Genre Confusion: Cinema Mash-ups, Hybrids, and Crossovers

Movie genre mash-ups, hybrid genres, or film genre crossovers.  What is this cinematic concept inbreeding?  Most are Hollywood kitsch.  Some of them are so obviously pandering to puerile tastes, that it's laid out right in the title, like this summer's Cowboys v Aliens from John Favreau.  Other titles are less obvious in their efforts to grab a quick buck, such as Outlander (2008), which pits vikings against aliens.  Or, how about vikings versus North American Indians in Pathfinder (2007), instead of the old school cowboys battling Indians contests?  It all seems to come full circle at some point.

Thankfully some of these genre melanges do take it beyond exploitation and an appeal to teenage boys as their main market.  Middle of the road genre mash-up categories make bank all the time without being exploitative, such as the ever present romantic comedies, and the now mainstream "dramedy."

Movie Fan Collectibles is always interested in films, both old and new, that break new ground.  In the case of film genre mash-ups, there are plenty of examples that are not kitsch.  Mind you, we're not saying we don't like kitsch, but we also look for film that provides intellectual sustenance, as well as the fun light snacks.  Genre crossovers that don't disappoint us are those like 2009's District 9 (mocumentary/sci-fi).  Some think the concept of aliens standing in for oppressed ethic groups is too basic, but we would argue that a very well-done - yet simply sketched - morality tale might be good for the typical mash-up viewers.  For the grownups, great genre hybrids might be the classic Bladerunner, a sci-fi/film noire with Godard precursor Alphaville (1965), or Brick (teen drama/film noire).  These films move past being entertainment commodities into the realm of art, and propel the development of cinematic aesthetics forward.

Chris Tilly at IGN UK, a man with way too much time on his hands, recommends looking up these genre mash-ups:

Quentin Tarantino, From Dusk Till Dawn. Grindcore plus um, we won't tell you, because it's a spoiler. But here's a hint: sounds like "umpires"

Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer (do you even have to ask what this is about?)

Cloverfield and The Blair Witch Project. sci-fi/mocumentary, horror/mocumentary, respectively.

Blacula  Blaxploitation/Horror.  Back in the day of exploitation, we think these guys either got stoned to think this up, or took bets on who could produce the stupidest hybrid and get it into the grindhouses.

Simon Pegg Shaun of the Dead Romantic Comedy/Horror.  Just go see it, it's one our family favorites.  Pegg still in top form here laugh-wise.

Westworld Western/Sci-Fi.  Back in the day we all went to see it.  Yul Brynner as a robot cowboy seemed kinda neat at that point.  The film was stilted.

Bubba Ho-Tep Comedy/Horror/Geriatric Drama.  Elvis and killer mummies. 'Nuff said.