Where has the fear factor in Hindi horror-comedy films gone?

Horror comedies were the flavour of the season with films such as Kakuda, Munjya, and Stree 2 ruling hearts and the box office by giving the audience exactly what they wanted—hilarious dialogues, a few spine-chilling jump scares, and some high-quality CGI to enhance the eerie setting. One of the most anticipated films of the season, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 released today, and it’s clear why the genre continues to work. Yet something seems to be missing: the core element of fear. After all, that’s what ghosts and spirits are supposed to be right? Menacing and terrifying enough to give you sleepless nights. Although these films continue to be spooky, it’s the treatment of their character—and the films' positioning—that makes one remember how much they laughed rather than how frightened they were. 

This begs the question: where has the fear factor in Hindi horror-comedy films gone? To get to the 'where', we have to first tackle the 'why'.

Social themes replacing the horror

If you’ve seen all of the movies mentioned above and the films in those franchises (Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Stree), you’ll realise that their respective makers wanted themes such as mental health, women empowerment, their social rights and giving them agency, as part of normal conversation. And with horror-comedies being a hot-selling ticket, the message of the film has taken precedence over the genre. This has happened not just in horror comedies, but in recent slice-of-life films such as Vicky Donor, Badhaai Ho, and Badhaai Do, to name a few where one learnt about what a sperm donor does, saw parents in their '50s becoming having a child again being accepted, and what a couple in a lavender marriage is. 

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 goes down the same route

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 weaves in a social theme as well. One shouldn’t be surprised to see the third film in the franchise tackle a social issue considering the very first movie highlighted dissociative identity disorder, and how unresolved trauma can manifest in mental health struggles along with tackling the stigma around mental illness. Watch it again and you’d realise it was so much more than a horror comedy. The same happens with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. The reason is simple. People are going to watch the film because it is a successful franchise in a genre that is the flavour of the season. So if you talk about an important and socially relevant theme, audiences are going to appreciate the effort. 

Here, the film advocates for inclusivity and acceptance. One sees how an individual hides his true identity and feels trapped inside their own body because society won't accept them for who they are. Men are supposed to act and behave in a certain way, or so they say. Anything opposite to that will be punished. The movie talks about how times and one's thinking have changed for the better. Watching how this is wonderfully woven into the narrative, along with Kartik Aaryan giving it his best for this climax scene is remarkable. 

This change won’t be constant, which is why filmmakers are starting small. If they have to make audiences understand and relate to such serious issues, weaving it with a touch of humour (not overdoing it) seems to be doing the trick for them. We think Indian audiences are ready, but maybe they aren’t. Not just yet. The day they are, horror comedies will continue to be as spooky as they are hilarious. 

Lead image: T-Series

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Also read: Horror-comedies you should watch if you loved 'Stree 2'