There’s been a new renaissance in British comedy as of late, combining the much-loved (but at times, too overrated) genre with the archetypical horror elements, most notable of the bunch being the hysterical SHAUN OF THE DEAD. And if you’re a fan of that film, then chances are you are going to like the incredibly hilarious English side-splitter FREAK OUT.

The film describes itself as, to paraphrase THE EVIL DEAD, “the ultimate experience in grueling immaturity”, and it’s actually a completely accurate sum-up. Much like SHAUN, instead of directly parodying numerous films the way an American horror satire would (ahem, SCARY MOVIE), FREAK OUT satirizes the convections and conventions of the horror film, but with a decidedly pre-teen bad taste take on the whole proceedings that actually works in it’s favor.

Two awkward, geeky teens, Merv and Onkey come across a fey would-be serial killer and attempt to train him to be the next Jason Voorhees. It’s like a PRETTY WOMAN for the gore crowd as the killer is taught how to stalk, chop and, eventually, massacre without regard. Unfortunately, they eventually come to realize that they, ahem, created a monster and now that hockey-masked murderer wants to cut them up.

The laughs as the inept trio tries to emulate the “videos nasties” come at rapid-fire succession, leading up to a completely ludicrous finale that suits the film perfectly. While the obviously low budget, backyard look of the film may turn off a lot of casual viewers; true horror fans will get it immediately. Filled with enough horror in-jokes (and multiple bizarre references to Patrick Duffy and Larry Hagman) to keep your geeky side laughing and enough dick-and-fart jokes to keep the 13-year-old side giggling like you were in Sex Ed class, I can honestly say this is one of the funniest movies I’ve watched this the year.