(Inspired and suggested by animal. Erm, the Xomba member.)

Fear causes a plethora of reactions, from screams to tears to cringing, and yes laughter. The following is a list of the horror films I think incorporate humor in such a way as to either add to the horror or to play off of it. In no particular order.

1) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. (1974) Probably one of the best underground horror films ever, TCSM has its fair share of scares, gore, and creepy crawl-out-of-your-skin moments. But what makes this movie a true horror classic is the humor. Grandpa trying to hit one of the girls over the head and not being able to hold up the hammer is laugh-out-loud funny, as is Leatherface repeatedly smacking one of the girls over the head and telling her to get down while he's driving the van, even when she isn't trying to get back up. The movie is filled with odd, surreal moments like that which are, if your soul is black enough, very very funny.

2) Cannibal! The Musical. (1996) Fans of South Park should appreciate this one. Trey Parker plays the role of Alfred Packer, a mountaineer on trial for cannibalism. Filled with the kind of sick humor and rediculous songs that Trey Parker is known for, this film is funny, memorable, and a bit creepy in several places. (Though I will admit that I'm fudging facts here a little bit, since this movie isn't really scary. It just features a cannibal.)

3) Shadow Of The Vampire. (2000) It's a bit odd how this list got started with me telling animal that some of the movies on his ten best horror list were more humorous than scary. His list was partly inspired by my list, and I included on my list Shadow Of The Vampire. All I can really say in my defense is that I'd seen this film when it first came out, and I really enjoyed it, but I didn't remember a whole lot about it beyond that. Well, I've recently had the pleasure to view it again, and I can say this: it's more of a comedy than a horror film. Sure a few scenes are definitely creepy, but it's hard to view Willem Defoe's role as Max Schrek, aka Nosferatu, as anything more than camp. This is the film that imagines Max Schrek as actually being a vampire and terrorizing F.W. Murnau's production of "Nosferatu." (If you don't know what I'm talking about, you really need to watch some classic horror films, buddy.) The premise sounds truly scary, and there are definitely some creepy scenes, but mostly this is played as a comedy. For instance, after Schrek continually tries to drain the cinematographer of his blood, Murnau (played by John Malkovich) asks him in desperation "Why him, you monster? Why not... the script girl?" to which Schrek replies, "Oh the script girl. I'll eat her later." Definitely one of the funniest movies I've seen in awhile, and also a fairly deep meditation on addiction, film making, and the nature of reality.

4) The Fearless Vampire Killers. (1967) Yes, this is the film most people talk about when discussing comedy/horror flicks, and with good reason. It's very funny and genuinely scary in places. But mostly just funny. The plot centers around a professor and his assistant traveling to Transylvania to track down vampires. Probably the only film featuring a Jewish vampire.

5) Young Frankenstein. (1974) What can I say about this classic horror/comedy film? If you haven't seen it yet, there's just no excuse for it! Mel Brookes is a comedy genius and this is one of his best. Dr. Frankenstein's nephew (played by Gene Wilder), embarrassed by his grandfather's legacy, ends up inheriting the family castle, along with an assistant, Igor. After discovering a book of his granfather's experiments, he realizes that his grandfather was a genius, and thus decides to recreate one of his experiments, to horrible and hilarious results. The line that will always stay with me: "it could be raining."

6) Little Shop Of Horrors. (1986) I absolutely LOVE this movie, even if it strays pretty far from the original musical. Steve Martin as a sadistic dentist is alone worth watching this film. The list of comedy greats who starred in this film is long, including Rick Moranis, Jim Belushi, John Candy, Bill Murray and Christopher Guest. Great songs about a man-eating plant who convinces the florist tending it to bring it fresh corpses to feed on.

7) The Toxic Avenger. (1985) I LOVED this movie when I was a kid, and it still has a warm place in my heart. A weak nerd is tormented to the point of jumping out of a window, but instead of dying, he lands in a drum of toxic sludge and becomes the toxic avenger! Hilarious and disgusting crime-fighting ensues.

8) Idle Hands. (1999) Brilliant film about a stoner slacker whose hand becomes possessed by the devil. Is there really anything else that needs to be said here? Seth Green, Jessica Alba and Vivica A. Fox star, along with other people that no one cares about (hehe).

9) Shaun Of The Dead. (2004) A romantic comedy is suddenly interrupted by the living dead. Simon Pegg stars as Shaun, another slack who lacks any direction in his life. He's despondent after his girlfriend leaves him and tries to find a way to win her back. Unfortunately, he is soon attacked by a zombie that he'd at first mistaken for a drunk. Hilarity ensues.

10) Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes. (1978) Brilliant film about giant tomatoes who eat people. Yeah, you heard me right. What did you think the title was about then, eh? Absolutely brilliant B-movie with some genuinely funny moments, such as when the tomatoes are infiltrated by a spy who asks for some ketchup to go with his dinner of a human leg, or the opening sequence that compares the film to Hitchcock's "The Birds."

An honorable mention should go to Beetlejuice, the Evil Dead series, Gremlins, From Dusk Til Dawn (very funny, but only a horror film about 1/3 of the way in, and not scary at all), and the Scream series.