Over Christmas I began going over potential plots for my feature script, I knew from the start that I wanted to go for the black comedy genre as many of my favourite films are part of that genre. My interest in horror also began to play a major part in my thought process, and I began to rewatch my favourite examples of horror-comedies for inspiration into the tone I wanted to capture. I rewatched The Cottage (Williams, 2008) and began to take notes on how both the comedic and horror-centric aspects were focused on, and how the two fused together. For example, within the film Peter (Rheece Shearsmith) is often the victim of horrifically gory wounds that leave him soaked in blood and add texture and tension to his movements within the horror aspect of the film, however these wounds are usually the subject of slapstick antics and provide the majority of the physical comedy within the film (the rest of which comes from the back-and-forth dialogue between the bickering brother protagonists).

 

I then rewatched Tucker and Dale Vs Evil (Craig, 2010) which feels more like a straight comedy despite adhering to common horror genre tropes. The slapstick physical comedy was present again, though once more presented in a gorier and darker fashion as much of the substance from the ‘horror comedy’ genre seems the be the playfulness filmmakers have messing with the contrast of the two genres and smashing them together.

 

Then finally I rewatched what myself and many consider to be one of the pinnacles of the subgenre, Shaun of the Dead (Wright, 2004). The slapstick element, whilst still present in certain moments, is less relied-upon here. Instead the majority of the comedy within the film’s script come from the characters and their interactions/reactions to their situation. Having Shaun & Edd (Pegg & Frost) act as a catalyst for group of characters around them maintains a solid tone and flow throughout the entire film before the final act, when the film’s plot and tone seem to darken and overshadow the comedy a bit more. The horror aspect is mostly just kept to appearances with the presence of zombies, and certain tropes are poked fun at and used well (the movement of a mirror to show a zombie in the background, for example). Even though these are used to good effect, in the same way as the other two texts I watched I found myself more engrossed in the interactions of the characters. Each film I watched contained a central duo (almost always male) to guide the film through its premise and I think that’s something I want to include within my outline as it would give me a good platform to stage the comedic element of my film.

Bibliography:

Craig, E. (dir.) (2010) Tucker and Dale Vs Evil [DVD]. Magnet Releasing.

Williams, P. (dir.) (2008) The Cottage [DVD]. Pathe Pictures.

Wright, E. (dir.) (2004) Shaun of the Dead [DVD]. Universal Pictures.