Hahaha-rror: Scary series and movies with a killer sense of humour

These shows and movies, streaming on Showmax, strike the perfect balance between being terrifically tongue-in-cheek funny and truly terrifying…

1. Shining Vale

Pat (played by Courteney Cox from Friends) is a writer with a vivid imagination. But when she moves her family from the city out to the rurals for this series, the last thing she’s expecting is to come face to face with a real-life ghost. Yip, her new pozzie has a spook floating through the halls at night, appearing and disappearing into thin air. The problem isn’t that the ghost (played by Mira Sorvino) is mean and dangerous – because she’s not – it’s that Pat is the only one in the family who sees her. And hears her. And can talk to her. And that makes both Pat and her family fear for her mental health. Is Pat seeing things? Or is their home invader real?

2. Los Espookys

This Mexican-language English-subtitled series comes from the brain of comedy icon Fred Armisen. Who knew that behind so many laughs could lie something so horrifyingly fun? It follows besties Renaldo, Andre, Ursula and Tati, friends who have a brand-new business to get up and running. While the supernatural world isn’t uncommon in their Latin-American town, they’re turning things up with ingeniously terrifying pranks and staged scenarios to help people who need a little horror in their lives. There’s everything from exorcisms and curses, to dreams and sea monsters to keep you laughing with the lights on.

3. Chucky

Thought that you’d left those terrifying Child’s Play movies in your youth? Think again – because possessed doll Chucky is back in his 2022 TV show glory, slashing and laughing his creepy way through the quiet town of Hackensack, New Jersey. There’s a new plotline as young Jake Wheeler buys the Chucky doll at a yard sale, unaware that he’s going to be filled with the spirit of a murderous criminal. But the pint-sized slasher isn’t all bad – he’s going to protect Jake from bullies and other baddies as they try to find solutions to their various problems. And by problems, we mean Jake not being taken advantage of and Chucky getting out of his toy-body tomb.

4. Boo 2! A Madea Halloween

Tyler Perry’s infamously mean grandma character is back for Halloween, and she means business in this sequel movie. As Madea (and loads of other characters – you’ll need to look closely to spot or hear Tyler under all that make-up), Tyler is heading off to a haunted campground to save family and friends, while also tackling a bunch of ghouls, goblins, monsters and even The Boogeyman, which have been unleashed from the supernatural world. Expect Tyler’s typical styling – loads of silly, cheesy laughs, references to pop culture, ridiculous characters and costumes, as well as some terrifying supernatural beasties to scare you!