From the ballyhoo gimmicks of the late 1950s to the heavy-handed (and often intentional) but loveable over-the-top plots and effects of the 1980s, camp and horror have a history of working hand in hand. In fact, scary movies are often so synonymous with the cheesy B-movie trope that shows like Mystery Science Theater 3000 have had no shortage of footage for laughs.
But for that reason, many movies with a high camp factor have proven to be both endearing and enduring, with a tongue-in-cheek approach actually pairing well against traditionally sinister backdrops. Here are a few of the best campy scary movie favorites from over the years.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space
With a name like Killer Klowns from Outer Space, one can't expect anything but a campy ride. Released in 1988, at the height of surreal slasher flicks, such as the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, Killer Klowns takes the reins of the haunted carnival trope and throws in more than a heavy dash of the ridiculousness of movies like 1964's Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. When a teenager witnesses a comet crash just outside his small town, they find themselves hunted by a band of murderous aliens that look like circus clowns. There's nothing about this premise that begs to be taken seriously, so just sit back and enjoy a brightly colored, sometimes laughable, occasionally unsettling cult classic.
Children of the Corn
There are an enormous amount of Stephen King novel adaptations, with some, such as the enduring nature of The Shining (despite King's own displeasure), working better than others. But 1984's Children of the Corn holds a special place on the list for being truly earnest and genuinely unnerving while still coming off a bit campy.
The movie finds a couple stranded in a small town where children follow the demonic teachings of a sinister preacher and the malevolent force of He Who Walks Behind the Rows. And because of its eerie nature and the unnerving looks of the murderous Malachai, its juxtaposition of over-the-top '80s scoring and bright, splashy fake blood with its well-done scare factor actually works to its advantage. Without the unintentional campiness, Children of the Corn runs the risk of taking itself too seriously and pulling viewers out of the experience.
Malignant
With The Conjuring and Saw franchises under his belt, it's clear that director James Wan gets horror. That's why his recent 2021 release Malignant's third act twist and action scenes feel like they must have been a deliberate choice to lean into old-school camp. The whole movie is a twisty, exciting thrill ride taking viewers through a woman's waking nightmares of real-time murders. And when it is eventually revealed that she herself is committing the murders because of her evil twin who physically and mentally crawls in and out of her brain and controls her body, it is pure, classic camp. The action is over the top, the explanation is cheesy and the mix of CGI and practical effects are delightfully and almost adorably not scary. When some horror films can get too heavy-handed and self-serious, the playful nature of Malignant's twist and resolution is extremely enjoyable.
The Tingler
William Castle is a master of the B-movie genre, having long been crowned Hollywood's King of Ballyhoo thanks to his commitment to gimmicks both tacky and weird that enhanced the viewing of his naturally campy horror movies. His 1959 movie The Tingler stars the legendary Vincent Price as Dr. Chapin, who discovers that the spine-chilling sensation people experience when terrified is due to a parasite he dubs the movie's titular "tingler," which can even cause death itself. Armed with this new knowledge, he sets out on a devious mission to kill his own wife, but the creature soon escapes, causing more trouble.
The Tingler's premise is already delightfully ridiculously and the script and acting deliberately hammy. But audiences that had the chance to see the film in theaters got an extrasensory thrill, as Castle devised to have some random seats throughout almost every theater rigged to surprisingly vibrate in coordination with the parasite on screen.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Forever a cult classic and destined for interactive midnight showings for decades to come, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an iconic film. Following classically chaste couple Brad and Janet on their journey through a musically spooky journey of losing their innocence, viewers are introduced to Tim Curry's enduringly enigmatic "sweet transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania" Dr. Frank N. Furter and his mansion of eerie and wild characters. Originally a play, Rocky Horror maintains its theater kid oddness and delightfully builds on a foundation of freedom, exploration and outlandish elements. Though its initial run in theaters didn't bring in all that much money, it has since gone on to become a beloved film.
Vamp
Released in 1986, Vamp is a specific type of horror made for cult status. With its B-movie premise, frat brothers need to hire a stripper for a party and visit a sleazy bar that turns out to actually be run by vampires. The plot is ridiculous, the gore is over-the-top and the acting is just as overly enthusiastic. Not a movie meant to be taken seriously, it instead is an enjoyable wild ride that defines a distinct 1980s approach to horror.
Monster Squad
1987's comedy-horror Monster Squad combines the powers of the classics -- Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Wolfman, the Mummy and the Gill Man -- in search of a magical amulet, while a group of five kids with Van Helsing's diary must fight them off. Featuring delightful callbacks to the golden age of Universal monsters, another dimension and plucky 1980s teen spirit, Monster Squad knows exactly what it is at all times and mixes its jump scare with adventure and kitschy laughs.
House on Haunted Hill
Another William Castle classic, 1959's House on Haunted Hill gleefully throws itself into overacting, a script full of plot twists and countless spooks. This time around, Vincent Price plays an eccentric millionaire who invites five people for a haunted house party, promising whoever survives the night a cash prize. Throughout the haunted night, the guests encounter a wide assortment of jumps and chills. True to his ballyhoo nature, Castle rigged up plastic skeletons to fall down from the ceilings of theaters showing the movie to complete the audience's interactive watching experience.