Let’s face it. When a scary scene comes up on screen, many of us are most likely to cover our eyes with our hands—and just peep through the fingers. But add in a dash of humour, some witty one-liners and a bit of irreverence, and it’s better somehow. Fortunately, for the fraidy-cats, the horror-comedy genre is a boon, letting them jump at the scares but enjoy the fun ride nonetheless. From zombie comedies to light ghostly entertainment, here are some movies on OTT platforms that deftly combine the two genres to leave you frightened and tickled at the same time.
Stree (2018)
If you watch Rajkummar Rao in the scene where he is being instructed to look at the female spirit with all the love he can muster up, you will be scared to death, but there’s no way you would be able to control your laughter either. The film, which also stars Shraddha Kapoor, is based on an Indian folk legend of a female spirit named Stree, who abducts men at night and only leaves their clothes behind. Some sharply written lines and crackling performances by Pankaj Tripathi and Abhishek Banerjee will keep you entertained and scared in equal measure.
Streaming on Netflix and Disney + Hotstar
Zombieland (2009)
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There’s a whole lot of gore and a whole lot of wicked fun in this zombie comedy that sees a college kid meeting three strangers and taking a road trip through a zombie apocalypse to find a safe place. The film was critically and commercially acclaimed, owing much of its success to the plot that remained focused on the zombies, but also managed to throw in some absolutely funny scenarios and lines. Bill Murray’s cameo—originally written for Patrick Swayze—was singled out for attention by a number of critics for being outrageously original and funny.
Streaming on Netflix
Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)
Ghostly occurrences start taking place in an ancestral palace; and it’s believed to be the spirit of Manjulika, a Bengali dancer, haunting the mansion. When psychiatrist Aditya Shrivastav (Akshay Kumar) enters, he is seen clearly enjoying himself as he tries to solve the mystery behind the happenings. Some eccentric characters, an entertaining plot line and a psychological mystery make this official remake of the 1993 Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu a must-watch.
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Streaming on Netflix
Ghostbusters (1984)
Although more than three decades old, this supernatural comedy film is a cult classic we can never get enough of. Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis as parapsychologists who start a ghost-catching business in town, the film went on to become a cultural phenomenon for its clever blend of action, comedy and horror. It is also listed in Steven Jay Schneider's 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. Do you need any more reasons to watch this one?
Streaming on Netflix
The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
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In his directorial debut, Drew Goddard managed to do what many others before him couldn’t—turn the splatter-formula on its head and give the horror genre a makeover with a completely fresh concept. Starring Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth and Anna Hutchison among others, the plot follows a group of college students who head to a remote forest cabin and start falling prey to zombies. It’s guaranteed to make you gasp in horror and chuckle at the smartly-written lines, often at the same time. Now that’s a feat not many movies can claim to achieve.
Streaming on Netflix
Goa Goa Gone (2013)
Touted as India’s first zom-com, this slacker comedy about three buddies vacationing in Goa only to find themselves amidst zombies, was a sleeper hit of the year. Who can forget Saif Ali Khan as the gun-toting, blond-haired Delhiite masquerading as the Russian mafioso Boris, and spewing dialogues like ‘I kill dead people’? While the second half does go into a spiral towards the end, some explosive one-liners and sharp editing makes this a fun watch.
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Streaming on Voot Select
Dark Shadows (2012)
In Tim Burton’s fantasy horror-comedy, Johnny Depp is cursed to eternal suffering and be a vampire, only to wake up two centuries later in a new world. While the stand-off between him and the witch who cursed him (Eva Green) offers enough gothic spookiness for vampire-lovers, there’s also some sparkling wit with Helena Bonham Carter joining in the madness.
Streaming on Netflix
Warm Bodies (2013)
A zombie film with a whole lot of romance and humour thrown in? Why not! Told from a zombie’s perspective, which in itself is rare, this one has its heart in the right place—with the message being that at the end, it’s human connection that saves us. Even amidst the more-than-grisly circumstances, the leads, played by Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer, have a lovely chemistry.
Streaming on Netflix
Also read:
6 Indian horror shows you can watch on Zee5, Disney+ Hotstar and Netflix if you liked Betaal
7 shows you can finish watching overnight on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar
