The Rise of Horror Comedy Films
Recently, I watched a movie called Heart Eyes.
Initially, I thought it was going to be a serious horror film, but as I continued watching, I found myself laughing.
I paused for a moment and thought, Wait a minute… is this a comedy or a horror film?
That’s when I realized…
It was both.
Tonight, I plan to watch another film, The Monkey, which is also being marketed as a horror-comedy.
I’m excited about this trend because the rise of horror-comedy films is something unique and refreshing.
But why does this genre work so well?
Why Horror-Comedy Works
We don’t love too much intensity.
A while back, Arnold Schwarzenegger made an observation about action films.
People didn’t enjoy too much non-stop fighting because it became exhausting.
He learned that introducing humor in the middle of action scenes helped reel audiences back in.
Jackie Chan made a similar observation.
Incorporating comedy into his fight choreography provided a breather in between scenes.
Humor serves as a pattern interrupt.
This applies to public speaking, social interactions, and especially content creation.
People don’t want to be constantly scared without a break.
Instead, they enjoy brief comedic moments that break the tension.
This balance between fear and laughter keeps audiences engaged.
Horror-Comedy: A Fresh Take in a Stagnant Industry
Another reason horror-comedy films are thriving is that Hollywood has lost much of its creative spark.
The industry has become saturated with endless remakes and sequels.
The audience craves something new.
Horror-comedies provide that originality.
Many films are strictly categorized as comedy, horror, action, or drama.
But when filmmakers combine these elements…creating horror-comedy…it results in something unexpected.
People love discovering and sharing new things, and when a film defies traditional genres, it becomes a talking point.
After watching Heart Eyes, I found myself telling others about it, emphasizing how unique it was.
What Content Creators Can Learn from Horror-Comedy
One of the biggest takeaways for content creators is that it’s never too late to experiment.
The movie industry has existed for decades, and even though it has relied on tried-and-true formulas, it’s now embracing innovation by merging different genres.
We’ve seen this before with dramedy (drama-comedy) in shows like Beef on Netflix, and now we have horror-comedy or “horromedy.”
I just made that up lol.
Experimentation is key to content creation.
You can’t afford to rest on your laurels.
Failure is part of the process, but if you keep experimenting, eventually, you’ll discover something that resonates with your audience.
Maintaining a ‘Day One’ mentality allows you to take creative risks that lead to breakthroughs.
Watch More Horror-Comedies
I’m still exploring horror-comedy films myself, but if you’re interested in checking out the genre, I highly recommend Heart Eyes.
Some viewers compared it to Scream, so that might also be a good one to watch.
If The Monkey turns out to be a horror-comedy, I’ll be adding it to my list as well.
As you watch these films, ask yourself: How do I feel while consuming this content? Am I enjoying it? If so, why?
Engaging with content on a deeper level helps you understand what makes it successful.
And when you analyze it, you’re more likely to apply those lessons to your own creative work.
If you want more insights into content creation and narrative-building, check out The Art and Science of Storytelling
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