PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Horror and comedy go so well together. You can draw parallels between the two and use similar formulas to tell meaningful stories that entertain, all the while, creating these intense moments that either scare you or make you deeply uncomfortable.
I’ve loved horror for a really long time. And I actually do think that comedy and horror have a lot of overlap as far as construction. -Tracy Oliver
Writers Tracy Oliver (Harlem 2023), Dewayne Perkins (The Amber Ruffin Show 2023), and director Tim Story (Tom & Jerry 2021) each have a heavy background in comedy. The trio came together to make The Blackening, Lionsgate’s upcoming horror comedy feature film.
I had the absolute joy of catching a screening of The Blackening in May and I’m just so excited for everyone to have a chance to see the film. It’s no secret that over the years the horror genre hasn’t done well with Black characters. It’s turned into a running joke among those in the know, “How long will the Black character last?” The Blackening started out as a comedy sketch by Perkins’ Chicago-based comedy troupe 3Peat and poses the question, “What happens in a horror movie when all the characters are Black?”
Getting to sit down and talk with Tracy and Tim was absolutely the highlight of my year thus far. Check out the full interview below. We chat about the transformation from a comedy sketch to a full-fledged feature film, their creative process, and so much more!
We love entertaining audiences. It’s the best thing. We really just want people to have a great time. – Tim Story
And that it is. The Blackening hits theaters on June 16th, be sure to look out for special advance screenings too!
