Rick and Morty Season 7: A Return to Horror Parodies

The Return of Horror Parodies

The latest season of Rick and Morty has brought back a classic element from its earlier outings - horror parodies. While the show has always been known for its witty spoofs on pop culture, it had gradually moved away from the horror genre in recent seasons. However, Season 7's 'Rickfending Your Mort' episode marked a significant return to this trope, as it delved into a series of famous scary movies parodied in the signature Rick and Morty style.

Rick is bit by a sentient T shirt as Morty looks on in Rick and Morty season 7

The episode saw Rick and Morty revisiting numerous adventures that were previously unseen, providing the perfect opportunity to spoof a string of famous horror movies. From Pet Sematary to Maximum Overdrive and Blade, the episode crammed in parodies of these iconic horror films, bringing back the gory and darkly comedic storytelling that the show was once known for.

Rick bursts through a door dressed like Blade in Rick and Morty season 7 trailer

In these spoofs, Rick and Morty experimented with the reviving abilities of a titular location, faced off against killer clothes and cars, and even tried their hand at vampire slaying, all while making light of scary media. This return to horror parodies in Season 7 suggests a potential shift in the show's tone and storytelling, setting the stage for more gory and ghoulish genre parodies in Season 8.

Rick and Morty see a zombie hand in season 7 opening credits

The Evolution of Horror Parodies in Rick and Morty

Throughout its earlier seasons, Rick and Morty was known for its extensive parody of horror movies, often featuring full episodes devoted to riffing on genre classics. However, as the show progressed, it began to move away from this trope, especially with the introduction of serious villains and a darker tone in later seasons.

Birdperson, Rick, Squanchy, and Gene beat up the Predator in Rick and Morty season 7 episode 1

The shift in tone led to a decrease in gory spoofs of grim movies, as the show's storytelling became more focused on character development and overarching storylines. Season 7's 'Rickfending Your Mort' episode, featuring a conscious return to lighter, sillier genre storytelling, marked a departure from the darker tone and emotional stakes seen in recent seasons, hinting at a potential resurgence of horror parodies in the upcoming Season 8.

Rick shoots Benjamin Franklin's reanimated corpse with a laser in a pet sematary in Rick and Morty season 7

With Rick Prime's death and the show's renewed focus on character development, Season 8 presents an opportunity to bring back darker, grosser genre stories without impacting the overarching storyline. The absence of a serious villain opens the door for Rick and Morty to explore the horror genre's most famous movies once again, promising a return to the gory and comedic horror parodies of earlier seasons.

Scary Terry in Rick and Morty

The Future of Horror Parodies in Rick and Morty

As Season 7 sets the stage for a potential return to horror parodies, the upcoming Season 8 holds the promise of more gory and comedic genre spoofs. The tonal shift in Season 7, marked by the absence of serious villains, allows Rick and Morty to focus on character development while incorporating horror elements, bringing back darker and grosser genre stories without the constraints of the overarching storyline.

Rick beats up Rick Prime in Rick and Morty

The dynamic between Rick's awareness of horror tropes and Morty's well-meaning obliviousness provides a perfect balance for the show to spoof the genre without becoming too gruesome or bleak. With Morty set to receive more screen time in Season 8, the show could stage as many horror parodies as it did in earlier seasons, offering fans a return to the classic gory and ghoulish storytelling that has been a hallmark of Rick and Morty.