Out of the Dark (1995)

Out of the Dark is special because it treats the supernatural like a playground for Stephen Chow’s wonderfully unhinged comic instincts, turning scares into setups for punchlines without ever losing that eerie, late-night-in-a-haunted-building vibe. It’s a gleefully odd cocktail of horror atmosphere and absurd, rapid-fire silliness, where the humor often feels like it’s operating on dream logic—and that’s exactly the charm. If you enjoy genre mash-ups that wink at exorcism tropes while still delivering spooky fun, it’s an easy, entertaining ride with sharp timing and playful parody energy. If you need your horror or comedy to be grounded and coherent, though, this one’s proudly nonsensical—and all the better for the right audience.

Out of the Dark is clearly aiming for a rambunctious horror-comedy where a haunted apartment building and an “exorcist” with a twist collide in chaotic, slapstick mayhem. The problem is the humor often lands with a thud, the scares are too lightweight to pick up the slack, and the performances can feel more grating than charming. Add some choppy editing and a story that never quite tightens its grip, and it’s the kind of movie that tests your patience more than your nerves. If you enjoy messy, low-rent genre mashups and can laugh at sheer silliness, you might find a few moments to like—but if you want sharp comedy or real horror, this probably isn’t your night.