11 Comedies That Are Actually Horror Films Through The Eyes Of The Supporting Characters

What do the most beloved comedic characters have in common? Being completely self-centered, putting their own desires above anyone else's, regardless of who gets hurt in the process. Unfortunately, from the perspective of the supporting characters, many of these "comedies" are downright bleak.
Think about it: while the main characters may be making us laugh, there's usually a poor sidekick or supporting player who's going through absolute hell. They're the ones dealing with the consequences of the main characters' ridiculous decisions, or facing down the terrifying monsters that the audience is meant to find amusing. And while we're giggling at the antics of the leads, these poor souls are struggling to survive.
While some films are clearly meant to be terrifying, others only reveal their dark, twisted side once you take a closer look. It's all a matter of perspective, and when it comes to comedy, the view from the supporting cast can be pretty grim.

#1 Kimberly Wallace - My Best Friend's Wedding

Source: Sony Home Picture Entertainment

All Kimmy wants is a lovely wedding day, but little does she know she's become the pawn in a toxic game between Julianne and Michael. By asking Julianne to be her maid of honor, Kimmy sets herself up to be the target of Julianne's increasingly unhinged attempts to steal the groom.
From exploiting Kimmy's insecurities to breaking into her father's email, Julianne goes to extreme lengths to sabotage the wedding. It's a psychological thriller disguised as a romantic comedy.

#2 Kassie Larson - The Switch

Source: Lionsgate

Kassie just wants to have a baby, but her so-called "best friend" goes behind her back and swaps out the sperm donor's sample with his own. Suddenly, Kassie is unknowingly raising her friend's child, and the situation quickly goes from awkward to horrifying.
It's a premise that wouldn't be out of place in a horror movie - in fact, it's reminiscent of the villainous plot in the 2016 thriller Don't Breathe. Who knew romantic comedies could be so terrifying?

#3 The Gingerbread Man - Shrek

Source: Universal Pictures

Everyone loves Shrek, a heartwarming tale about learning to love yourself. However it takes a detour into a territory somewhere near the end of the second act.
This classic tale of self-acceptance takes a sharp turn towards the gruesome when Lord Farquaad captures the Gingerbread Man and subjects him to unimaginable torture. The poor cookie has his legs removed and is forced to watch as his gumdrop buttons are chewed up before his eyes.
It's a scene straight out of a horror movie, yet Dreamworks thought it was appropriate for children.

#4 Lucy Whitmore - 50 First Dates

Source: Sony Home Picture Entertainment

After a head injury, Lucy wakes up every day thinking it's the same day. Her loved ones go to great lengths to keep up the charade, but it's clear that Lucy is struggling to keep up with the world around her. Enter Henry Roth, who decides to pursue a romantic relationship with Lucy despite knowing about her condition.
By the end of the film, she's even pregnant with his child. Can you imagine waking up one day and being told you're pregnant? It's a terrifying thought.

#5 Sid - Toy Story

Source: Disney

Sid, the troubled kid from Toy Story, gets dragged into a living nightmare during the film's climax. Woody comes to life in front of him, followed by all of Sid's deformed toys. They band together to teach him a lesson he won't soon forget. It's played for laughs, but it's pretty disturbing stuff.
This is a kid who's already dealing with a broken home, and now he's being terrorized by his own playthings. Someone get this kid a therapist.

#6 Mary Swanson - Dumb And Dumber

Source: Warner Bros.

Mary Swanson is just trying to live her life when she gets sucked into the insane world of Harry and Lloyd. Her husband gets kidnapped and held for ransom, and she's stalked across the country by the bumbling Lloyd Christmas, who's so clueless he doesn't even realize he's being a total creep. It's like a horror movie, but with jokes.
Every scene with Mary feels like it could be her last before she's brutally murdered. It's a wonder she didn't run away screaming.

#7 The Griswolds - National Lampoon's Family Vacation

Source: Courtesy Everett Collection

The Griswold kids are stuck in a chaotic nightmare in National Lampoon's Family Vacation. All they wanted was a fun trip to Walley World. But their father is a complete lunatic and everything that could go wrong does go wrong.
The situations they encounter would make even the bravest horror movie characters quiver in fear. From their grandmother's sudden death, the dog's tragic accident, their father's affair with a woman who isn't their mother, and their father's growing obsession with guns, this trip is a recipe for psychological trauma. And to top it off, they never even make it to their destination.

#8 Principal Rooney - Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Source: Paramount Pictures

Principal Rooney is just doing his job as an educator. But his task of ensuring Ferris Bueller attends school proves to be a nightmare. Ferris isn't like any other student - he's a master manipulator who delights in causing chaos and destruction to those around him.
Throughout the day, Principal Rooney is subjected to multiple humiliations, including being attacked by a dog, losing his wallet, and getting punched in the face. Ferris ruins everything for the poor principal, who is just trying to maintain some order in the school.

#9 Holly Reilly-Kennedy - P.S. I Love You

Source: Warner Bros.

P.S. I Love You tells the story of Holly Reilly-Kennedy who struggles to cope with the death of her husband. To aid in her recovery, she follows a series of instructions left by her late husband in his letters. The tasks lead Kennedy to have an affair with her husband's best friend, which was apparently her husband's plan all along.
However, the twist is that the letters were being passed along by Kennedy's mother, making the whole situation even more bizarre. The film seems less like a story about moving on from loss and more like a case of psychological manipulation.

#10 Meredith Blake - The Parent Trap

Source: Courtesy Everett Collection

The Parent Trap presents Meredith Blake as a monster who hates children. But in reality, she is just a young woman trying to marry a wealthy man. However, she becomes the victim of a cruel prank by the twins, who psychologically torture her throughout the movie, including pushing her air mattress out onto a lake.
One wonders whether the twins are showing her that they can do whatever they want to her at any time. Fortunately, she gets out of the situation before things get any worse.

#11 Harry And Marv - Home Alone

Source: 20th Century Fox

Sure, Harry and Marv try to rob a house, but they get more than they bargained for when they face the wrath of a resourceful child. They suffer from a series of painful and humiliating traps, including getting burned, scarred, and cut, having spiders crawl on their faces, getting hit with paint buckets, and enduring emotional and psychological trauma.
While they may not be the most sympathetic characters, the torture they receive seems excessive and cruel.