Five stone cold classic corpse comedies

This Friday Swiss Army Man arrives in UK cinemas. It’s a film starring Daniel Radcliffe as a flatulent corpes and despite what you might assume hearing the synopsis, it’s been getting rave reviews.

Understandably, it’s also been getting a lot of buzz. People storm out out of early film festival screenings appalled, but those who stayed discovered a strange, bonkers and surprisingly heartfelt film about loneliness and soul-searching.

- Seven magnificent 21st century westerns
- Jared Leto to star in Andy Warhol biopic
- Maggie Smith signs up for Downton Abbey movie

Having a cadaver for a lead character isn’t what makes Swiss Army Man unique however, in fact it’s just the latest in a long line of comedies about the recently-deceased. Here are five stone cold classics.

‘Weekend at Bernie’s’

Cult 80s comedies don’t come much strange than 'Weekend at Bernie’s’ (above), a film about idiot everymen and the inability of people recognise a corpse when they see one.

Those idiots are Larry (Andrew McCarthy) and Richard (Jonathan Silverman), who get caught up the affairs and extra-marital affairs of their boss Bernie and mob hitmen.

The corpse is played by Terry Kiser, who despite a long career has yet to find a role he’ll be better known for.

'Stand By Me’

Unlike 'Weekend At Bernie’s’, 'Stand By Me’ is about a corpse we don’t spend most of the film in the company of. Instead, it’s about a group of kids whose morbid curiosity sends them on an adventure.

As the group journeys through the woods of 1950s Oregon they learn about who they are, they grow up, there’s a classic scene involving gallons of sick and, eventually, they find a corpse.

Said corpse is only seen briefly, and is played by Kent Luttrell. In an interview in 2010 he said it was still his favourite project, despite a long career working behind the scenes and as a stunt man. “It was the first time I’d ever been involved in a film, and it’s all new and exciting,” he said.

'Little Miss Sunshine’

Viggo Mortensen recently starred in 'Captain Fantastic’, a quirkly indie road movie about death and a dysfunctional family that also includes a corpse. Its existence clearly owes a lot to the success of 'Little Miss Sunshine’ in 2006.

Starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette, a young Paul Dano (who also stars in 'Swiss Army Man’) and an even younger Abigail Breslin, it was an indie that struck a chord with the mainstream.

When the Hoover family embarks on a road trip across America so that young Olive (Breslin) can compete in a beauty pageant, they’re beset by tragedy when grandfather Edwin passes away. Rather than turn back however, they take the corpse with them.

Edwin is played by Alan Arkin, who is obviously too refined and respected an actor to play the corpse for any sustained length of time. Still, the Hoovers attempting to hide him does lead to some funny moments.

'National Lampoon’s Vacation’

It seems that when dysfunctional American families go for long drives on the big screen, the chances are they’ll end up wheeling a corpse around.

In the case of Harold Ramis’s classic comedy the corpse is that of Aunt Edna, who accompanies the Griswold’s on their trip to Walley World. Sadly she dies in her sleep, but undeterred the family ties her to the roof of their car.

The corpse was played by Denzel Washi- no, of course it wasn’t. Industry veteran Imogene Coca (pictured above, alive) played Edna.

'The Trouble With Harry’

'Psycho’ - we hope that doesn’t spoil it for you, but it has been 56 years - isn’t the only Alfred Hitchcock film to feature a famous corpse, but it is the most famous.

It’s lesser-known classic 'The Trouble With Harry’ that makes our list. The problem with Harry? Well, he’s dead, and his discovery by the residents of small town in Vermont sends shockwaves through the village.

Being a work of the great Hitchcock, there’s naturally a healthy dose of suspense as the three leads eye each other up as the potential killer, but there’s also a pitch black sense of humour.

The titular corpse was played by Philip Truex.

Picture Credits: Paramount Pictures / Sony Pictures / 20th Century Fox / Fox Searchlight / Warner Bros.