I love watching horror movies, especially around Halloween, but sometimes I don’t want an edge-of-my-seat thriller that keeps me terrified for two hours. That’s when I turn to campy horror: the same haunting premise but so silly that it doesn’t scare me.
There are so many great campy horror movies out there, but these are some of my favorites. From singing space aliens to Frankenstein twists, these are guaranteed to give you a laugh just as much as they give you a spook.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)
My first pick, of course, is “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” This cult classic was industry-defining and features some of the earliest representations of LGBTQ+ characters seen on screen. This movie follows Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon) as they encounter a mansion full of strange characters that don’t quite seem to belong in this world. Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) welcomes Brad and Janet into his house as he debuts his newest creation. This is a musical, but a musical anyone can get behind while we all do the time warp again.
“Killer Klowns from Outer Space” (1988)
As a comet crashes in a small town, Mike (Grant Cramer) and Debbie (Suzanne Snyder) discover aliens that closely resemble clowns. They quickly try to warn local authorities, who laugh them off thinking it’s a prank. It’s up to these two teens to infiltrate the circus tent of these Killer Klowns and stop them before they can harvest and eat everyone in town. This movie feels like a grotesque circus come to life, and it’s perfect for a not-so-scary movie night with friends.
“Lisa Frankenstein” (2024)
The most recent movie on this list sees the titular Lisa Frankenstein (Kathryn Newton) reanimating her crush — who just happens to be a corpse. The Creature (Cole Sprouse) and Lisa get revenge on those who hurt Lisa and happen to harvest some body parts for The Creature to use along the way. This movie feels like a cross between “Heathers” and “Beetlejuice” in the best possible way. “Lisa Frankenstein” should have been an instant cult classic, but I’m sure it will get its flowers eventually.
“Frankenhooker” (1990)
Keeping with the Frankenstein adaptations, “Frankenhooker” is the definition of a campy horror movie and is widely regarded as one of the best Black comedies of all time. Jeffrey Franken (James Lorinz) loses his wife Elizabeth Shelley (Patty Mullen) in a lawnmower accident. Preserving just her head, Franken turns to the red-light district and develops a “super cocaine” that causes anyone who uses it to explode. He uses this method to harvest body parts from hookers so that he can bring his wife back to life. This movie is a hilarious must-watch.
“What We Do in the Shadows” (2014)
This mockumentary follows four vampire housemates as they interact with humans while trying to find people to feed on and learn about the wonders of modern technology. Viago (Taika Waititi), Vladislav (Jemaine Clement), Deacon (Jonny Brugh) and Petyr (Ben Fransham) welcome Nick (Cori Gonzales-Macuer) into their ranks and adapt to undead life in modern-day New Zealand. If you love this movie just as much as I did, there’s a television show by the same name that is just as fun.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Photo courtesy of IMDb.