Many people are drawn to horror movies because they like to be scared. The world of horror movies has changed a lot since the 1970s, when the first hugely popular films hit the silver screen across the United States. In other countries, there has been a high art attached to films designed to scare, dating back to the classic vampire film Nosfaratu. But in the States, the goal was to keep people jumping and screaming, even though some of these films were epic and well-made, and garnered many accolades.
However, whether it’s HDTV becoming so mainstream or something else, today’s horror movies are very gory and realistic in ways people never expected. There is very little to tell the difference between something like “Turistas” or “Hostel” and a realistic movie, and while the directors may be claiming that something else is actually going on, the reality is that moviegoers who aren’t into realistic, scary depictions of violence will likely be put off by the recent crop of horror films.
Fortunately, satellite TV makes it possible to sit at home and watch horror movies from years past. And one of the biggest reasons people watch scary movies is not to scream, but to laugh. This is because while horror movies try to scare people a lot, sometimes they unintentionally make them laugh at the same time. Whether that’s because the special effects are terrible, or because the acting is worse, that’s not the point.
For those who’d rather laugh than scream, here are the top five hilarious horror movies you’re likely to find on satellite television at some time of the day.
The Blob – The classic movie, in black and white, focuses on what happens when a giant blob begins to slowly eat a small town. Hilarious and campy, though the remake isn’t nearly as hilarious. Keep in mind that special effects were once at the top of their game, and wonder what horror movies will look like today in half a century.
The Creature From the Black Lagoon – This is one of the great creature movies, but unlike classic movies like “King Kong,” where you can’t quite tell it’s a costume, this amphibious creature looks all in the costume department. It was filmed at a whimsical children’s park in Florida, Silver Springs, where you can still ride glass-bottomed boats to this day.
Cutting Class – While Brad Pitt may now be a happy dad and more likely to appear on satellite television championing charitable contributions, he was once an aspiring actor who made a very bad choice: doing the “Cut Class.” A movie so horrible that it’s so funny, it centers on what happens when someone’s dad gets out of town – murders! problem! Definitely a must-see movie, though it’s by no means Pitt’s best movie.
Jerks – A classic from the ’80s you’re likely to find on satellite TV late at night on weekends. Fearsome creatures emerge from the land, and chaos unleashes. Just so you know how bad it gets, there are several sequels, and Kevin Bacon is working on one of them.
Basket Bag – The classic B movie could use its title as a metaphor, but it isn’t. It’s literally about a man who carries around his brother, who is a beast, in a little wicker basket.