Watching horror movies, I was both scared and... laughed.

The Thai films that have dominated Vietnamese cinemas recently are mostly horror-comedy. First was "Pee Mak Phra Khanong" (2013), which grossed $36.5 million worldwide, with 10 billion VND in Vietnam alone after just 10 days of release – a record for foreign films at the time. While Vietnamese box office revenue wasn't independently tracked in 2013, the popularity of "Pee Mak Phra Khanong" can be measured by social media and the fame of its two lead actors, Mario Maurer and Mai Davika.

Meritorious Artist Hoài Linh (playing Mr. Đạo) and Tuấn Trần (Lanh) in the film "Making Money with Ghosts".

Following that came a series of other successful horror-comedy films: The Ghost Woman Looking for a Husband (2014), Daeng - Descendants of the Condor Heroes (2022, grossing 35 billion VND), Tee Yod: The Organ Eater (2023, grossing 54.7 billion VND) and Tee Yod: The Organ Eater 2 (2024), The Strange Temple 1, 2, 3, 4 (from 2019 - 2024 respectively grossing 13.4 billion, 30.1 billion, 20.4 billion, 27 billion VND)... Currently , Tee Yod: The Organ Eater 2 is still showing in theaters, achieving an impressive box office revenue of 89.4 billion VND after 2 weeks of release.

The key to the success of the aforementioned Thai series in Vietnam lies in its comedic elements, featuring catchy lines, ironic situations, and charming performances from a cast of attractive actors.

Korean cinema also has many films that combine tension with comedy. The most recent is "Handsome Looks Wrong," directed by Nam Dong-hyeop, which was released in Vietnam in August 2024 and grossed $14.4 million worldwide, with 57 billion VND in Vietnam alone.

Vietnamese Film Causes Box Office Sensation

Similarly, most Vietnamese horror films that have taken the box office by storm combine elements of horror and humor within the context of family relationships.

Thai Hoa (playing the role of Hu) in the film Blood Heart

A horror film with a strong comedic element, " Blood Heart, " directed by Victor Vũ, was released in 2014 and grossed 85 billion VND – a considerable amount at the time. Besides its captivating and suspenseful story, the film attracted audiences thanks to the participation of actor Thái Hòa. He was perfectly suited to the role of the goofy, lovable character with many witty lines in the film.

Scene from the movie "Face Off 4: A Guest at Home"

Lật Mặt 4: Nhà Có Khách (2019), directed by Lý Hải, grossed 117 billion VND. Despite being a horror film, it incorporates many humorous elements and features a cast including Huy Khánh, Mạc Văn Khoa, Hoàng Mèo, Katleen Phan Võ, Jay Quân, and others. The style of Lật Mặt 4: Nhà Có Khách shares many similarities with the Thai film Pee Mak .

Nguyen Nhat Trung's film "Making Money with Ghosts," starring Hoai Linh and Tuan Tran, was released in theaters at the end of August 2024 and grossed 128 billion VND. The film combines horror and comedy elements, along with a father-son relationship, which audiences enjoyed. Director Nhat Trung commented: "Most Vietnamese people like humor, so filmmakers often incorporate this element. This genre still has a certain audience because nowadays, viewers don't place too much emphasis on gore and horror in the script; they just need some scare tactics to satisfy their visual and auditory senses. On the other hand, the comedic element makes horror films less tense and constantly changes the viewer's emotions, thus attracting audiences. That's how to draw audiences to the theaters."

Connecting with the film through a variety of emotions.

Director Nguyen Huu Hoang (director of the 127 billion VND horror film) commented: "The practice of incorporating elements from subgenres such as comedy, action, and family drama into the main horror genre has been quite common for a long time. Specifically in the horror genre, from a filmmaker's perspective, this creates a sense of relaxation for the viewer, gradually building psychological tension or delivering a highly effective scare. Furthermore, from the viewer's point of view, this interweaving allows for breaks, preventing the tension of the horror from becoming unbearable, and helps build a connection with the film through various emotions."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xem-phim-ma-vua-so-vua-cuoi-185241030231640895.htm