1) Young Frankenstein
Every fan is going to have their own favourite horror comedy, but one of the unquestioned tentpoles of the genre is Young Frankenstein. The best movie from director Mel Brooks (yes, even better than Blazing Saddles), this loving spoof of the classic Universal Frankenstein movies – it’s even filmed in monochrome – is practically just one long series of classic moments.
The late, lamented Gene Wilder gives the funniest performance of his career as the increasingly crazed grandson of “famous cuckoo” Dr. Frankenstein (oh, and it’s pronounced “Fronkensteen”). Plus, he’s ably supported by an all-round fantastic cast including Madeline Kahn, Gene Hackman, Teri Garr, Kenneth Mars, Cloris Leachmann and Peter Boyle. If we have to pick out one, though, it would have to be Marty Feldman as the hilarious hunchbacked henchman Igor.
Sure, it isn’t actually all that scary – this Frankenstein’s monster is more likely to dance to “Putting on The Ritz” than go on a rampage – but if you quantify the success of horror comedies by the latter element, then Young Frankenstein is hard to beat.