OH THE HORROR

You've all seen it. A group of young adults ride down the dirt road to free themselves from the responsibilities of civil living. This weekend they are going to party in the countryside! That is the basic premise to a number of horror films.

The idea of being outside the comfort of city and suburban comforts preys on the reliance of modern securities. No phones. No neighbors. No one to respond to your screams that echo off the still waters and trees surrounding you. That's why these movies resonate so much despite the trope overstaying its welcome. And still we love them. We love our Jason Voorhees and inbred slashers with the increasingly gory mess they make with people who had no business venturing into the woods.

This love has opened up the avenue for wonderful horror comedies, which are often overlooked. These films border on parody with the shared plot points and recycled beats from every other horror but the ones that get it right, really get it right.

The Cabin In the Woods

Cabin in the Woods is clever. The setting of the cabin in the woods is prominent among so many films and often littered with unlikable post-teens making increasingly stupid decisions that leads to their demise. This film starts off strong building real characters with goals and conflicts they hope to overcome, before ever stepping foot in the solitary forest. The characters are likable and intelligent. But that's why the film gets interesting. Behind the scenes of this weekend trip in an unassuming cabin, is a high tech agency charged with the task of sacrificing these kids to appease an ancient god. For the agency, it's just another day in the office as they use tricks and traps to persuade the main crew to make increasingly bad choices that would lead to their deaths. Without giving away too much, the payoffs are beyond satisfying for any horror lover.

Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil

Do you ever think about what the hillbillies are going through? No, you only think about yourself. Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil is a hilarious reversal of the protagonist's roles. Centered around two country boys, the duo buy themselves a run down cabin in the woods to renovate into a summer home. They are humble, down to earth country folk trying to build something better for themselves when they encounter a group of college students who found their way into the area.

The way simple interactions are misconstrued to convince the college students that they are up against a team of murderous hillbillies becomes increasingly absurd and hilarious. Each misunderstanding ultimately leading to the accidental death of person after person. The deaths are equally hysterical as they are gruesome. My favorite among the bunch, this is the film you have to see.

Ash Vs. Evil Dead

The biggest franchise turn around must be The Evil Dead Series. What started out as a generic cabin in the woods story with a semi-sequel that amped up the humor, and continued into a third movie beyond absurd with time travel and robotic hands. Ash Williams made his way onto the silver screen with 3 seasons of Ash Vs. Evil Dead.

After saving the world in the films, Ash finds himself working in a department store; dishonored, disrespected, and drunk. But once again is called to stop the evil forces that want to possess and take over the world again. Each season maintaining its own continuous plot with an assortment of likable characters, all bound to Bruce Campbell's slapstick performance covered in buckets of blood. You love to see him struggle and get the snot knocked out of him, while simultaneously rooting to see how he'll get out of the mess he continuously finds himself in. Will he win by using his boom-stick (shotgun) or his chainsaw hand (an actual attachment for his amputated hand) or by some other wonderfully wild opportunity that always seems to present itself at the right time? Additionally, the supporting cast builds a great dynamic, letting the characters play off one another authentically despite the stakes they are fighting for. The only thing landing harder than the punches are the jokes. This is one of those series that will have you quoting it over and over.

For once, you're rooting for the good guys because you see the obstacles in a new way, rather than waiting for Jason to machete the next couple having premarital sex. The common theme among all these films/shows is their understanding of horror. Knowing what makes sense and what is absurd from the start allows them to lean in and create something so wonderful that develops further than what horror movies tend to do on their own. If you love horror, you have to check these out.