History of The Laughing Dead!

Tickling is a phenomenon that fascinates human beings because of the disproportionate reactions it causes. Just touching sensitive points of the human body such as the soles of the feet is enough to cause intense body movements and boisterous laughter.

By extension, this concept is also applied for comic or paradoxical purposes in entertainment products, creating funny and surreal situations for the viewer. The principle of this comic device is that tickling, being so irresistible, produces the same reactions even on bodies that in theory should not be affected by it, for examples dead human bodies.

Der Bestatter (short movie 2012)

Spoilers ahead.

A tanatopractitioner must prepare the body of a young woman for the funeral by making her appear with a peaceful expression. Despite all his increasingly elaborate and laborious attempts, the girl continues to have a serious expression. When he is about to give up, he finally has an idea. 

He tickles her foot with one finger. The girl smiles broadly, and the task is accomplished.

Days of our lives

Bonnie Lockhart sneaks into the morgue to search for bones. While hiding under a sheet covering a body on a gurney, she is discovered by a staff member who notices her red spiked shoes sticking out. The staff member takes the shoes and puts them in a bag, as Bonnie tries to remain motionless, but accidentally moves one of her feet. The staff member becomes frightened and quickly leaves the morgue, muttering about rigor mortis.