Who said that at Halloween you must necessarily be frightened to have fun? Even a good laugh has its own reason, even during the scariest week of the year, and those who simply want not a horror story but narrative twists that can also pull off a laugh have landed on the right article. Those who don’t crave sleepless nights and jumpscare shivers for entertainment can safely explore the horror-comedy genre, where the classic terror cliché is replaced with plots that are as hilarious as they are absurd. Witches, zombies, ghosts: rather than representing the usual frightening threats, in this case they transform into characters caught in grotesque, almost surreal situations that guarantee instant laughter.
Halloween with a Laugh: the best TV series that mix horror and comedy
Scream Queens
And we begin with Scream Queens, another creation by Ryan Murphy together with Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, available for streaming on Disney+. Comprising two seasons, aired from 2015 to 2016, Scream Queens is set in a college environment dealing with capricious witches. Chanel Oberlin, played by Emma Roberts, leads the female fraternity at Wallace University and has at her disposal two right-hand women who, for simplicity, are numbered as other Chanel. While the campus is under the violent threat of a serial killer dressed as the Red Devil, the Chanel women continue to worry about their popularity and their outfits, adopting a childish and superficial approach to the murders that stain the campus red. The presence of Jamie Lee Curtis in the role of an ambiguous dean makes the story even more gripping and disturbing, a tale perfect for those who want black humor for Halloween.
The Horrors of Dolores Roach
Based on the eponymous podcast, itself inspired by the stage work Empanada Loca, The Horrors of Dolores Roach is an American limited series created by Aaron Mark and available on Prime Video, offering a more modern interpretation of the Sweeney Todd legend. The protagonist, Dolores Roach, has spent 16 years in prison for a crime she did not commit and, once free, returns home to find a completely changed environment. Helping her get back on her feet is her longtime friend Luis. Trying to make ends meet, Dolores impulsively commits a murder to defend what little she has, and Luis helps her handle the situation, disposing of the corpse in a creative way. Again, the story is seasoned with palpable black humor, tackling delicate themes like marginalization and survival through a frenetic and desperate world.
Ghosts
The sitcom is streaming on Netflix and comprises five seasons; Ghosts is a remake of the British series of the same name. The story follows a couple who inherit a dilapidated rural estate and decide to transform it into a popular B&B, but after an accident Samantha gains the ability to see and hear the ghosts who have haunted the dwelling for centuries. The ensemble is well-balanced, ranging from a Viking to an Edwardian aristocrat to a 1990s broker. In this case the ghosts are not terrifying figures to fear, but rather a sort of bored housemates, delivering moments of great hilarity. Ghosts provides the audience with a spooky atmosphere perfect for Halloween but lighter and more welcoming.
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