HHalloween 2025 has now arrived, and with it the usual problem of which film to see. Here, instead of pure terror, this year why don’t you throw yourself on parodies of horror films? The streams are quite full of them, by the king of parodies Mel Brooks –Frankenstein Junior is in cinemas on October 30th and 31st – to John Landis, from zany which sounds like a Scream to the elegant Please don’t bite me on the neck! by Roman Polańskia film that draws heavily from historical vampire cinephilia.
Halloween 2025: films to see, the best parodies of horror cinema (there’s also Frankenstein Junior)
Frankenstein Junior (1974)
Drawing inspiration from Mary Shelley’s novel and from the Thirties cinematography of director James Whale, Mel Brooks creates one of the funniest parody comedies and love. The doctor and university professor Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) is the nephew of the scientist Victor, known for his bold theories on awakening the dead.
When inheritance from the relative a castle in Transylvania, he meets really curious characters like Aigor the hunchback servant (Marty Feldman) and the beautiful Inga (Teri Garr). On the trail of his grandfather, Frederick resurrect by mistake a stranger with little brains. The monster, called the creature (Peter Boyle), will start to create havoc in the village. For everyone there will still be a happy ending.
At the cinema on 30 and 31 October in selected cinemas.
Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman and Teri Garr in “Junior Frankenstein” (Getty Images)
ScaryMovie (2000)
The horror parody with the most attempts at imitation. A comical and grotesque saga that produced 4 sequels. Some successful (Scary Movie 2, Scary Movie 3 – Laughter will bury you) others less (Scary Movie 4 and Scary Movie V). It takes up the scary themes of I know what you did (1997) e Scream by Wes Craven (1996). After a group of friends accidentally hit a stranger with their car, a mysterious killer begins to bother them. In a cameoJames Van Der Beek (Dawson’s Creek). Available on Netflix.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
The horror comedy directed by Edgar Wright, is a clear one homage to the saga of George A. Romero. It is the first chapter of the “croissant trilogy” together with Hot Fuzz (2007) e The end of the world (2013). The protagonist is Shaun (Simon Pegg) a thirty year old who lives a rather ordinary existence in suburban London, sharing a flat with obnoxious flatmate Pete (Peter Serafinowicz). When his girlfriend dumps him, Shaun gets drunk at the usual pub with his friend Ed (Nick Frost). The morning hangover they discover that the city is invaded by zombies. Available on Prime Video (to purchase).
Welcome to Zombieland (2009)
A sci-fi horror with protagonists Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone. A variant of mad cow disease has infected America, transforming most of his inhabitants in zombies. Columbus (Eisenberg) tries to reach his parents. During his journey he meets a rough cowboy (Harrelson) and a young thief (Stone). He decides to join this strange group. Available on Prime Video (to purchase).
Halloween 2025: High Voltage (1977)
Mel Brooks this time chooses to explore the style of the king of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. The psychiatrist Richard Thorndyke (Brooks), becomes director of the luxury clinic for “Very Very Nervous People”. Thorndyke is suffering from “High tension”, fear of heights and vertigo. When he discovers that colleagues alter diagnoses of wealthy patients to keep them hospitalized for as long as possible, ends up in trouble.
Mel Brooks in “High Voltage” horror parody (Getty Images)
Halloween 2025: the best parodies of horror films, from Mel Brooks to John Landis
An American werewolf in London (1981)
At the beginning of the 80’s John Landis invents a fantasy comedy horror putting At the center of the scene is a werewolf. David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne) are in Britain for a holiday. They venture out onto the moor at night and are attacked by a mysterious animal that kills Jack and injures David. Admitted to hospital, David falls in love with nurse Alex (Jenny Agutter). On a full moon night, he transforms into a werewolf thirsty for human blood. Available on Prime Video (to purchase).
Dracula dead and happy (1995)
Mel Brooks again, this time grappling with the legend of the well-known vampire. Thomas (Peter MacNicol) is in Transylvania to buy and sell a castle with his girlfriend Mina (Amy Yasbeck). He meets the owner of the manor, Count D. (Leslie Nielsen). Mina feels sick and Dr. Van Helsing (Mel Brooks) realizes that she has been bitten by a vampire. In the movie, there is also Ezio Greggio in the role of coachman. Anne Bancroft, the director’s wife, appears in a cameo. Available on Apple TV.
Leslie Nielsen in “Dracula, Dead and Loving It” (Ipa Agency)
Please don’t bite me on the neck! (1967)
Roman Polański directs his beautiful and unfortunate wife Sharon Tate in a refined and ironic parody of vampire films. Professor Abronsius (Jack MacGowran) and his sidekick Alfred (Polański) reach Transylvania to study closely the phenomenon of a group of vampires. The mysterious creatures kidnap Sarah (Tate). THE two gentlemen return to their homeland, bringing Also the girl. They don’t know that she has already been infected. Available on Prime Video (to purchase).
Pride + Prejudice + Zombies (2009)
Based on the novel of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith, brings Jane Austen’s characters together with zombie-themed films. In the middle of the nineteenth century, England is divided between the living and the living dead. The 5 Bennet sisters, in addition to good manners, they learn martial arts and how to shoot to defend themselves from enemies. Elizabeth (Lily James) she falls in love with Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley). Available on Prime Video (to purchase).
Halloween 2025: Repossessed (1990)
There literal parody of The exorcist by William Friedkin and with the same actress, Linda Blair. Hence the title: Twice Repossessed. Leslie Nielsen is Father Jebedaiah. The housewife Nancy (Blair) meets Satan again. Jebedaiah exorcises her again, this time on live TV. Available on YouTube.
Halloween 2025the best parodies of horror films: zombies, vampires and apocalypse
The dead don’t die (2019)
Jim Jarmusch delivers a fantastic satire of the horror genre with a cast of magnificent actors. In a small village of the United States happen very strange events. When two zombies kill a waitress, the inhabitants discover that the coffins in the cemetery are all empty. The sheriff (Bill Murray) decides to intervene with his team. But it’s too late. Among the performers Tilda Swinton and Adam Driver. Iggy Pop appears dressed as a zombie. Available on Prime Video (to purchase).
Only lovers survive (2013)
Big laughs no, subtle irony yeseven if very diluted. There is only that this Jarmusch dark-horror with Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston is hard to keep off the list, it’s so appropriate for Halloween. A story of glamorous vampires, in love for eternal life. Adam and Eve have been lovers for centuries. Eve is a scholar and profound connoisseur of literature. Adam is a well-known rock star who is not seen by the public. The artist can no longer bear to live forever and would like to commit suicide. The arrival of Ava (Mia Wasikowska) will change their lives. Available on Prime Video (to purchase).
Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston in “Only Lovers Left Alive” (Pandora Film)
Halloween 2025: Let’s get this over with (2013)
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s screwball comedy is both the horror parodyis of the ruthless world of Hollywood. After a wild party at James Franco’s house the two friends Seth (Rogen) and Jay (Jay Baruchel) they manage to save themselves from the earthquake and by an attack by Martians. I am the only survivors together with James Franco, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill ed Emma Watson. Between the arrival of the Devil and the beginning of the Apocalypse, who will be saved? Available on Prime Video (to purchase).
Love to the last bite (1992)
John Landis returns to the horror universe with a 1992 comedy in which brings together vampires and mafia families. The beautiful one Marie (Anne Parillaud) she’s a vampire: it feeds Alone of people’s blood as bad as the members of the Mafia Italian American. Bites the boss (Robert Loggia) and turns him into a vampire. The criminal takes advantage of his new condition to eliminate enemies. Marie tries to stop him with help of the policeman undercover Joe Gennaro (Anthony LaPaglia). The two fall in love.