I am a fan of the horror genre. I like movies and books about monsters and the spooky things that go bump in the night. Ghosts and demons. Vampires and werewolves. Not so much serial killers, personally, but you get the picture.
So maybe you’ll find it interesting to know that the stories that really make my skin crawl involve... awkwardness? Humans embarrassing themselves? I'm talking about cringe comedy, or as I like to call it "cringecore". Most of these stories are meant to be funny... and can be! But I often feel like I will die of second-hand embarrassment first. This, to me, is a type of horror.
As a 90s kid, the movies that introduced me to the idea of cringe comedy were Jim Carrey movies: Dumb and Dumber and The Cable Guy. (I still can’t watch The Cable Guy to this day, baby Sarah just can’t handle it, but if you want to feel the cringe you can check it out from one of our partner libraries.) In some cases, misunderstandings and miscommunications, or outright lies, have put these characters in awkward and uncomfortable situations. Embarrassing and mortifying things happen to these characters, either because of their own actions or because of circumstances outside of their control. I don't know why seeing other people embarrass themselves makes us laugh. It's like how you can't help but laugh at someone falling down sometimes, even though you know it's wrong.
There has been a movement lately to “embrace your cringe, opens a new window” to like what you like, dress how you want, and be who you are, without self-consciousness. Maybe I would feel differently about all of this if I had grown up with the message that “nothing is embarrassing”. Unfortunately, I grew up with “hipster, opens a new window” culture, which to me feels like almost the opposite of embracing your cringe. Hipsters were groping for individualism and a way to prove that you are cool for your independent thinking and choices. Looking back at it now though, it was all pretty cringe.
I have lately begun to overcome my fears of being cringe and of watching cringe. But I still usually begin this journey with a sense of dread. What will this story reveal to me about human nature or human imperfection? How vulnerable will this make me feel?
In spite of my personal misgivings, I have taken it upon myself to compile three lists that cover this genre: Cringe-Comedy Movies, Cringe-Comedy TV Shows, and Unintentional Cringe. Look. I’m only one woman and can only cringe so much, so no, I have not seen all of these! Please refer to my anxiety scale to know how I personally feel about the ones that I have seen.
The Cringe Comedy! In most cases, misunderstandings and miscommunications, or outright lies, have put these characters in awkward and uncomfortable situations. Watch at your own risk. Terrible things happen to these characters, either because of their own actions or because of circumstances outside of their control.
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I have not seen this one yet, but will guess that it will be:
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Cringe TV Shows, opens a new window
New TV shows like I Think You Should Leave, 😑 The Rehearsal, 🤭 and How To with John😬 are all examples of cringe comedies that have eased me back into the genre. I think one of the most important aspects of a lot of current-day cringe comedy is the idea that it is based on reality shows, which are supposed to be based on real life. These shows hinge on the idea that we are getting a peek into other people's lives without that sitcom sheen. The characters show us the most embarrassing, and sometimes worst, sides of themselves. Where the cringe factor falls on the scale is the difference between laughing at or laughing with someone. The viewer is the one who feels embarrassed or amused for having witnessed it.
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There are cases where something is meant to be serious and turns out to be cringe: the unintentional cringe comedy. Movies so bad, that watching them is usually described as a “hate watch.”
I will say that these movies make me even more uncomfortable, if possible, than intentionally cringe films because I don’t like laughing at people who are trying their best to be sincere and serious and just completely failing at it. But we can’t talk about this subject without including these films. I also think that this list is totally subjective! To be honest, I haven’t watched a lot of these films and TV shows because of their bad reputations, and I would love to hear from you if you think they don’t deserve to be on this list. And please let me know what you think does deserve to be on this list!
I think that it is especially hard to toe the line between bad, and cringe, and so bad that it comes back around to being good.
There are cases where something is meant to be serious and turns out to be cringe. The unintentional cringe comedy. Movies or TV shows so bad or uncomfortable, that watching them is usually described as a “hate watch.” There is a thin line between bad, cringe, and so bad that it comes back around to being good.
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Do you feel the cringe yet? Let us know how you feel about these films and cringe-core in general in the comments!
Add a comment to: Cringecore: To Be Human Is To Be Cringe