The Daily Beasts
For theme projects (like #Kaijuly, #Mocktoberfest, and #SeasonsBeatings—for example),
a new film/show is profiled every day by a different writer.
TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL (2010)
Director Eli Craig’s film flips the script and reveals the inherent absurdity of many horror tropes—while creating genuine characters that are more than just jokes.
HIGH SPIRITS (1988)
A look at Neil Jordan’s star-studded Irish ghost story that had lots of wackiness and a few sexy hijinks.
FULL MOON HIGH (1981)
Matt Wedge finds some strong gags, and some incredibly dated bits, in Larry Cohen’s spoof.
PARENTS (1989)
Bob Balaban’s dark dive into adolescent dread isn’t necessarily “funny ha-ha”, but absolutely bonkers and well worth watching.
ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE (2017)
Michael Scott talks about ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE - a romcom, coming-of-age story, Holiday movie, zombie film, and a musical all in one delightful experience.
SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004)
Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright’s zombie comedy explores the comforts and confines of routine.
AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (1981)
“Have you ever talked to a corpse? It’s boring!” Griffin Dunne’s Undead BFF is the beating heart of the seminal horror comedy film.
PSYCHO BEACH PARTY (2000)
Nichole Goble writes about the film with a little bit of surfing, a little bit of slashing, and a whole lot of sass that kicks sand in the face of gender norms.
THEATRE OF BLOOD (1973)
A terrific film that finds Vincent Price having the time of his life ending the lives of his critics in deliciously Shakespearean fashion.
ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (1993)
Nicole Agosto looks at the delightfully demented sequel that finds everyone’s favorite family of freaks taking on the true monsters with hilarity and style.
FREAKY (2020)
Director and co-writer Christopher Landon’s big twist isn’t the high concept but the relatable characters found in his hilarious and gory slasher.
THE DEAD DON’T DIE (2019)
Like most unique efforts, Jim Jarmusch’s film may not be for everyone—but it certainly cannot be quickly forgotten.
BEETLEJUICE (1988)
The Burtoniest movie that ever Burtoned, Rafael Ruiz looks at the many delightful ways that BEETLEJUICE remains as hilarious and haunting today as ever.
SLITHER (2006)
James Gunn’s 2006 sci-fi/horror/comedy film combines genetic strands of aliens/zombies/bodyhorror to incredible and hilarious effect.
WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (2013)
A perfect re-creation of ‘80s aesthetics and experiences add to the humor and the dread found in the analog horror of 2013’s WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL.
DAFFY DUCK’S QUACKBUSTERS (1988)
Andy Vanderbilt on how this Looney Tunes film—compiling some of the best classic horror themed cartoons, plus two new shorts—is equally hilarious and a loving tribute to the genre.
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (2014)
Kevin Sparrow examines how the 2014 vampire mockumentary tackles masculinity while retaining its incredible sense of humor.
ONE CUT OF THE DEAD (2017)
#Mocktoberfest2021 keeps the camera rolling with Natanael Martin looking at the brilliant twists and hilarious turns of Shin'ichirô Ueda's 2017 film. (Spoilers abound: go see this movie already!)
BLOODBATH AT THE HOUSE OF DEATH (1984)
Horror spoof BLOODBATH AT THE HOUSE OF DEATH has haunted Rob Dean for 33 years. He finally confronts this ghost of the past and finds…not much more than hot air.