scary tickles

So I go to see Hereditary, where my fellow Glaswegians and I find the ‘scary bits’ laughable (not gentle chuckles but full-on belly laughs). Then I read your review describing it as “one of the most affecting horrors in recent memory”. Colour me

confused! Were these moments meant to be funny? (Seems unlikely.) Is the Glasgow sense of humour warped (quite possibly – it definitely was not nervous laughter!). Do the TF reviewers need to toughen up? (Your call!) Either way, I have been left wondering if other readers have had their funny bones tickled by ‘scary’ movies?

EMMA CACKETTE, GLASGOW

Having seen the ultra-scary and nightmare-inducing Hereditary recently, I know that, despite its undoubted quality, come awards season it won’t win many gongs because horror is a genre that voting bodies don’t take seriously. However, I know it’s going to revive that old chestnut about what the scariest films of all time are. Some, I’ve found, like The Blair Witch Project, are completely banal and overrated and haven’t stood the test of time, while Alien and John Carpenter’s The Thing still scare me senseless.

STEPHEN MCCARTHY, VIA EMAIL

We’ve had tons of letters about Hereditary. Yes, it frustrates that only two out-and-out horrors have ever won Best Picture (The Silence Of The Lambs; Driving Miss Daisy); and no, our reviewers don’t need to toughen up. Just please could you leave the lights on a bit longer, mister projectionist?