Prevenge (2016) [dir. Alice Lowe]
Prevenge is a slasher film written, directed, and starring Alice Lowe. The film follows Ruth [Lowe], a woman dealing with grief who believes her unborn baby is compelling her to murder people. The film itself is witty and unique in its viewpoint, and really turns the slash subgenre of horror on its head. Balanced with witty, dark humour, and filmmaking that puts the viewer into an almost nightmare-like state, with its resourceful but well-crafted cinematography. There’s also a host of comedic co-stars including performances from Gemma Whelan, Kayvan Novak, Tom Davis, and Mike Wozniak.
Where to watch: BFI Player, Shudder and available on Blu-ray.
Double Date (2017) [dir. Benjamin Barfoot]
Double Date, written by Danny Morgan and co-starring Georgia Groome, Michael Socha, and Kelly Wenham, has a fairly basic plotline – sacrificing virgins for satanic ritual purposes etc – but is nicely balanced with its silly humour and absurdity. None of the characters are very likeable, and there’s not a lot of investment on behalf of the audience, but I did find Kelly Wenham’s performance particularly impressive.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video and available on Blu-ray.
Anna and the Apocalypse (2018) [dir. John McPhail]
Anna and the Apocalypse contains many genres that don’t seem to fit together – Christmas, Zombie, Musical – and sometimes they don’t. Yet, somehow, there are moments where the warm tingles of a Christmas movie coalesce with the desolate hopelessness of an apocalypse movie that can only be expressed through the form of bouncy, upbeat songs. It’s really quite a heartful film, despite first appearances.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Shudder, ITVX and available on Blu-ray.
Get Duked! (2019) [dir. Ninian Doff]
Doff’s Get Duked! follows four boys on a mission to achieve their Duke of Edinburgh Awards by navigating the Scottish Highlands. If you’re not from the UK, you might be unfamiliar with the DofE, but it’s basically a programme students can do to help with university applications. However, in this film a teacher has forced three underperforming students to do the award in order to help with their behaviour. Things go awry when they discover the terrors of the Highlands in the form of a common fear – the upper class. It’s entertaining, fun, and has its heartfelt moments too.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Honourable mention: Extra Ordinary (2019) [dir. Mike Ahem and Enda Loughman]
I’m aware this film is Irish but it’s such a charming horror comedy I can’t help but include it on this list. Read my full review of it here.
Where to watch: Shudder and available on Blu-ray.
My watchlist
Currently on my watchlist of British horror comedies are Sightseers (2012), Grabbers (2012), and The Cottage (2008). I have the Blu-ray of Sightseers but am yet to watch it. I’m on the look out for the other two!
Where to watch information correct as on 16th February 2023.
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Screen Waffle 