In all honesty, no book nowadays fits in one genre. If it’s a fantasy novel, you’d find splashes of romance, mixed with instances of mystery and even sometimes horror. Such examples of blended stories have given birth to hybrid genres, where two genres are blended – sometimes completely, other times borrowing elements from both. And one of the most unique hybrid genres happens to be horror comedy!
What is Horror Comedy?
Horror Comedy is a pretty self-explanatory genre; it comprises books that combine elements of horror fiction and comedy. As a 50-50 split between horror and comedy could be difficult, these books are usually set in one genre while borrowing elements from the other. This translates to making a parody out of horror stereotypes or inserting some comic relief during genuine scary moments.
There is an element, however, that equally pertains to both genres, i.e. clowns. A clown is a staple of the comedy genre, especially children’s books. However, the usual comedic character turned into the stuff of everyone’s nightmare in the mid-20th century, thanks to DC’s Joker and Pennywise from Stephen King’s It. The impact of funny clowns turning evil was so vast that it gave rise to coulrophobia, meaning fear of clowns. The term itself appeared in the late 1990s, around the same time when evil clowns began picking up steam.
The fact that the clowns can exist and contribute in such vastly different spheres is evidence of how seamlessly horror and comedy can be blended.
Where Comedy and Horror Intersect…
Horror and Comedy are usually perceived to be on the extreme ends. However, if you think about it, horror is just one banana peel away from slipping into comedy. Whereas humour might just transform into horror once a ghost appears on the page. As American author, Robert Bloch, aptly puts it, horror and comedy are “opposite sides of the same coin.”
One of the noticeable points where both the genres intersect is building tension and releasing it at the right moment. In horror, authors craft tension with the help of elements such as a dark atmosphere, fast-paced but suspenseful narration, and mystery planted cleverly to increase anticipation. These elements work together to make the jump scare come induce fear in the readers.
In comedy, authors have to build up the tension, which is done in the form of setting up the joke. The release is brought in by a well-delivered punchline, guaranteed to make the readers laugh as a way to diffuse the tension. Both genres follow the same pattern to bring out the two most responsive emotions in the readers – fear and laughter.
According to American comedian and actor, Jordan Peele, “The difference between comedy and horror is the music.” When you translate his quote into novels, we can replace the music with the intent. You can utilise similar sentences in both genres, but the intent of that dialogue, and the emotion behind it will determine what you want to convey.
This brings us to the cathartic experience both genres deliver. Both horror and comedy work towards providing us with an emotional and psychological catharsis. While reading comedy, or watching it, for that matter, you get to enjoy genuine laughs, which release endorphins in your system and reduce stress. So, once you put down a good comedy work, you can forget about your stress and relax.
As for horror, its intent is to make you experience intense emotions, such as anxiety, dread, and fear. So, when the release finally comes – it is usually in the form of the protagonist destroying the source of terror – you are left with a feeling of catharsis. The entire experience is quite synonymous with being on a rollercoaster. You are anxious as you hurtle towards the top, but once the drop comes, those intense emotions dissipate into an exhilarating feeling.
On top of that, both genres have a pretty high tolerance for letting the author’s creativity go wild. The horror element can be twisted beyond imagination – imagine body horror as one of its extreme examples. Whereas comedy can stretch something absurd to its absolute extreme just to bring a smile to your face.
When Can Horror Comedy Go Wrong?
As could be the case with hybrid genres, blending horror and comedy together does prove to be difficult. And if it’s not done well, the story can go horribly awry in a matter of moments. The challenge, thus, lies in allowing both genres to co-exist naturally, without letting one hijacking the other’s presence.
A common problem seen in such books is the comic relief being planted in all the wrong places. Comedy relies on timing and pacing, with space later reserved for readers so they can let the joke wash over them. If it appears right when the tension for terror builds up, it not only deflates the suspense but also robs the readers of their deserved laughter. This disrupts the narrative’s goal, leaving you with a sense of frustration.
The same is true for the opposite! Fitting horror into a primarily comedic setting can ruin the joke the book spends considerable time setting up. If a jump scare or disturbing entity drops right when you’re supposed to laugh, the joke loses its potency. The readers are left stuck between whether to feel joy or terror.
These mutually-inclusive scenarios are even more prominent if the story itself is poorly structured. A weak narrative can cause tonal inconsistencies, mistimed humour (or horror) and an overall diluted emotional impact.
As observed above, writing horror comedy can be daunting. What it needs is a careful balance between the genres that promises to offer a unique and engaging experience to the readers!
Books to Read If You’re A Fan of Horror Comedy (Or Either of the Genres)
You may think that the horror-comedy genre is rare in literature – but that’s not the case at all! It’s surprisingly popular to spot in books, which are rife with impactful comedy and gut-wrenching terror. Here are a few books to indulge in if you’re eager to dive into the world of horror comedy!
- John Dies at the End – David Wong:
John Dies at the End Is a Lovecraftian-esque horror comedy series penned by David Wong. It is about two dudes – David and his friend, John who accidentally take the drug called ‘soy sauce’ that gives them powers to see creatures from another world. And so, they are tasked with saving their town and the Earth before the creatures take over.
The plot, however, is secondary to the reading experience it offers. The book is filled with juvenile humour, which juxtaposes nicely with stomach-churning violence and ensuing body horror. And the author manages to maintain this throughout the series, sealing the deal of being one of the quintessential horror-comedy examples!
- A Love Story – Christopher Moore:
Christopher Moore mixes horror and comedy together in his A Love Story series. But it’s far from what you’re imagining. It starts with Jody, the protagonist, turning into a vampire. She is trying to settle in her new life when she meets Thomas and immediately decides to use him as her personal errand boy(toy). But there’s nothing easy about their cross-species romance…
The resulting drama is riddled with vampire lore, budding romance, and a villain out for blood, quite literally. As a result, horror is present on par with comic elements, making the entire series come out funnier yet terrifying than romance. But, well, is it still a better love story than Twilight? Only one way to find out.
- Horrorstör– Grady Hendrix:
If you want a horror parody of IKEA, Grady Hendrix’s Horrorstör is for you! The story follows Amy, a retail worker at Orsk furniture superstore (IKEA, wink wink) who volunteers to pull off a night shift at her job. Why? Because, every morning, the employees come in to find smashed, shattered and broken furniture. What she – and two other employees – discover on their night shift is… scary, to say the least.
The book brings a delicious balance of comedy and horror. Admittedly, the standard formula of horror is applied – haunted places, vindictive ghosts, and wannabe-ghostbusters employees. But the contemporary setting of the knock-off IKEA tips the story more towards comedy, underlined by biting satire of the corporate retail world.
On top of that, the book is designed like an IKEA catalogue; each chapter is named after a piece of furniture and begins with that piece’s image and its quirky description. Horrorstör is definitely an experience in itself!
Final Words
In the mood for laughs, chills or a little bit of both? Horror comedy is the way to go! Both the genres do look like they’d make for some strange bedfellows. But together, it is a deft creative manoeuvre that makes the readers bounce between feelings of fear and joy. Even if you’re not a fan of this mix, all you have to do is read one to understand the absolutely thrilling experience horror comedy offers!
