Although they seem to be polar opposites on the surface, horror and comedy are two sides of the same coin. In terms of writing, they both rely on a certain kind of buildup and a certain kind of payoff. Whether it’s comedic or horrifying, that built up tension and payoff often has a similar structure in the way that it’s written and executed on screen. Whether it’s a dark comedy, mockumentary, slapstick, satire, or something else entirely, horror consistently proves to be a solid framework for setting up laughs. Not only that, but the combination of the two genres is special in the sense that it can allow the audience to view otherwise frightening events through a comedic lens, providing an experience that isn’t quite possible in a standard horror film.