--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Comedy is like horror - you have to shock…" description: "\"Comedy is like horror - you have to shock something in the viewer's system to make them feel it.\" — Jonathan Krisel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/jonathan-krisel-11822_comedy_comedy-is-like-horror-you-have-to-shock_2422356.jpg" --- # Comedy is like horror - you have to shock something in the… ![“Comedy is like horror - you have to shock something in the viewer's system to make them feel it.” quote by Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/jonathan-krisel-11822_comedy_comedy-is-like-horror-you-have-to-shock_2422356.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/jonathan-krisel-11822_comedy_comedy-is-like-horror-you-have-to-shock_2422356.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/jonathan-krisel-11822_comedy_comedy-is-like-horror-you-have-to-shock_2422356.jpg) > “Comedy is like horror - you have to shock something in the viewer's system to make them feel it.” [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy, like horror, must provoke a visceral reaction to be effective. **In simple terms:** Comedy needs to shock viewers to elicit feeling. Key Takeaway Use surprise to create emotional impact. Themes humor emotion shock Mood thoughtful playful Type analytical entertaining When to use this quote - scriptwriting - directing - editing Key Concepts psychology timing audience reaction Questions to Reflect On - What balance of surprise and comfort works best? - How can you gauge audience reaction? A Different Perspective Too much shock can alienate audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-like/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Horror Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror-shock-6135165/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Like Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-horror/) [Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shock/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) ## Related quotes > [I feel like too many horror writers and filmmakers sort of just assume that the default is, 'The horror movie must be all atmosphere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-g-tremblay/i-feel-like-too-many-horror-writers-and-filmmakers-sort-of-just/) [Paul G. Tremblay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-g-tremblay/) > [I like horror films and romance films. Films where you're going in being like, 'I'm coming here to be scared or to fall in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-glover/i-like-horror-films-and-romance-films-films-where-you-re-going-in/) [Donald Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-glover/) > [For me, I feel like horror space has always been a space of the other, even when it's not people of color or black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/for-me-i-feel-like-horror-space-has-always-been-a-space-of-the-other/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [I like horror movies, and in fact I like them even more now after making one. I just think they're much more liberating because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-verbinski/i-like-horror-movies-and-in-fact-i-like-them-even-more-now-after/) [Gore Verbinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-verbinski/) > [If you're a boy, you always want to be in a western; and any actor I know would like to be in a horror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-dalton/if-you-re-a-boy-you-always-want-to-be-in-a-western-and-any-actor-i/) [Timothy Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-dalton/) > [I feel like most horror films are made for teenagers about teenagers. I've done a couple of those horror films. There's nothing wrong with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/i-feel-like-most-horror-films-are-made-for-teenagers-about-teenagers/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [Jason Voorhees was a kid who was picked on at summer camp, and Michael Myers was someone vilified by his own family. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/jason-voorhees-was-a-kid-who-was-picked-on-at-summer-camp-and-michael/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [The point of the first one was that it was about guys being lured by sex and the stereotypes... I always say it's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/the-point-of-the-first-one-was-that-it-was-about-guys-being-lured-by/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [Thunder in the sky is Holy-angered demons glory the Earth turnin for the worst like a horror story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/thunder-in-the-sky-is-holy-angered-demons-glory-the-earth-turnin-for/) [C-DASH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-dash/) > [Since I've had children I don't really like horror movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-marino/since-i-ve-had-children-i-don-t-really-like-horror-movies/) [Ken Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-marino/) > [I like horror movies that have a degree of coziness to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-forge/i-like-horror-movies-that-have-a-degree-of-coziness-to-them/) [Tobias Forge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-forge/) > [You don't see heroism, humanity and hope like you do in a horror story. Horror celebrates the kind of friendship that keeps you standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/you-don-t-see-heroism-humanity-and-hope-like-you-do-in-a-horror-story/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Young, gay and stuck in Arkansas? Sounds like a horror flick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/young-gay-and-stuck-in-arkansas-sounds-like-a-horror-flick/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I think I approach my choices much the way I approach the way I consume movies and TV and stuff. I like everything, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pare/i-think-i-approach-my-choices-much-the-way-i-approach-the-way-i/) [Jessica Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pare/) > [After having your first child, it's a massive shock to the system. I work in an industry where people judge you and the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-nurding/after-having-your-first-child-it-s-a-massive-shock-to-the-system-i/) [Louise Nurding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-nurding/) ## More by Jonathan Krisel > [The Internet is a good way to try some stuff with no big crew and no money being spent. Since there are no stakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/the-internet-is-a-good-way-to-try-some-stuff-with-no-big-crew-and-no/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [I definitely feel the pressure to keep things fresh and original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/i-definitely-feel-the-pressure-to-keep-things-fresh-and-original/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > ['Fawlty Towers' was a huge influence on me. I mean, it was so slapstick, too. 'Are You Being Served?' was on 15 times a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/fawlty-towers-was-a-huge-influence-on-me-i-mean-it-was-so-slapstick/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [I always look at 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail.' They talked about how they wrote this movie with horses, and then they realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/i-always-look-at-monty-python-and-the-holy-grail-they-talked-about/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [It's how you define yourself. It's not Nirvana or Pearl Jam: it's, 'Do you watch 'Portlandia' or 'Amy Schumer'?' It relates to a specific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/it-s-how-you-define-yourself-it-s-not-nirvana-or-pearl-jam-it-s-do/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [One second here and there will make all the difference between something being funny and not being funny. That's why I like going, 'Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/one-second-here-and-there-will-make-all-the-difference-between/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [I want to work with extremely, genuinely charismatic people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/i-want-to-work-with-extremely-genuinely-charismatic-people/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [You can tell a lot about a person by what comedians they like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/you-can-tell-a-lot-about-a-person-by-what-comedians-they-like/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [I'm not a big 'scripted comedy' person necessarily. I'm open for wherever comedy can be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/i-m-not-a-big-scripted-comedy-person-necessarily-i-m-open-for/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [I went to film school, and I came in when video art was king, weird stuff was king, and there, you don't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/i-went-to-film-school-and-i-came-in-when-video-art-was-king-weird/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [Different actors have different rhythms. My goal as a director is to let these guys get their best work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/different-actors-have-different-rhythms-my-goal-as-a-director-is-to/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [When you make a pilot, you've never seen the show before; you don't know what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/when-you-make-a-pilot-you-ve-never-seen-the-show-before-you-don-t/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [I know comedy; I know how to do crazy, off-the-wall stuff that makes me laugh out loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/i-know-comedy-i-know-how-to-do-crazy-off-the-wall-stuff-that-makes-me/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [There's a thing in comedy where you take one step into a bad idea, but if you take 10, then it becomes a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/there-s-a-thing-in-comedy-where-you-take-one-step-into-a-bad-idea-but/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [I love working with nonactors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/i-love-working-with-nonactors/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) [Explore all 57 Jonathan Krisel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Comedy is like horror - you have to shock something in the viewer's system to make them feel it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Krisel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/comedy-is-like-horror-you-have-to-shock-something-in-the-viewer-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/comedy-is-like-horror-you-have-to-shock-something-in-the-viewer-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/jonathan-krisel-11822_comedy_comedy-is-like-horror-you-have-to-shock_2422356.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/jonathan-krisel-11822_comedy_comedy-is-like-horror-you-have-to-shock_2422356.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/jonathan-krisel-11822_comedy_comedy-is-like-horror-you-have-to-shock_2422356.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Comedy is like horror - you have to shock something in the viewer's system to make them feel it.” — Jonathan Krisel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jonathan Krisel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Comedy is like horror - you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/comedy-is-like-horror-you-have-to-shock-something-in-the-viewer-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/comedy-is-like-horror-you-have-to-shock-something-in-the-viewer-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```