Ghostbusters is one of the most revered horror comedies of all time. Sharply written, perfectly cast, and a glorious time capsule, it’s a pop-culture staple. However, that combination has proven considerably hard to reproduce. Certainly within its own franchise, where sequels have consistently failed expectations, let alone by comparison to the original.
That film cleverly subverted genres and successfully indulged silly fun without getting out of hand. So, it can be difficult to find other movies that might quench fans’ thirst for more. Subjective as horror and comedy are, fitting snugly into the niche space in between is definitely challenging. Still, these movies might just fit the bill.
Casper
This charming little kid’s movie may be a tad dated, and perhaps not particularly sophisticated. The comedy and dialogue are meant to appeal to younger audiences, after all, but they still should. There’s definitely enough slapstick, something ghost-humor seems to naturally invite.
However, conversations about death are always difficult to traverse, certainly regarding kids. And this movie carefully explores such themes in interesting, digestible ways. It’s a tremendously sentimental story, and unexpectedly tragic. Ultimately, the film is somewhat underrated because of its lesser characteristics, when it’s just as easy to champion its positives.
Housebound
This quirky mystery toys with many familiar plotlines of the genre but finds the humor by grounding the paranormal in reality. It doesn’t aim to make audiences laugh out loud, but its idiosyncratic attitude is certainly playful. Traditional frights like clutched ankles and treacherous dolls are played for genuine jumps. And yet, in between, the everyday protagonists confront this sheer absurdity with amusing realism.
The lead is a typical rebellious teenager, but all the performances deliver as necessary. The pacing is a tad slow, and if the comedy wasn’t so subdued, the film would be more entertaining. But it’s still an enjoyable ride, for the most part.
Corpse Bride
Tim Burton has made some powerful films when firing on all cylinders. Even his lesser films always carry that distinctive voice and artistry, which makes his more popular hits so arresting. Unafraid of the macabre, this return to stop-motion animation encapsulates all of Burton’s strengths.
It’s unexpectedly touching, contrasted with the moody atmosphere and offbeat premise. Burton’s profound ability to find beauty among the dead and the strange is always surprisingly charming. Fortunately, the humor can be somewhat wacky, though the film is far more thematically mature than it needed to be.
Odd Thomas
Stephen Sommers consistently makes a very particular kind of movie, and he hasn’t directed much. He generally aims for schlocky fun, which is a difficult line to walk. But he abandoned that B-movie playfulness for this severely underrated gem.
The screenplay is definitely taut, a solid adaptation of Dean Koontz’s source material that provides the essentials. But most importantly, Sommers’ film luckily boasts Anton Yelchin as the protagonist. He absolutely carries the film throughout, capturing tender moments and selling exhilarating action sequences alike. The ESP approach might be rather familiar these days, but fundamentally, the film is all about the titular Thomas. And his endearing, unique character deserves more viewers.
Ghost Town
This is undoubtedly a Ricky Gervais comedy, through and through. Albeit without his trademark edge, since the film is PG-13, after all. But it plays to Gervais’ strengths, allowing him to play a profoundly awkward and aloof protagonist.
Essentially, the movie boils down to another exercise akin to Groundhog Day. A self-centered man with no affection for people undergoes some relentless punishment of fantasy that teaches him to improve. The banter between Gervais’ protagonist and the hounding ghosts that beg his help, generally works. The movie is structurally simple and by the numbers, but Gervais fans should be pleased.
Shaun Of The Dead
True, this particular entry doesn’t regard ghosts of any kind. But it does involve dead people, and there’s no denying the cultural impact of this brilliant classic. Like Ghostbusters, it has become utterly iconic and succeeds as both a genuine zombie movie and a witty comedy. Further, the winning chemistry among the cast is truly rare.
The Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy continued to cement Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as comedic giants. And yet, their bout with zombies has remained a career highlight. It’s a rollicking adventure with equal shares of heart, commentary, and laughs.
Army Of Darkness
Bruce Campbell’s indelible Ash has been a standard of exemplary horror-comedy since Sam Raimi’s original hit. It was an absolute shame to see the series end since it perfectly continued with the spirit of Raimi’s classic trilogy. But part three really put laughs at the forefront, leaning into fantasy more so than simple paranormal threats. There’s time travel, miniature assailants, and outright skeletons running amok.
This movie practically becomes a literal cartoon after the first half-hour or so, which might disappoint horror fans. But the unabashed sense of fun, playing in the horror sandbox, is addicting for those with the right expectations.
ParaNorman
This little oddity was surprisingly poignant and bold, tackling ESP in a uniquely grounded way. The story’s eventual twist on witchcraft is especially touching and like everything else here, rather bold for a kid’s movie. Familiar themes of loneliness, bullying, and feeling different are executed well nonetheless.
And there’s plenty of off-beat humor, so it ultimately amounts to The Sixth Sense with more laughs. Zombies are chased by humans, and the recent corpse of Norman’s relative refuses to let go of an essential clue. The film closely adheres to the conventional understanding of the ESP phenomenon in pop culture, but it’s consistently heartwarming and creative enough.
The Frighteners
Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films are spectacular, big-budget and Oscar-winning behemoths that even inspired multiple video games. So it should prove a fun surprise for his fans to revisit this small, outlandish comedy about ghosts. Michael J. Fox is entertaining as ever, and Jackson’s brash, eccentric humor is a great fit. Although Fox’s protagonist has ESP, he takes the surrounding weirdness in stride.
In fact, he takes advantage of it. The premise is a creative twist on similar themes, and Jackson’s personality is relentless. But the pathos remains sincere, as is the murder plot. The film fully commits to multiple attitudes, without losing balance and entertainment for even a moment.
Beetlejuice
This was yet another paranormal comedy from the ’80s that enjoyed slapstick hijinks, weirdness, and perpetual fame. Tim Burton makes the list once again with his hilarious twist on exorcisms and the afterlife. The film endures as an absolute curiosity, with bizarre jokes and delightfully dated special effects. It’s prime nostalgia, with an all-star ensemble cast that delivers throughout.
Michael Keaton’s iconic, boisterous portrayal is certainly infectious to watch. But more than anything, the film is superbly inventive and unapologetically Burton-esque. Perhaps no other film could approach the star-power, nifty plotting, and comedic creativity of Ghostbusters.
