Take A Stab At Horror!
A Beginner’s Guide to Cabin Horror Films
Whether you are a horror aficionado or have never really gotten into the genre, I truly believe there is something for everyone in the horror realm. Comedy tends to be the universal ice breaker. Being able to have a moment of levity in any horror movie is fantastic and helps the viewer either have a moment to breathe a bit or lets the audience in on an inside joke, like “Yes, we know this is a crazy situation, the characters think so too.” There are so many amazing horror comedies or horror films out there. This list isn’t a “Best Of”, but more of a sampling of an awesome cabin in the woods movies to help guide you into the genre till you find yourself laughing yourself to death!
(Rating system is 1-5, 5 Being the scariest. But all of these titles are on the milder side of horror if you are an avid horror watcher)
TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL
Good-natured Tucker and Dale are mistaken by a group of college kids. The harder they try to protect and save Dale’s dream girl, the more shenanigans they seem to get themselves into. This is a hilarious retelling of the “College kids take a trip to a cabin in the woods” trope while living up to the saying “You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.”
SCREAMS: 2
COMEDY: 5
CAMPY: 4
GORE: 4
STREAMING: Available for free on Roku (ads), Hoopla, and available for rent.
CABIN IN THE WOODS
A classic tale of five friends who take an innocent trip to a cabin in the woods, only to discover more sinister things wait for them there…and the cabin has its own secrets.
From the opening scene, you will realize that this movie is going to twist the “kids in a cabin” theme, using creative tactics to explain some of the decisions made by characters in these types of films. Another Joss Whedon masterpiece, and if you are a horror aficionado make sure to keep your eyes peeled for horror easter eggs throughout the movie.
SCREAMS: 4
COMEDY: 4
CAMPY: 3
GORE: 4
STREAMING: Available on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, DirecTV, and available for rent.
EVIL DEAD 2 & ARMY OF DARKNESS
Ok, I may take some heat for this one, but there are a lot of theories and debates about Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2. They ARE different movies, but the plot is virtually the same. The only difference? Evil Dead 2 is ACTUALLY funny. It’s like they made a parody of their own original movie. So I say, for purposes of laughter, go ahead and skip Evil Dead, you won’t be confused! Evil Dead 2 still packs in the scares and gore, but they upped up the campy and lean heavily into the humor.
For a double comedy feature, watch Army of Darkness after! If you want to see Ash in an even crazier scenario, this is the power pack you want!
SCREAMS: 5
COMEDY: 4
CAMPY: 5
GORE: 5
STREAMING: Evil Dead 2 is available on Hulu, MAX GO, Cinemax, and available for rent. Army of Darkness is available on DirecTV, MAX GO, Cinemax, and for rent.
Looking for more? Check out other “Take A Stab at Horror” recommendations lists with movies similar in tone that include vampires, classics, and slashers!
Find more general Married to Horror selections by checking out our recommendations, lists and take a peek at our Master Watch List where you can find an array of horror films sorted by title, platform, rating, and more.
Did we miss any of your favorites? Comment below or email us at contact@marriedtohorror.com! You can also follow our Facebook group Married to Horror and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @marriedtohorror.
