Noël Carroll’s comments that “horror and humor seem like opposite mental states” and that it is “perplexing from a theoretical point of view” that any “fusions of horror and humor” succeed are interesting, but they do not seem entirely accurate. It is completely true that they are “opposite”, as one elicits terror in audiences while the other evokes laughter.[1] However, I do not think that it is “perplexing” that they work well together.
One step removed from horror comedy itself are pure horror films which incorporate some scenes of comedic relief. Get Out (Jordan Peele, USA, 2017) is a perfect example of this (though there is debate about whether it is horror or horror-comedy, I see it and treat it as the latter type of film). In the clips below, the character Rod Williams provides moments and scenes of relief with his opinionated nature, rapid speech and profanities.
For me, the final scene particularly highlights his function as the comic relief character. After an incredibly intense and emotionally draining third act, his comments “I mean I told you not to go in that house” and “Consider this situation fucking handled” completely undermine the sombre tone and lighten the mood. Without such scenes of comedic relief, this film might be too intense for audiences to sit through; this means that not only does comedy work alongside horror, but it is actually a necessary counter to it as it takes some of the intense emotional load off audiences. The fact that Rod Williams quickly became a fan favourite supports this idea; audiences enjoy the relief that he provides. Moreover, comedy perhaps functions even better within genres like horror or tragedy. As comedy often subverts expectations or introduces surprising elements, utilising it in opposite genres provides it with the perfect conditions to flourish and really impact the audience. Thus, though comedy and horror seem, as Carroll says, “opposite”, it is precisely the opposition that makes them work so well together.
[1] Noël Carroll, ‘Horror and Humor’, The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 57:2 (1999), 145.
I really enjoyed your analysis of comic relief in horror films! I think that in certain horror films, as tensions are so high, a slight deviation from the fear is necessary to break the tension. Get Out is a great example of how these moments can be effectively dispersed throughout a film.
In one scene from Get Out, one of the black servants in the house starts smiling and uncontrollably crying while talking to Chris. Like other sinister, creepy laughs in horror films, this instance best represents the role of smiling, by extension laughter, in infusing a horror into a scene.
In one scene from Get Out, one of the black servants in the house starts smiling and uncontrollably crying while talking to Chris. Like other sinister, creepy laughs in horror films, this instance best represents the role of smiling, by extension laughter, in infusing a horror element into a scene.