Comedian Samantha Hale has never been one to shy away from the dark side—she runs toward it, punchline in hand. In her new comedy special Samantha Hale: Horror Nerd, now available on digital platforms, Hale celebrates her lifelong obsession with slashers, scream queens, and spooky nostalgia, turning horror fandom into laugh-out-loud catharsis. A self-described “Morticia Addams disciple,” Hale finds the perfect intersection between fear and funny, exploring how both genres rely on tension, timing, and the sweet release of surprise.
In the below interview, she dives into how the pandemic reignited her creative spark, why horror fans are the most loyal crowd in comedy, and what it’s like to blend bloodcurdling scares with belly laughs—all while paying tribute to her horror-loving parents and the weird, wonderful community that helped Horror Nerd come alive.
You can watch Samantha Hale: Horror Nerd here.
Dread Central: Horror and comedy are both all about timing—one for scares, the other for laughs. How do you thread that needle without losing the tension that makes each work?
Samantha Hale: They are most definitely both about timing. Both horror and comedy have set ups to create tension, and either a punchline, or a kill scene to relieve that tension. It’s all about pushing the audience as far as you can wondering what is going to happen next, then rewarding them for tolerating the tension with an unexpected twist in the punchline, or with a new and exciting way for the killer to outdo him or herself. I guess you could also say that a comic’s best joke that they close their set with is the final girl. But the key element for both comedy and horror is the surprise. If the audience sees it coming, they won’t enjoy it as much, so I try to lead them down one path into thinking I am going to say one thing, then I take a hard turn at the end of the joke.
DC: You built Samantha Hale: Horror Nerd out of pure horror fandom and stand-up. Was there a moment on stage when you realized, “Oh wow, horror people really get this?”
SH: Actually, it was before I had started doing the show. I was already doing stand up for about ten years and had bits on horror films for sure, but the pandemic changed everything. Live entertainment was shut down in Los Angeles. I couldn’t really work much for almost two years. So I had to find ways to stay inspired and of course to pass the time. I started visiting the most iconic horror film locations, like the Michael Myers house, or the Nightmare on Elm Street house, and would film jokes about the movie in front of them. I had a blast doing it, and people were incredibly receptive, and kept asking which house location I would be writing material for next. That is when I knew I was on to something. I was excited about these new jokes I was writing, and so were my friends and followers who love horror.
DC: Every horror nerd has that one movie they’ll defend to the grave. What’s your ride-or-die horror film—the one that defines you as a fan?
SH: I mean my all-time favorite horror film is Halloween, but I certainly don’t have to defend it, as it’s such a beloved movie. Next is The Shining, then Beetlejuice, neither of which need defending. But I will ride or die hard for Leprechaun. I love him so much. Growing up I loved Warwick Davis in Willow, but I fell head over campy heels for him in Leprechaun. I will defend Leprechaun in the Hood until the day I die because he smoked a joint with Ice-T. What more do you need? Also, I love Jack Frost and have no problem saying that at all. My mom and I used to have the best time watching it, and she didn’t even like horror films.
DC: If you could take Horror Nerd on the road and perform it inside an actual horror movie location, what would be your dream venue?
SH: Oh man, these questions are GOOD! I actually do have an evil plan in mind. So my mom lived in Simi Valley for ten years, just a block or so away from the Poltergeist House. I grew up walking right by it. I have actually reached out to the wonderful woman, Rachel, who owns the house now, and she is coming to my next show at The Hollywood Improv. If she might be open to the idea, I would like to do the show outside around the pool. How epic would that be?
DC: Horror fans often talk about “comfort horror”—movies that feel like a security blanket of blood and screams. What’s your ultimate comfort watch?
SH: My ultimate, ultimate comfort blanket is actually The Addams Family sitcom. It just makes me feel so happy, and so safe. I like to think of Morticia Addams as my horror mother. But my security blanket of blood and screams would have to be The Shining, with Psycho in a close second place. That film takes me away every time I watch it. When I am stressed out I hang out at The Overlook for a couple hours, and get lost in Jack and Shelley’s iconic performances.
DC: We’ve heard your dad really shaped your horror DNA. When you’re performing the special, do you ever feel like you’re channeling him in those moments?
SH: I would like to think both of my parents are always with me on stage, as my guardian angels keeping me safe from hecklers! But my dad was a total weirdo, and I say that as the highest of compliments, and he is a constant inspiration for my material, and more importantly for my drive to keep Horror Nerd going. It’s definitely a tribute to him. And my mom as well, who I also talk about in my set. She was the one to let me watch The Exorcist when I was 10, and always took me to Blockbuster video and let me pick out the bloodiest VHS cover they had. The memories we all created watching horror films when I was younger are some of my favorites
DC: We’re seeing a resurgence of horror-comedy hybrids like Totally Killer and Ready or Not. Do you think audiences are craving that blend of laughs and carnage more than ever?
SH: Yeah, I mean dark comedies and horror are more popular than ever, so why not kill two audiences with one stone? Excitement and fear are similar physical responses in our bodies, and laughing and screaming are similar releases. I think people are craving a break from reality at this particular moment. It can be such an escape to laugh with the characters we see in comedies, and see them overcome their struggles with humor, and equally as much of an escape to see the final girl come out on top after figuring out how to overcome the killer.
DC: If you could roast one horror icon live on stage—Freddy, Chucky, Art the Clown, whoever—who’s getting the mic, and what’s your opening line?
SH: I would roast Jason because we roast the ones we love. My opening line(s) would be:
Jason Voorhees, you puck faced prissy boy. There are more holes in your face than there are in the plot of Jason Goes to Hell. You are so terrified of water the only movie that scares you is Halloween: H20. Plus, you are so creepy, the only woman who will ever give you head is your own mother.
Definitely wouldn’t give Freddy the mic, because you could not get him off it! He would take over the whole show for sure, but now that I think about it, it might be worth it. I feel like he would call the audience a bitch. A lot. Ok who am I kidding, I would totally give him the mic. I would love to be roasted by Hannibal Lector (not literally though.) The lambs would definitely be screaming, or laughing at least.
DC: You’ve been doing Horror Nerd live for years now. Has your material evolved alongside the genre? Are new movies creeping their way into your set?
SH: Yes absolutely, I am definitely adding newer film references like Late Night With the Devil, or The Conjuring universe for sure. I actually hosted the show at Midsummer Scream this year as Annabelle. Each month at The Hollywood Improv, the show has a specific theme or genre of horror that all the comics have to write about. I try not to repeat themes, so they are getting more and more specific, and I am getting deeper cut material, which is so fun for me to write. I recently did a Good For Her theme, and got some great material out of new and older films like Maxxxine, back to I Spit On Your Grave.
DC: You get personal in this special—it’s more than just horror jokes. Have you found that sharing your love of the genre has helped people connect with you on a deeper level?
SH: Oh absolutely. I have had so many people tell me that they grew up watching scary movies with their parents, and that it makes them feel closer to them. I love when people tell me stories about their childhood experiences with horror and with Halloween, because it makes me think “These are my people.” They get what I am doing here, and hopefully they come along for the ride with me, wherever Horror Nerd goes.
DC: Between your special, live shows, and podcast, you’ve created your own horror-comedy empire. What’s next for Horror Nerd—touring, a sequel, maybe a Halloween special?
SH: That was the plan, to build a community around this show, for sure. To create a space, whether it is a live show or a viewing of the special, where all the weird kids (again, that’s a compliment) can come to feel seen and understood. I would love to at some point shoot a series of other comics doing sets on scary movie material under the Horror Nerd empire. I definitely want to tour more conventions and horror-themed spaces as well. Getting to run the show in New Orleans on Halloween night a couple years ago, as an example, was incredible. Definitely want to reach new audiences out there!
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