Date movies for people who love dark comedies?
October 27, 2011 4:02 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for good date movies for people who share a dark, twisted sense of humor.
Recently I've realized that, beyond the unhelpfully generic "Physical attraction" and "reasonably intelligent," the single quality most consistently shared among women I'm interested in is an eager appreciation of dark comedy. Dark, twisted, sick, black, whatever you call it, I like girls who think death and madness and incest and all manner of "bad" things can, with the right context, be hilarious. So, given that not all dark comedy is created equal, what's the date-movie canon for black humor fans? What do I want to settle in with in front of my big comfy sofa as me and a lady-friend plan our next volley of dead baby jokes?
It doesn't have to be romantic per se, though Wristcutters and the short-lived TV series Pushing Daisies top my list, but shouldn't actually be about the failure of romance (let's save The House of Yes till the courtship is a bit further along.) I'm looking for things that are lighthearted and fun, just a slightly different kind of fun.
Netflix streaming availability is a plus, but by no means a requirement.
Recently I've realized that, beyond the unhelpfully generic "Physical attraction" and "reasonably intelligent," the single quality most consistently shared among women I'm interested in is an eager appreciation of dark comedy. Dark, twisted, sick, black, whatever you call it, I like girls who think death and madness and incest and all manner of "bad" things can, with the right context, be hilarious. So, given that not all dark comedy is created equal, what's the date-movie canon for black humor fans? What do I want to settle in with in front of my big comfy sofa as me and a lady-friend plan our next volley of dead baby jokes?
It doesn't have to be romantic per se, though Wristcutters and the short-lived TV series Pushing Daisies top my list, but shouldn't actually be about the failure of romance (let's save The House of Yes till the courtship is a bit further along.) I'm looking for things that are lighthearted and fun, just a slightly different kind of fun.
Netflix streaming availability is a plus, but by no means a requirement.
I recently watched Dogtooth which had some disturbingly funny moments. In one of the extras, the director said he thought of it as a dark comedy.
posted by jabes at 4:08 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jabes at 4:08 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Happiness of the Katakuris
Cemetary Man
posted by rmd1023 at 4:13 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Cemetary Man
posted by rmd1023 at 4:13 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Loved Ones is described as Pretty in Pink meets Wolf Creek.
posted by cazoo at 4:13 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cazoo at 4:13 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Dr Strangelove. What's more hilarious than annihilating nuclear war?
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 4:14 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 4:14 PM on October 27, 2011
Seconding Happiness and other Solondz (Palindromes is excellent too). Dogtooth is also right on. I'd also argue that some of Miranda July's output would fit - things like her short film Nest of Tens really bring out the underlying darkness in something like Me and You and Everyone We Know, which might appear kind of twee at first glance. And of course, the works of David Lynch.
I don't know how easy they are to find, but some '70s exploitation stuff might fit too:
Thundercrack! (which is explicitly pornographic, but incredible) and Poor Pretty Eddie come to mind.
Then there are (semi) unintentionally dark and creepy productions like The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T or Return To Oz.
posted by bubukaba at 4:23 PM on October 27, 2011
I don't know how easy they are to find, but some '70s exploitation stuff might fit too:
Thundercrack! (which is explicitly pornographic, but incredible) and Poor Pretty Eddie come to mind.
Then there are (semi) unintentionally dark and creepy productions like The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T or Return To Oz.
posted by bubukaba at 4:23 PM on October 27, 2011
I've had Alan Arkin on my mind lately. Freebie and the Bean, The In-Laws, and Catch-22 are all worth viewing.
posted by loosemouth at 4:23 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by loosemouth at 4:23 PM on October 27, 2011
I recently watched Poison Ivy (available on netflix streaming) - twisted indeed.
posted by justagame2me at 4:27 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by justagame2me at 4:27 PM on October 27, 2011
How about Eating Raoul?
posted by Neely O'Hara at 4:30 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by Neely O'Hara at 4:30 PM on October 27, 2011
Best answer: Kind Hearts and Coronets is brilliantly witty and dark, with a protagonist bumping off relatives in a mannered, class bound Britain. Its in the IMDB top 250, the Time top 100 and the BFI top 100 best films and the biffa top comedy film ever.
posted by biffa at 4:30 PM on October 27, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by biffa at 4:30 PM on October 27, 2011 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I love Heathers for its hilarious approach to killing off pretty popular girls. Jawbreaker is another good fit, I think.
posted by zoomorphic at 4:45 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by zoomorphic at 4:45 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Shaun of the Dead surely.
posted by merocet at 4:46 PM on October 27, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by merocet at 4:46 PM on October 27, 2011 [9 favorites]
Four Lions is a comedy about suicide bombers.
posted by Mila at 4:46 PM on October 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Mila at 4:46 PM on October 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
Night Shift. It's about a couple of guys who start running a brothel in a morgue.
It's also distinctive for being Michael Keaton's breakout film. He absolutely steals the show.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:49 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's also distinctive for being Michael Keaton's breakout film. He absolutely steals the show.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:49 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Delicatessen was made just for you: postapocalyptic cannibalism in a French apartment block. Check out the opening scene.
posted by Paragon at 4:53 PM on October 27, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by Paragon at 4:53 PM on October 27, 2011 [8 favorites]
Citizen Ruth is probably the best abortion comedy ever made. Election and Grosse Pointe Blank also spring to mind.
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:53 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:53 PM on October 27, 2011
I thought Very Bad Things was underrated.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:54 PM on October 27, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:54 PM on October 27, 2011 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Wristcutters is a tender love story from hell. Plus Tom Waits plays God.
posted by Killick at 4:55 PM on October 27, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Killick at 4:55 PM on October 27, 2011 [4 favorites]
Where's Poppa? -- a mostly forgotten classic 70s "black comedy"
posted by neroli at 4:57 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by neroli at 4:57 PM on October 27, 2011
Burn After Reading was funny in sort of the way you're describing but not in a shocking incesty way; more just awful stuff adding up to something absurd is funny.
The Men Who Stare At Goats was funny in a similar way, except with more violence. I think the similarity is that dark humor is often funny mostly from a far away perspective where you can see the individual horrible events in the context of a bigger system.
Breaking Bad is a tv show that sometimes has some situational humor when, say, disposing of a body. Like it will be really horrifying and messed up, intentionally (because it's mostly realistic), but there will also be intentional humor.
posted by Nattie at 5:00 PM on October 27, 2011 [3 favorites]
The Men Who Stare At Goats was funny in a similar way, except with more violence. I think the similarity is that dark humor is often funny mostly from a far away perspective where you can see the individual horrible events in the context of a bigger system.
Breaking Bad is a tv show that sometimes has some situational humor when, say, disposing of a body. Like it will be really horrifying and messed up, intentionally (because it's mostly realistic), but there will also be intentional humor.
posted by Nattie at 5:00 PM on October 27, 2011 [3 favorites]
Teeth
Human Centipede
And maybe if you REALLY twisted, A Serbian Film
posted by Giggilituffin at 5:01 PM on October 27, 2011
Human Centipede
And maybe if you REALLY twisted, A Serbian Film
posted by Giggilituffin at 5:01 PM on October 27, 2011
Best answer: Election (already mentioned) would be my number one choice...
The Ladykillers (the original)
Spanking The Monkey
A Serious Man
Bad Santa
To Die For
Better Off Dead
Life Of Brian
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:05 PM on October 27, 2011
The Ladykillers (the original)
Spanking The Monkey
A Serious Man
Bad Santa
To Die For
Better Off Dead
Life Of Brian
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:05 PM on October 27, 2011
Best answer: Arsenic and Old Lace
So I Married an Axe Murderer
Grosse Pointe Blank
Cruel Intentions
The first two have murders and are funny, Grosse Pointe has hitmen, romance, and humor, and Cruel Intentions has blackmail, sex, and humor. Enjoy!
posted by Margalo Epps at 5:13 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
So I Married an Axe Murderer
Grosse Pointe Blank
Cruel Intentions
The first two have murders and are funny, Grosse Pointe has hitmen, romance, and humor, and Cruel Intentions has blackmail, sex, and humor. Enjoy!
posted by Margalo Epps at 5:13 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
I also came in to say War of the Roses. I saw it years ago and this question was finally impetus to dig it back up.
Hilarious!
posted by chatongriffes at 5:14 PM on October 27, 2011
Hilarious!
posted by chatongriffes at 5:14 PM on October 27, 2011
Four Lions
posted by tumid dahlia at 5:14 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by tumid dahlia at 5:14 PM on October 27, 2011
Probably Hitchcock's funniest movie: The Trouble With Charlie
posted by buggzzee23 at 5:24 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by buggzzee23 at 5:24 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you're willing to do subtitles, I think our current favorite for incredibly dark movie comedy is a Danish film called Adam's Apples. The Danish seem to really do dark humor well, or maybe just in a way that works well for mine and my partner's sense of humor.
posted by Stacey at 5:25 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Stacey at 5:25 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Brazil is a classic.
posted by kickingthecrap at 5:28 PM on October 27, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by kickingthecrap at 5:28 PM on October 27, 2011 [3 favorites]
Peter Greenaway, if you can find copies of his films. Drowning by Numbers, The Draughtman's Contract.
Try out some Coen Brothers----Fargo, Barton Fink, A Serious Man.
posted by effluvia at 5:45 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Try out some Coen Brothers----Fargo, Barton Fink, A Serious Man.
posted by effluvia at 5:45 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The Triplets of Belleville is dark but incredibly entertaining. Plus it's animated and there's no dialogue so you can chat throughout & not lose the plot.
posted by headnsouth at 6:03 PM on October 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by headnsouth at 6:03 PM on October 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
The River's Edge, Pumpkin, Blood Simple
posted by any major dude at 6:29 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by any major dude at 6:29 PM on October 27, 2011
Adam's Apples
2nding Brazil, Eating Raoul, Harold and Maude, Life of Brian
posted by I'm Brian and so's my wife! at 6:59 PM on October 27, 2011
2nding Brazil, Eating Raoul, Harold and Maude, Life of Brian
posted by I'm Brian and so's my wife! at 6:59 PM on October 27, 2011
The Hospital is really good. I was also going to say Repo Man, and totally agree that Very Bad Things was way funnier than I expected.
posted by grapesaresour at 7:12 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by grapesaresour at 7:12 PM on October 27, 2011
True Romance
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 7:28 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 7:28 PM on October 27, 2011
I mean, Evil Dead, right?
posted by General Malaise at 7:43 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by General Malaise at 7:43 PM on October 27, 2011
How much gore is too much? Peter Jackson's Braindead (Dead Alive in North America) is pretty much the apex of splatsploitation comedy - try the zombie baby in a blender (NSFW, obviously).
posted by Paragon at 8:00 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by Paragon at 8:00 PM on October 27, 2011
I Love You to Death loosely based on a true story. Black comedy with hilariously over the top performances from a great cast.
posted by marsha56 at 8:04 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by marsha56 at 8:04 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Miracle Mile is most the perfect charming *romantic* dark comedy date movie of all time. They are young. They are cute. They fall in love. Everything is perfect. Except that (spoiler alert) the world is ending. Oh darn...
(um, more resonance when viewed during the cold war and mutually assured destruction, but hey).
posted by ovvl at 8:11 PM on October 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
(um, more resonance when viewed during the cold war and mutually assured destruction, but hey).
posted by ovvl at 8:11 PM on October 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
I found the romantic comedy Jeux d'enfants (Love Me If You Dare) slightly disturbing.
posted by the borneo kid at 10:31 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by the borneo kid at 10:31 PM on October 27, 2011
This isn't a movie, but the E4 show Misfits has some great dark comedy. There's some gory, macabre scenes that are immediately followed by one-liners from the comic-relief character. Hulu has the first and seconds seasons online as of current.
posted by Helleaven at 11:58 PM on October 27, 2011
posted by Helleaven at 11:58 PM on October 27, 2011
The Young Poisoner's Handbook (well, I thought it was hilarious, though it looks like some IMDB reviewers think it's more grim than funny)
In Bruges
Toto the Hero -- came out around the same time as Delicatessen and IMO is equally memorable.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 12:42 AM on October 28, 2011
In Bruges
Toto the Hero -- came out around the same time as Delicatessen and IMO is equally memorable.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 12:42 AM on October 28, 2011
i just have to second "Delicatessen", which ticks all your boxes. It has a sweet, offbeat romance set in a truly dark, devilish and deviant situation. It's also blackly hilarious. A must see.
posted by Decani at 1:36 AM on October 28, 2011
posted by Decani at 1:36 AM on October 28, 2011
Can't believe no one's mentioned After Hours - Sadism, masochism, mysterious burns, a killer mob, and Teri Garr with a beehive. Plus it's Scorsese.
The Opposite of Sex is dark but sweet
The Last Seduction is super dark and funny, but damn sexy too
Seconding Delicatessen and Heathers.
posted by Mchelly at 7:19 AM on October 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
The Opposite of Sex is dark but sweet
The Last Seduction is super dark and funny, but damn sexy too
Seconding Delicatessen and Heathers.
posted by Mchelly at 7:19 AM on October 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Four Lions. Terrorism and Funny in the same movie!?. He also did the IT crowd if you are familiar with british comedy
posted by radsqd at 7:42 AM on October 28, 2011
posted by radsqd at 7:42 AM on October 28, 2011
Lots of great suggestions above.
War oftthe Roses and
Heathers were fun.
Plus Shaun of the Dead!
I didn't see and would add Punch Drunk Love.
Dr. Strangelove is an inspired suggestion.
If "dark" includes horror, I would also add Let the Right one in
Good Luck!
posted by BDoyon at 8:32 AM on October 28, 2011
War oftthe Roses and
Heathers were fun.
Plus Shaun of the Dead!
I didn't see and would add Punch Drunk Love.
Dr. Strangelove is an inspired suggestion.
If "dark" includes horror, I would also add Let the Right one in
Good Luck!
posted by BDoyon at 8:32 AM on October 28, 2011
Best answer:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266452/'>Death to Smoochy
posted by notbuddha at 8:48 AM on October 28, 2011
posted by notbuddha at 8:48 AM on October 28, 2011
Best answer: I am amazed that no one has yet recommended Secretary, but am delighted that I get to do so!
posted by corn_bread at 9:22 AM on October 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by corn_bread at 9:22 AM on October 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Man Bites Dog. I mean, come on -- you want sick, twisted, funny as hell? This is where it lives.
from IMDb: A camera crew follows a serial killer/thief around as he exercises his craft. He expounds on art, music, nature, society, and life as he offs mailmen, pensioners, and random people. Slowly he begins involving the camera crew in his activities, and they begin wondering if what they're doing is such a good idea ...
google video search hits
posted by dancestoblue at 2:19 PM on October 28, 2011
from IMDb: A camera crew follows a serial killer/thief around as he exercises his craft. He expounds on art, music, nature, society, and life as he offs mailmen, pensioners, and random people. Slowly he begins involving the camera crew in his activities, and they begin wondering if what they're doing is such a good idea ...
google video search hits
posted by dancestoblue at 2:19 PM on October 28, 2011
Best answer: Donnie Darko. Dogma. Fargo.
Fight Club has some laughs in it, and there's not much darker.
Coralline, if you don't mind animation (really good animation).
Lots of good suggestions above. True Romance and The Opposite of Sex are in my all-time top twenty movies, easily.
posted by kostia at 7:25 PM on October 28, 2011
Fight Club has some laughs in it, and there's not much darker.
Coralline, if you don't mind animation (really good animation).
Lots of good suggestions above. True Romance and The Opposite of Sex are in my all-time top twenty movies, easily.
posted by kostia at 7:25 PM on October 28, 2011
Cannot believe nobody mentioned In Bruges yet. :)
posted by slateyness at 9:43 PM on October 28, 2011
posted by slateyness at 9:43 PM on October 28, 2011
Or maybe cybercoitus beat me to it. Whoops.
posted by slateyness at 9:44 PM on October 28, 2011
posted by slateyness at 9:44 PM on October 28, 2011
slateyness, I think it's good to have 2nding and 3rding recommendations. They help outstanding ones...stand out. In that spirit, I should nth Delicatessen, Solondz, Greenaway, Coen Brothers, Heathers, Life of Brian, True Romance, Very Bad Things, Secretary, Brazil, Triplets of Belleville.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 2:15 AM on October 29, 2011
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 2:15 AM on October 29, 2011
Coming late to the party with Ghost World. It's still one of my favorites, although I tend more towards sweet & quirky, rather than dark.
posted by bmosher at 5:33 PM on October 30, 2011
posted by bmosher at 5:33 PM on October 30, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
I'll think of more...
posted by sweetkid at 4:06 PM on October 27, 2011 [1 favorite]