Unearthly laughter: the comedy line-up that's to die for
CBC News | Posted: October 26, 2023 7:38 PM | Last Updated: October 26, 2023
Ghosts, aliens, and origami warriors, oh my! Unwind with the quirkiest, most creepy comedies this Halloween.
It's spooky season! But Halloween isn't just a time for gory horror or stress-inducing flicks about possessed dolls. It can also be a time to revel in the lighter side of the macabre and to remind ourselves that even the things that scare us have their quirks. Honestly, comedy is the perfect antidote to October's darker vibes. From haunted houses to alien invasions, here's a list of otherworldly comedies that'll have you laughing till you're coffin.
Ghosts
Spectres fighting over ancient beef? Check. Set in a country house inhabited by a motley group of hilarious ghosts, this show reminds us that sometimes our past can literally come back to haunt us.
Cavendish
If you're into witches, creepy mannequins and things that aren't exactly as they seem, then welcome to Cavendish. When Mark (Mark Little) and Andy (Andrew Bush) return to their hometown to care for their ailing father, they're thrown into a whirlwind of what appears to be supernatural chaos and comedic disasters when they take over the family-run museum of the strange. Think of it as a mix of family drama and Twilight Zone-esque escapades. Drop Fred Penner in an episode — yes, seriously! — and you get super-funny twists and turns for the entire season.
Come to Daddy
In this dark comedy, Elijah Wood is Norval Greenwood, a privileged man-child who receives an invitation to visit his estranged father's isolated beach house. However, he finds that their reunion is far from heartwarming. Come to Daddy takes viewers on a suspenseful and unexpected journey filled with family secrets and personal demons. You know, for a laugh.
Colossal
Colossal, starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis, offers a unique blend of dark comedy, science fiction, and psychological drama, making it an unexpected yet fitting choice for a Halloween watch. Colossal explores the life of Gloria, played by Hathaway, a writer who discovers a peculiar connection between herself and a giant monster terrorizing Seoul.
Paris Paris
In the quaint town of Paris, Ontario, Philippe stumbles upon a magical tunnel that whisks him away to... the other Paris (you know, the big one!) Swapping dad duties for baguettes and berets, he crafts a dreamy French life on the side. But juggling two "Parises" isn't easy. OK, maybe this one's not "Halloweeny" in the traditional sense, but the cultural mishaps, colourful characters and laugh-out-loud scenarios will leave you #dead (figuratively, obviously).
The Aliens
How about some extraterrestrial comedy this Halloween? When aliens crash-land on Earth and become an underclass in society, it sets the stage for an incredibly out-there situation where it's hard to tell who is an alien and who isn't, but their hair can make you high. The Aliens was created by the same producers who brought us the popular series Misfits and features a stellar cast including Michael Socha, Jim Howick and Michaela Coel.
This Blows
Anna's supernatural ability might not seem like much of a gift—when she gets stressed, she literally blows people up. While it might sound like a major downer (especially during surprise parties or tense family dinners), This Blows manages to turn every explosive moment into a comedic goldmine.
Warigami
One part action, two parts comedy, and a sprinkle of ancient magic - Warigami is not your average show. Watch as descendants of an ancient Japanese clan who crafted weapons out of paper (yes, you read that right!) battle their enemies. Think of it as a crash course in "How to defeat your enemies with paper folding and epic one-liners." If you have 97 minutes to spare you can binge the whole season tonight!
So, as you prepare to settle into a cozy night of trick-or-treating and horror flicks, remember: laughter can sometimes be the best way to ward off those Halloween chills.
Watch free on CBC Gem
CBC Gem is the Canadian streaming home of past and current seasons of hit CBC series including Heartland, Kim's Convenience, Murdoch Mysteries, The Great Canadian Baking Show, Schitt's Creek and When Calls the Heart, plus Arctic Vets, Baroness Von Sketch Show, Mr. D, Pretty Hard Cases, The Porter, Run the Burbs, Skymed, Son of a Critch, Sort Of, Still Standing and Tallboyz, and classic CBC hits like Being Erica.
CBC Gem offers more than 6500 hours of live and on-demand Canadian programming and a curated selection of acclaimed, best-in-class content from around the world, including more than 800 documentaries, 500 hours of ad-free content for kids and tweens, and a collection of over 200 Canadian feature films. CBC Gem is available free as an app for iOS and Android devices and online, and on TV screens via Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Android TV.
Are you looking for information on how to access CBC Gem and how to get started? Visit the CBC Gem help page.
For the latest information on what you can watch right now on CBC Gem, follow us on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok.