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Fun Stuff => ENJOY => Topic started by: Frivial on 01 Dec 2006, 06:27

Title: dark comedies
Post by: Frivial on 01 Dec 2006, 06:27
I don't really know much about them, but I'm looking for dark comedies. Suggestions?

(for example, I like Being John Malkovich)
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Kicker of Elves on 01 Dec 2006, 07:34
'Heathers' is what I recommend to all and sundry.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Gutter Monkey on 01 Dec 2006, 07:36
The Day After (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_After).

I laughed all the way through.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Dimmukane on 01 Dec 2006, 09:20
Saved! is good if you hate overzealous christians.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Ravenbomb on 01 Dec 2006, 09:32
The Dark Backward is one of the darkest comedies I remember seeing
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: dennis on 01 Dec 2006, 14:47
Shallow Grave
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Gridgm on 01 Dec 2006, 15:01
Saved! is good if you hate overzealous christians.

be aware it is very chick flicky though

i like the more traditional ones...ie. almost anything by tarrentino, trainspotting, fight club, 11:14 is possibly the greatest film in existance if you can get your hands on it
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Trollstormur on 01 Dec 2006, 15:48
Cemetery Man ftw
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: tomselleck69 on 01 Dec 2006, 18:07
all of todd solondz's movies (welcome to the dollhouse, happiness, storytelling and palindromes + one or two that i haven't seen)

and very bad things
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Dimmukane on 01 Dec 2006, 19:01
Snatch wasn't exactly a dark comedy, but it's still worth watching.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Will on 01 Dec 2006, 22:16
I can't believe nobody's mentioned Death To Smoochy yet!  This was probably one of the better dark comedies I've ever seen. 

i like the more traditional ones...ie. almost anything by tarrentino, trainspotting, fight club, 11:14 is possibly the greatest film in existance if you can get your hands on it

Would any of those technically be considered dark comedies though?  Yeah, they're dark as hell, and have some elemental humor in the mix, but I would think that for something to be considered a comedic film, dark or otherwise, the comedy aspect should be the the main focal point of the movie.

I could be wrong, this is just my opinion.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: thepugs on 01 Dec 2006, 23:33
SO YES to Death to Smoochy.

Also, guys, Fargo!  Fargo is good!

If you're into horror/comedies I've got some good movies for you too, but I wouldn't consider them in any way similar to dark comedies.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Kicker of Elves on 03 Dec 2006, 05:47
In a similar vein to Death to Smoochy, Igby Goes Down is quite awesome.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Cartilage Head on 03 Dec 2006, 05:55
 Fight Club.

 Other Palahniuk books if you like to read books.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Juanathon on 03 Dec 2006, 11:02
Why has no mentioned, American Beauty. (although i might be that comedy). I also suggest the Chumscrubber. As far as books go, Vonegaut
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: SeanBateman on 03 Dec 2006, 14:00
In the Company of Men is a really great film about sexism and Patriarchy that is also fucking HILARIOUS. If you can laugh at it without hating yourself I will be impressed.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Frivial on 04 Dec 2006, 01:57
Igby goes down was great. Thanks for all the suggestions people! I will continue to watch many of them.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: wesfanemt333 on 04 Dec 2006, 03:09
Bringing out the dead is one that I enjoyed. 
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Cartilage Head on 05 Dec 2006, 03:25
 Happiness!
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Thrillho on 05 Dec 2006, 20:58
It's a TV show not a movie, but Spaced is brilliant.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Abattur on 05 Dec 2006, 22:16
M*A*S*H is a classic! And ofcourse Cannibal the musical.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Lines on 06 Dec 2006, 00:03
Happiness!

if you're talking about the book, Happiness is HILARIOUS. a self help book basically ruins the world, in a weird sort of way.

i third Death to Smoochy. it's amazing. the part with the penis shaped cookies is one of my favorite scenes.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Gridgm on 06 Dec 2006, 05:08
I can't believe nobody's mentioned Death To Smoochy yet!? This was probably one of the better dark comedies I've ever seen.?

i like the more traditional ones...ie. almost anything by tarrentino, trainspotting, fight club, 11:14 is possibly the greatest film in existance if you can get your hands on it

Would any of those technically be considered dark comedies though?? Yeah, they're dark as hell, and have some elemental humor in the mix, but I would think that for something to be considered a comedic film, dark or otherwise, the comedy aspect should be the the main focal point of the movie.

I could be wrong, this is just my opinion.

no i belive your right...possibly not trainspotting and definatly not 11:14 however

death to smoochy is good as well (what is it about ed norton)
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: bujiatang on 07 Dec 2006, 20:48
-Save the green planet

-Dr Strangelove

-The Apartment

perhaps in that order
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: TheBoredOne on 07 Dec 2006, 21:02
Vulgar.
Kevin Smith never ceases to amaze me.

edit:

Oh and Two Days, with Paul Rudd. Great movie.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Thrillho on 08 Dec 2006, 02:00
-The Apartment

GOOD CHOICE.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Duchess Tapioca on 08 Dec 2006, 06:04
I also suggest the Chumscrubber.

I saw that movie when it was first released in theaters! I think it is a pretty dumb movie, except for the dolphins! Everybody please watch it for the dolphins. I don't even like dolphins and I am reccomending it.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: SilentJ on 08 Dec 2006, 07:47
Kevin Smith never ceases to amaze me.

I'm quite partial to Clerks and Clerks 2 myself.

(DID I DO IT RITE?)
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: thepugs on 08 Dec 2006, 08:31
No.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: SilentJ on 10 Dec 2006, 10:30
 :-(
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Firefly on 12 Dec 2006, 08:07
I wouldn't say Saved was particularly dark. It ended pretty damn happily (still an amusing flick though)

Try out Arsenic and Old Lace. Oh and The Royal Tennenbaums and other Wess Anderson flicks are fairly amusing as well.

I don't know if Pulp Fiction would fall under the dark comedy genre, but it's definitely worth seeing.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Johnny C on 13 Dec 2006, 01:23
There's an Irish film called The Butcher Boy which I feel I should recommend. Igby Goes Down is also, as mentioned, great.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Coolhanderik on 13 Dec 2006, 02:53
I'm mad because my suggestions (Heathers, Cemetery Man,) have already been used. So I guess, Evil Dead II? And maybe Ghost Dog: The Way of The Samurai. though I don't know if the latter counts as a dark comedy... though it's pretty dang funny, and awesome!
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: TheBoredOne on 13 Dec 2006, 20:23
Ghost Dog's one of my all time favorite movies.
I guess it's got a touch of comedy to it.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: SilentJ on 14 Dec 2006, 07:16
Arsenic and Old Lace

My school put on Arsenic and Old Lace as their fall play this year.

I did not attend.

Is it really that good?
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Firefly on 17 Dec 2006, 05:26
Meh, I think it's cute and amusing.

It reminds me of Monty Python's Granny Bashers, in a way.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: dennis on 17 Dec 2006, 20:13
In the Company of Men is a really great film about sexism and Patriarchy that is also fucking HILARIOUS. If you can laugh at it without hating yourself I will be impressed.
I watched that movie in college with a mixed crowd and we thought it was pretty awful.

Oleanna was pretty funny.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Omnicide on 17 Dec 2006, 21:04
Kind Hearts and Coronets. (The only U-Rated film you'll see were 8 people are murdered and has a joke about cot-death.)
Re-Animator


Books:

A Modest Proposal; Johnathan Swift (baby-eating classic)
Money; Martin Amis (pornography, bomb threats, tranvestite stalkers and very literary writing to boot)
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Clara on 17 Dec 2006, 21:48
Wes Anderson things (Rushmore, The Life Aquatic, and especially The Royal Tenenbaums)

Books, books, there is this book called 'Geek Love' by Katherine Dunn and it's one of the darkest, funniest books I've ever started reading.

EDIT: Wahh, just kidding, Anderson was mentioned
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Utopian on 28 Dec 2006, 04:12
TV: Black Books if you can get your hands on it.

FILM: It was already said but Kind Hearts and Coronets is one of my favourites. Who wouldn't want to see a film in which most of the main characters (including a female) are played by Alec Guinness? And Braindead - the Peter Jackson zombie film.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: KharBevNor on 28 Dec 2006, 08:04
Icelanders do this thing really well. Try Reykjavik 101 and Magnus. Also, yes, early Peter Jackson. Brain Dead is hilarious, and so is Bad Taste. My idea of physical comedy. Similiarly, Shaun of the Dead and any Troma movie ever made. Yeah, it's not quite the same as 'normal' dark comedy, but hey. 
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Will on 28 Dec 2006, 12:21
Little Miss Sunshine isn't all that new; a lot of us here have been raving about it for a while now.  That being said, I STILL contend that it was an awesome movie, and as soon as I get paid again, I want to grab the DVD.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Ozymandias on 28 Dec 2006, 13:14
I consider Little Miss Sunshine a deep meditation on why you don't let people from New Mexico out of the state.

But that's just my New Mexican opinion.

Unfortunately, pretty much anything I can think of has already been said.

Dr. Strangelove is a great classic dark comedy, IMO. Actually, one of the only Kubrick movies I can tolerate.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: KharBevNor on 28 Dec 2006, 16:38
I've been to Reykjavik

So have I. Nice place but the booze is expensive.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: AllBad on 29 Dec 2006, 00:04

I think A Bucket of Blood is hilarious, followed by...Arsenic and Old Lace, The Last Supper (pissed off my republican dad like none other), Duplex, The Trouble With Harry, and yes, Death to Smoochy.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Ozymandias on 29 Dec 2006, 10:09
I just watched Art School Confidential. Decent enough.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: KharBevNor on 29 Dec 2006, 11:57
You know, I suppose the Monty Python films (especially Life of Brian and Meaning of Life) would probably fit in quite well here, but everyone's seen those right?
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: SilentJ on 29 Dec 2006, 13:50
I'm going to try and look semi-smart and throw in Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Transvestites, gay sex, the Time Warp, and Meat Loaf getting pick-axe'd to death.  Oh yes.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Runs_With_Scissors on 03 Jan 2007, 06:07
Lock stock and Two Smoking barrels? Not really a dark comedy I don't think, but still a good movie.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: SilentJ on 03 Jan 2007, 18:18
And i feel like I should add Snatch to that for good measure.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Lise on 04 Jan 2007, 02:24
If you're into watching foreign films (I find most Japanese humor to be quite dark, really), you must see Happiness of the Katakuris. It's been hailed as the cross between Sound of Music and Dawn of the Dead. Dancing zombies... inappropriate deaths... hilarious claymation at times... and more randomosities such as (according to this thread- http://imdb.com/title/tt0304262/board/nest/25103094), rabbits humping on the moon. A Takashi Miike musical? Hells yeah!
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: _cG on 04 Jan 2007, 03:30
Meet the Feebles, To Be Or Not To Be (1942), Election, Beetle Juice.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Utopian on 04 Jan 2007, 04:26
If you're into watching foreign films (I find most Japanese humor to be quite dark, really), you must see Happiness of the Katakuris. It's been hailed as the cross between Sound of Music and Dawn of the Dead. Dancing zombies... inappropriate deaths... hilarious claymation at times... and more randomosities such as (according to this thread- http://imdb.com/title/tt0304262/board/nest/25103094), rabbits humping on the moon. A Takashi Miike musical? Hells yeah!
How could I have forgotten it? I adore this film! Fits the "dark comedy" description perfectly. I particularly love the character of "Richard". I'm sure there are plenty of other foreign films that hit the mark, just can't think of any.

Another British TV show. Brass Eye - was that already mentioned?
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Alphapenguin on 26 Jan 2007, 06:42
I'm not sure if this counts or not, but someone mentioned Irish film earlier and I figured, why not?

The movie is called Waking Ned Devine, and it follows the story of a small village in Ireland that apparently has its own lottery. This one couple gets the idea of getting the winner to share the money with everyone in the village (it's a crappy, agrarian community - almost to a 3rd world extent), but they mess up because the guy who won died of shock when he saw the results on TV. From there it sort of turns into a funnier Weekend at Bernie's, where the entire village conspires together to pretend he's still alive so that they can keep the lotto money.

Quite possibly one of the strangest things I've ever seen, but it does the Emerald Isle proud.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: SilentJ on 26 Jan 2007, 06:46
Waking Ned Devine is indeed delightful, but do they really have their own lotto?

I thought a dude from the big town nearby had to come and make sure Ned was still alive, 'cos they were playing the lotto from said big town?

Maybe I'm confused.  It's been a while since I've seen this movie.  :[
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Alphapenguin on 26 Jan 2007, 07:05
Waking Ned Devine is indeed delightful, but do they really have their own lotto?

I thought a dude from the big town nearby had to come and make sure Ned was still alive, 'cos they were playing the lotto from said big town?

Maybe I'm confused.  It's been a while since I've seen this movie.  :[

Whoopsie. I just checked and it WAS the national lotto. They just found out in advance somehow.

My bad  :-D
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: SilentJ on 26 Jan 2007, 07:07
I thought so.  Yayfor actually having an attention span sometimes!
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Runs_With_Scissors on 26 Jan 2007, 23:52
And i feel like I should add Snatch to that for good measure.

absolutely loved that movie :D
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Tyler on 27 Jan 2007, 00:21
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Nettle on 28 Jan 2007, 15:43
Would Shaun of the Dead count?
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: magnanimusman on 07 Feb 2007, 20:25
schindlers list...

okay that was tasteless.

Um how-bout:
Delicatessen.
Really fricken' cool.  By the director of Ameilie.  SOOO GOOD!
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Lines on 11 Feb 2007, 19:21
very tasteless.

it's an old movie, but when i was little i loved Death Becomes Her. does anyone else remember that movie?
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Tyler on 11 Feb 2007, 20:43
That movie was just odd.

Reminded me a good deal of the Witches of Eastwick
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Johnny C on 11 Feb 2007, 21:02
Election

Also, Hitchcock had his way with some black humour in some of his films.
Title: Re: dark comedies
Post by: Utopian on 12 Feb 2007, 02:11
Oh I love Death Becomes Her! Bruce Willis' character is hilarious, especially when compared to all the hardmen he's played. And the story is wonderfully silly.