There are very few genre combinations as difficult to master as those of horror and comedy. It’s so easy to get wrong. The trick is balancing the scares with the humour. Normally one will dominate, and more often than not a director fails on both counts trying to satisfy both masters. However, when it’s done well, as it is in Evil Dead 2, What We Do in The Shadows, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil and Shaun of the Dead, it works beautifully. As is does in Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman’s spooky new film Extra Ordinary.
Rose (Maeve Higgins) is a driving instructor in a small town who has special talents when it comes to communicating with the dead. However, after the death of her father (Risteard Cooper) she avoids the spirit world like the plague. That is until a desperate local man (Barry Ward) approaches her about the possession of his daughter. They uncover a plot which involves a washed-up local musician (Will Forte) and the devil!
Extra Ordinary is first and foremost great fun. It has a brand of offbeat humour which evokes the likes of Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace and the films of Wright, Pegg and Frost. Casting comedians (including the wonderful Claudia O’Doherty) ensures that the comedic timing is impeccable and the script is stuffed full of brilliant one-liners. In terms of horror, Extra Ordinary is more Wellington paranormal than Sam Raimi, but the effects are impressive nonetheless. It’s a joyous gem of a film. One which will have you in stitches and floating down the road.
Extra Ordinary screened at Grimmfest.
