On the surface, no two genres appear more diametrically opposed than horror and comedy: One is meant to delight and the other to fuel nightmares.

Yet over the past decade, the horror-comedy gained such unprecedented popularity and social resonance that it's now a thriving mainstream genre with no indication of slowing down. That transformation is even more baffling when you consider all the genre had going against it. 

For a long time, it was considered something of an ugly stepsister to both genres, earning at most niche critical praise and little widespread industry respectHorror-comedies were historically bad business, too, in part due to big studios failing to market them correctly for fear of alienating the two different audiences.  Read more...