The Strangely Comforting Side of Dark Comedy
A personal list of the dark comedy films I keep coming back to
Comfort movies, films that you can return to when weary and just want to escape your problems. I was inspired to compile my own list by Raphaël — The Long Take (go check him out!), and I realized that many of my “comfort” films lean somewhat, well, dark.
The allure of these films lies in their unrelenting acknowledgment that sometimes suffering can be funny. The failures, the breakdowns, the disappointments that are curated in these films are so universal to the viewer, and I think that in a strange way, that is comforting. Sometimes you don’t want to see the hero win, the love story manifest, the battle to be won. A good dark comedy will taint and contort and even mock these tidy plotlines and still manage to make you laugh.
So, I thought it would be fun to list and talk about some of my favorites. All these films are on my Top 30 Film List I keep on my phone’s notes app, hah. If you have seen any of these, let me know—are they one of your favorites, or left you wanting? Or if you think your taste is similar and think I would enjoy a dark comedy I have not listed, feel free to comment below any film recommendations.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
In my opinion, this film is a quintessential dark comedy. It balances the real-life complexities of a dysfunctional family with comedic but realistic scenarios perfectly. The plot centers on a family’s (and extended family) road trip to enter Olive, the family’s youngest daughter, into a beauty pageant. This film explores themes of society’s narrow definitions of success and the messy and often disappointing reality of life, showing how failure is both inevitable and deeply human.
What I love about this film is every family member has their own quirks that are both infuriating and endearing. There is no character to hate or villainize, simply flawed family members doing the best they can to take care of one another, even if they fail most of the time. Steve Carrel and Paul Dano are the standout actors in this film, both symbolizing the black sheep archetype found in many families. While their suffering is at times the source of comedic value, these actors masterfully invest in their dramatic scenes with great emotional payoff. (The scene where Dano’s character learns of his color blindness affecting his aspirations is so well done and taken very seriously in the film). As with all my Top Films, this is a film I can rewatch over and over and still thoroughly enjoy.
What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Where do I even start with this film? It was my first exposure to Taika Waititi and it perfectly captured his awkward but hilarious comedic skills. I am always impressed by actors who can simultaneously star in and direct their own films (well, he co-directed with Jemaine Clement).
This mockumentary film follows vampire roommates who recruit a new vampire into their coven… hijinks ensue. There is a sweetness to this dark comedy that I truly enjoy; even though violence and death are a focus of the plot (they’re vampires, makes sense), the film still manages to ironically humanize the characters, especially the main vampire Viago (Taika Waititi). I especially enjoy the scenes that combine the mundane but complex dynamics of roommate situations with the fantastical behaviors of vampirism. This film was such a comfort to me during my post-partum period; it is the least dark of this list, so it was a welcome rewatch during the stress of the newborn trenches.
Swiss Army Man (2016)
Another Paul Dano movie! He is in 3 of my Top 30 Films, and thus one of my favorite actors. Be warned, Swiss Army Man is not a film you casually recommend to a coworker. The opening scene features a suicide attempt, there are more fart jokes than you can probably count on your hand, and yet I still cry every time I watch this movie. That takes skill. What is the film about? A man (Paul Dano) attempts to kill himself on a beach (and fails), before finding a “dead” body (Daniel Radcliffe) washed on shore. He discovers this body is semi-sentient and is capable of mysterious powers; their friendship leads him on a journey of radical self-acceptance.
In my opinion, the less you know about this film, the better. So, I will just end this section here with the lamentation that it is both a hilarious and very touching movie focused on loneliness, shame, and the desperately human need for connection. If you have seen it, you may also be interested to know that the soundtrack is voiced by Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe, a fact I only learned recently and was very amused to discover.
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
This film is underrated, in my opinion. At least in my social circles and online sphere, I almost never hear it mentioned. It has almost everything you could want in a film: comedy, mystery, romance. An IRS agent (Will Ferrell) with meticulous habits and routines wakes up to find his life being narrated aloud; he comes to realize he is the main character of a book, a book whose author (Emma Thompson) compulsively writes that her characters die at the end of every novel. In his efforts to avoid his death, he consults a literary expert (Dustin Hoffman) and falls in love with a baker (Maggie Gyllenhaal) he is auditing.
In a film largely centered on the theme of literature (literary devices, plots, writing), I really enjoy the depth of the characters. The film almost gives the vibe of it having been based on a book considering how well developed and natural the characters inhabit this story. Will Ferrell’s character is much more of the “straight man” than Ferrell typically plays, but his rivalry turned banter with Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character is very well played and sincere. Their romantic subplot really adds something to this film combined with themes of living life fully when you aren’t guaranteed how much time you have left.
Well, that ends my “Top Dark Comedy Films” list. I am considering making this a series with various genres featured. Let me know what you think of these, and please recommend more in the comments if you think I would like them!