic Park and Spider-Man screenwriter David Koepp, who also provided the screenplay, Cold Storage stars Joe Keery (Stranger Things) and Georgina Campbell (Barbarian) as two workers at a storage facility as a fungus breaks loose that, if infected, turns you into a zombie and eventually causes you to explode. Along with them, Liam Neeson (Taken) plays a retired government agent trying to stop the fungus from spreading. Full of over-the-top splatter and charming performances, all tied together by a delightfully campy tone, Cold Storage is one of the most underappreciated films of this year so far. It may sometimes borrow from other stories, but what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in sheer enjoyment.
Cold Storage is currently available to stream on MGM+, Kanopy, Hoopla, Fubo and Philo.
Deadstream
Over the last few years, this found footage film about a disgraced content creator who live streams himself in a haunted house in an attempt to get his following back has become one of my all-time favorite horror comedies. Joseph Winter (who also co-wrote/directed the movie with his wife, Vanessa Winter) delivers a hysterical performance as the cowardly YouTuber, chewing the scenery at every possible moment, yet still managing to feel authentic. The film also features some great practical monster effects, clever usage of the found footage format, an awesome synth score and some solid social commentary on influencer culture. Overall, Deadstream is one of the most entertaining horror comedies to come out in recent years, serving as a love letter to films like Evil Dead II with a nice dark sense of humor and a few great gross-out scares.
Deadstream is currently available to watch on Netflix, Shudder, AMC+, Hoopla and Philo.
Haunt
Directed by A Quiet Place screenwriters Scott Beck and Bryan Wood, Haunt is a slasher film that follows a group of friends on Halloween who decide to enter a sketchy haunted house, only for them to begin getting picked off one by one by masked characters. A serial killer in a haunted house is already a great premise, and even though it has been done similarly in films like Hell Fest and Funhouse, this is definitely one of the better films to tackle this idea. It uses the haunted house location creatively to create some memorable scares, made better by some outstanding set design and colorful lighting choices. Overall, Haunt is a sweet Halloween treat for slasher fans looking for a tense, well-made flick to get them in the mood for the season.
Haunt is currently available to stream on Tubi, Shudder, AMC+, Hoopla, Kanopy, Fandango at Home, Fawesome, Howdy, Lionsgate+, Philo, Plex and Roku.
Oddity
Oddity might be the film that scared me the most on this list. Following a blind psychic who visits the house her sister was murdered in to help piece the story together, this Irish horror mystery from Hokum and Caveat director Damian McCarthy is a very elegantly made movie that masterfully builds up a dread-inducing atmosphere to create an unforgettable experience. Carolyn Bracken gives an unforgettable performance as the lead and the supporting cast around her gives it their all. The script is also brilliantly written, full of twists and turns that completely caught me off guard on my first viewing and continues to creep me out upon rewatch to this day. The cinematography uses shadows and moonlight well to create a gorgeous but eerie visual style that is effectively used to create some of the best scares in the film. Oddity may have flown under the radar upon release, but it nonetheless remains one of my top twenty horror films of all time.
Oddity is currently available to stream on Hulu, Shudder, AMC+, Hoopla, Kanopy and Philo.
Pontypool
One of the most unique modern zombie movies I’ve ever seen, this Canadian film based on the book Pontypool Changes Everything follows a radio host and his crew stuck inside their station in a small, snowy town as word comes in of a zombie outbreak happening outside. In a subgenre as oversaturated as zombie movies, Pontypool manages to find an inventive new way to bring these creatures to the big screen through outstanding storytelling and worldbuilding. Along with that, you’ve got some great actors, a dark sense of humor and an ominous atmosphere to bring it all together and create what might be one of, if not the most, underappreciated zombie films to ever grace the silver screen.
Pontypool is currently available to stream on Philo.
Slaxx
Who would’ve thought a movie about murderous pants would be this entertaining? Slaxx is a Canadian horror comedy that follows a group of staff at a trendy clothing store who must fight for their lives when a pair of jeans comes to life and starts to pick them off one by one. Slaxx features everything you’d want out of this concept. Funny satire, over-the-top kill scenes with great practical effects, some hilarious puppetry for the killer clothing, surprisingly heartfelt social commentary and a charming cast. Running at a mere hour and 17 minutes, Slaxx is a quick, campy good time featuring a great performance from Brett Donahue as an unhinged manager.
Slaxx is currently available to stream on Shudder, Tubi, AMC+, Hoopla, Pluto TV and Philo.
Slay
What happens when you put a group of drag queens against vampires? Well, Slay answers that question. The plot follows a group of drag queens who accidentally book a rural biker bar as they must band together with the patrons and staff to fight off vampires as they invade the building. This is one of the campiest horror films I’ve ever seen, and I love it for that, which is rare for a Tubi original film. The four leads have immaculate chemistry together and help provide a lot of the great heart and humor this film has to offer. The story is well-paced and features a surprisingly heartfelt story about identity and overcoming bigotry. The fight sequences are extravagant in the best ways possible and left me grinning from ear to ear. This is just a delightfully queer horror comedy that fans of drag will absolutely get a kick out of.
Slay is currently available to stream on Tubi.
Stagefright
The oldest film on this list, Stagefright (also sometimes referred to as Deliria and Aquarius), is a 1987 slasher film from Italy that follows the cast and crew of a play as their rehearsals are interrupted by a homicidal killer in an owl mask. This is one of the great non-franchise slasher films out there, and it’s obviously inspired by the works of giallo filmmakers like Dario Argento (Suspiria, Deep Red), whom filmmaker Michele Soavi was an assistant director for before this film. Overall, Stagefright is one of the best slasher films to come out of the 80s slasher craze that features some great kill sequences, a fun cast to watch, well-utilized set pieces, a VERY 80s musical score and some stylish cinematography.
Stagefright is currently available to stream on Tubi, Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Fandor, Fawesome, Philo, PlutoTV, Night Flight, Midnight Pulp and Screambox.
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
This horror comedy that follows a pair of friends vacationing in the woods who save a girl from drowning, only for her friends to think they’ve kidnapped her, is one of the clever horror comedies to come out in recent years, and probably one of the funniest miscommunication comedies ever made. The script takes pre-established horror tropes and flips them on their head to create a very fun experience for fans of the genre and newcomers alike. Mix that with some great chemistry between its two titular characters, fun over-the-top kills and a surprisingly smart script, and you have one of the funniest horror films I’ve ever seen.
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is currently available to stream on Tubi, Hoopla, Kanopy, Fandango at Home, Roku, Philo, Magnolia Selects, DistroTV Monsters & Nightmares and Warriors & Gangsters.
Nathaniel Sherwood can be contacted at
nathaniel.sherwood@keene.edu
