2004 · Edgar Wright · 99 min · Comedy
Shaun of the Dead is the gold standard for horror comedies, a film that loves zombie movies too much to merely parody them. Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg crafted something that works as genuine horror, genuine comedy, and a surprisingly heartfelt story about growing up, all in 99 perfectly paced minutes.
2012 · Drew Goddard · 95 min · Horror
The Cabin in the Woods is the smartest horror deconstruction since Scream, a film that systematically dismantles every genre cliché while being genuinely entertaining in its own right. It's a love letter to horror fans and a puzzle box for everyone else, though audiences who don't appreciate the joke will find little to hold onto.
2012 · Sam Fell · 92 min · Animation
ParaNorman is a spooky, funny, and surprisingly moving stop-motion film that uses its zombie movie exterior to tell a story about tolerance, bullying, and the danger of mob mentality. It's a gateway horror film for kids that treats its young audience with more respect than most live-action horror treats adults.