It's very difficult for me to pinpoint my ten favorite horror movies of all time, as there are so many factors to consider. I would very likely have to make it a top 50 or even more. So, I'm taking a sub-genre and making a top 10 list of Horror movies that feature a good dose of comedic elements, either intentional or not.
10. Dead Alive - Before Peter Jackson was directing epic fantasy trilogies, he was a low-budget king of gross out films. This, his homage to the zombie genre features such lines as "I kick arse for the Lord" from a priest and fake blood pumped out at 5 gallons per second for the infamous "lawnmower scene." Note: Dead Alive is the U.S. title for the film. Peter Jackson's original title is "Braindead."
9. The Abominable Dr Phibes - Earns its place on the list for its over the top performance by genre icon Vincent Price as well as the allusions the film's killings makes to the 10 biblical plagues. I remember seeing this movie first when I was very young and I refused to go to sleep one night. I didn't know at the time who Vincent Price was nor his impact on horror movies. This movie gets better as I age.
8. Creepshow - The synthesis project of Stephen King and George A. Romero, this anthology film features excellent writing and plenty of funny moments. A special place in my heart goes to this film for being shot in the "Zombie Capital of the World," my hometown, Pittsburgh. The short animated sequences that tie the stories together are cla ssic 80s cheesy goodness.
7. An American Werewolf in London - John Landis directed this cult cla ssic film that follows the now overused "American in Foreign Country" set up that films like Hostel and Turistas used. This film features less comedy than some of the films in either direction on this list, but it allowed director Landis to pad his resume after critical successes like "Kentucky Fried Movie" and "National Lampoon's Animal House." It was Werewolf that convinced Michael Jackson to hire Landis todirect the greatest music video of all time, "Thriller."
6. Re-Animator - The cult star vehicle for character actor Jeffrey Combs, this H.P. Lovecraft short story turned low budget horror comedy rightfully has a solid spot on the list. While it features plenty of gory moments and a common "mad doctor" theme that permeates the horror genre, the real highlight of the movie is Jeffery Combs. He made a name for himself among the horror afficianado. Combs went on to star in two more Re-Animator movies and a slew of character and recurring roles in 3 Star Trek series.
Tomorrow: Films 5 through 1