I love horror movies. I love the great ones and I love the terrible ones. I’m pretty sure we’ve established that.
I also love horror movie satires, parodies, and spoofs. But I have very high standards for my satire. Why? Because satire is probably one of the smartest forms of comedy out there. It is also extremely difficult to pull off. The Scary Movies do not count. They represent the bottom of the barrel in spoofs and satire. The comedy isn’t smart, it’s cheap, and it’s not even that funny. It’s just like an awful horror movie, except minus the scares and the ability to laugh at how horrible it is. I can’t stress this enough: the Scary Movie series are so bad they make me want to gouge my eyes out with a dull object, like a pillow. Imagine how difficult that would be. That’s how much I hate those movies.
However, the Scream series is done correctly. Most people are like, “AGH NO THOSE MOVIES SUCK” or say something like, “WHAT? They’re SATIRE?” To those of you who say the first: go away. I don’t like you. And to those of you who say the second: duh. With Randy’s “rules” to surviving a horror movie, the ridiculous premises, the references to other horror movies, and the comedy of how clumsy the bad guys are, Scream and its successors make me laugh and scream time and time again, for all the right reasons. Bravo, Wes Craven. Bravo.
Another movie I highly recommend for those of you who like to: a) watch shitty horror movies, b) make fun of shitty horror movies, c) watch comedies, and d) watch movies in general, is Shaun of the Dead. This movie began the zombie spoofing that Zombieland also did masterfully, and to top it off, it’s British humor. And as you all know, those Brits are way better at wit than we are. Simon Pegg and crew are great comedians, and this movie is no exception.
The best satire/spoof/parody film this side of the galaxy is found in the critically acclaimed, yet not widely-released Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil. If you want a movie that will make you laugh your pants off, watch it. I recommend an extra pair of pants because you will probably pee the first pair from laughing so hard.
Tucker and Dale is everything that’s right with the spoof category. It’s so smart it hurts, the acting is spot-on, and the comedy makes me cry because of its sheer brilliance.
The premise: A bunch of college kids go camping. They meet some rednecks who have a seedy cabin in the woods. People die, and not in the way you think.
It’s such a smart satire of movies like Deliverance and Wrong Turn that it makes a girl weep with joy. Joy, and jealousy that I didn’t think to write it myself. In between all of the amazing comedy and slightly disturbing gore lies a social commentary that talks about stereotyping, race, and how obnoxious my college kid peers are (I can’t claim entire innocence here, I have been known to be obnoxious on occasion). The movie is so heartfelt and charming, you can’t help but want to take it home and introduce it to your parents. Then maybe buy it a drink and put on the moves. Hell, you want to have children with this movie, that’s how good it is.
Starring Alan Tudyk (Of Firefly fame… a great show to check out) as Tucker, Tyler Labine (Reaper) as Dale, and Katrina Bowden (30 Rock) as Allison, I promise you this film is worth of any and all of the money that you should spend on it. Seriously. Buy it, watch it, and then buy it for everyone you know. And then watch it again.
Highest Form of Whit 
I love Tucker and Dale. Thanks for writing about it.
Can’t wait to see it. And I agree about the Scream series. The same can be said for The Faculty, also written by Kevin Wiliamson.
Shaun of the Dead. That is all.
Oh my god. I can’t believe I forgot that movie! Editing to add it right now. Thank you!
But what’s wrong with scary movie
Well, the first one isn’t too bad. But it’s not that good, either.
Great post! I can’t wait to see Tucker and Dale, and I completely agree with you about Scream. As for Scary Movie, I’m sure you’ll agree that the less said about that the better.