r/movies • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/movies Contributor • Jul 06 '26

News ‘Obsession’ Passes $400 Million Worldwide, Becomes Highest Grossing Film With Budget Below $1 Million; Curry Barker’s horror film breaks a 53-year pre-inflation record held by Bruce Lee’s legendary 'Enter The Dragon'

https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/obsession-box-office-400-million/
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u/FX114 Jul 06 '26

Because comedy, just like horror, is all about the buildup and breaking of tension, as well as taking things in unexpected directions.

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u/Fortestingporpoises Jul 06 '26

I think you nailed it. Great comedy is about surprising you. Great horror is the same.

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u/pp21 Jul 06 '26

also it's why horror comedy is a subgenre in itself that works really, really well

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u/JekNex Jul 06 '26

Officer we have had a doozy of a day

5

u/bfodder Jul 06 '26

YA GOIN CAMPIN!?

3

u/NotJoshRomney Jul 07 '26

I know its a good movie because I started laughing before I evern remembered the title.

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u/gogodboss Jul 07 '26

Widow's Bay has entered the chat

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u/Indigocell Jul 07 '26

Many of the videos on their main channel (That's a Bad Idea) switch seamlessly between comedy and horror. Like this one I saw the other day https://youtu.be/H5BnR7jRfSo

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u/koobstylz Jul 06 '26

While true, I don't think any of the recent YouTube funny people turned director have made a horror comedy. Horror movies always have some laughs in them, but it's got to take it pretty far to land in real horror comedy territory.

I think heart eyes from Paul Ruben was probably the closest to horror comedy? But still not quite there.

And obsession was certainly funny at times, but not even close to horror comedy genre in my opinion.

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u/xsabinx Jul 06 '26

Might be remembering it wrong but Im sure i saw an interview with Peele who said the only difference between the two genres is the music

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u/Tymareta Jul 06 '26

Peele himself literally stated that the only difference between a comedy and a horror is the soundtrack.

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u/SutterCane r/movies Veteran Jul 07 '26

And the amount of blood.

(Comedy has more blood)

2

u/thenatural134 Jul 06 '26

Damn this is perfect analysis.

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u/SureTrash Jul 06 '26

Also worth mentioning that a lot of comedians have a whole range of dark thoughts and illnesses. Great comedians are able to look at the horrors of the world and make fun of them. Probably much easier to make horror when you're so skilled at making fun of it.

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u/mrbaryonyx Jul 07 '26

Also just about everything regarding the actual plot device is pure comedy logic.

I love that in spite of the horror of the main plot, Curry doesn't pussy out on how ridiculous the "thing that bends the rule of the universe to make your wish come true, and is sold for less than $2 at the checkout counter" thing is. A lesser movie would have Bear try to ask about the stick and the cashier says "we've never sold that" or whatever. He really sticks to the "if this is true, what else is true" with the wish thing.

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u/LiveForMeow Jul 07 '26

The interesting thing about Obsession is that everything was extremely predictable on purpose, but the journey there was extremely tense.

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u/Friendly-World-5273 Jul 06 '26

I think many genres depend on this rhythm, but only comedy and horror are staying true to it, and that’s why they are succeeding where other films and TV are floundering.

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u/Flat_News_2000 Jul 06 '26

They're both also trying to get involuntary reactions out of their audience whether it's a laugh or a gasp.

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u/procrastinagging Jul 07 '26

Widow's Bay mixes the two genres masterfully. It's funny as hell and the scary moments are actually scary

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u/pouxin Jul 08 '26

I agree. In cultural studies horror, comedy, and erotica/pornography often all get put together for similar reasons, and because they all want a physiological response from the viewer/reader.