A Level Portfolio Week 2-4

The Death of Stalin – Directed by Armando Iannucci

This film captures the frantic, paranoid energy of a freaking vacuum. After Joseph Stalin dies, his cabinet members are more worried about their own execution than the fate of their country. The humor comes from the fast-paced dialogue and the back to back nature of high-stakes politics.

The film highlights the stupidity of evil focusing on the idea that horrific historical events are often caused by petty, nervous men who are simply trying not to get caught.

Don’t Look Up – Directed by Adam McKay

I considered "Don't look up" A modern version of Dr. Strangelove, this film uses a comet hitting Earth as a metaphor for climate change and media distraction. The dark humor lies in the fact that the scientists are right, but nobody takes them seriously because the news isn't "fun" or "profitable."

The film uses fast editing and pop-culture references to overwhelm the viewer, mimicking the feeling of modern social media. It serves as a critique of how human greed and short attention spans might literally lead to the end of the world.

A Level Portfolio Week 2-3

Research (Continued)

Swiss Army Man  – Directed by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan

While the premise of a farting corpse sounds like a random gag, the film is actually a profound look at mental health and isolation. The protagonist, Hank, is on the verge of suicide when he finds a body (Manny) that he begins to use as a multi-purpose tool.

The dark humor of this film is the blurring of reality and delusion. The film uses magical realism to show how Hank projects his own fears and desires onto a dead man. It challenges the audience to find beauty in things that are usually considered gross or weird.

Jojo Rabbit - Directed by Taika Waititi

This film takes the ultimate taboo subject, Nazi Germany, and turns it into a silly coming-of-age story. By portraying Hitler as a goofy, childish imaginary friend, Waititi exposes the absurdity of hate speech and extremist ideologies.

The film uses a bright, saturated color palette that contrasts with the dark reality of war. This shift in tone makes the eventual moments of tragedy hit much harder. It follows the idea me and Ryan are trying to go for in our short film, misleading the audience with a completely separate and mundane tone to the main part of the film.

A Level Portfolio Week 2-2

Research (Continued)

Parasite - Bong Joon-ho

Parasite is a BEAUTIFUL example in how a film can shift genres. It begins as a heist movie, where the Kim family uses deception to work for the wealthy Park family. However, it quickly descends into a dark comedy when a hidden basement and a previous housekeeper reveal a literal underground struggle for survival.

The film uses spatial metaphors (the Kims live in a semi-basement where they have to look up at the street,  while the Parks live on a hill, symbolizing their economic differences by literally putting one under the other.) The humor is "dark" because it stems from the desperate, often cruel things poor people must do to survive in a capitalist system. Like The Lobster, it uses a specific domestic setting to show how social class creates "parasitic" relationships.

The Banshees of Inisherin - Directed by Martin McDonagh

Set during the Irish Civil War, this film uses a small, petty dispute between two friends to mirror the larger, senseless violence of war. When Colm suddenly decides he no longer likes Pádraic, he threatens to cut off his own fingers every time Pádraic speaks to him.

The film’s power comes from its serious delivery and dark humor. The characters live in a beautiful but isolated location, making their obsession with this one friendship feel claustrophobic. It explores the dark idea that humans would rather destroy themselves than deal with the dullness of a life without meaning.

A Level Portfolio Week 2-1

Dark Comedy

While developing One Body Problem, I have been working to narrow down the specific genre. We want to focus on a story that contains both comedic and tragic themes, using the serious “death” of another character along with the silly interactions and obstacles our character needs to avoid. This concept goes really well with the "Dark Comedy" genre, which uses satire to make light of serious or upsetting topics.

In researching the characteristics of Dark Comedy, I found that these stories often feature protagonists who are uninterested or disconnected from the rest of the world, whether it be through their attitude or the conditions of the film's world. The genre explores the irony of human existence, pushing the boundaries of what is socially acceptable to discuss. By using a lighthearted approach, the filmmaker can address difficult topics while keeping the audience engaged through laughter.

During my research I found 2 films that capture this genre really well:

The Lobster - Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

This film is set in a dystopian future where single people are taken to a hotel and given 45 days to find a romantic partner, if they fail, they are transformed into an animal of their choice. The protagonist, David, tries to navigate this absurd and cruel system with a cold, dry attitude.

The film uses a very rigid, minimalist aesthetic to emphasize the standardized rules of the film’s world. It explores the social pressure to be in a relationship by pushing that pressure to a violent extreme. While the events are tragic, the awkward dialogue and strange situations create a distinct comedic or silly feel that is central to the genre.

Dr. Strangelove - Directed by Stanley Kubrick

This classic film centers on an accidental nuclear attack and the frantic efforts of politicians and generals to stop it. Despite the stakes being the end of the world, the characters are depicted as paranoid and overly obsessed with their own status.

The film relies on satire to critique the Cold War and the concept of "mutually assured destruction." By making the people in charge of the world’s survival look ridiculous, Kubrick builds a sense of dread that is constantly undercut by humor. It shows how comedy can be used to highlight the absurdity of a real world possibility. 

Conclusion

Researching these films has helped me realize that Dark Comedy isn't just about being edgy. It requires a balance of tone to make sure the humor doesn't completely erase the seriousness of the themes. These examples show that you can use a single location or a focused group of characters to tell a high-stakes story. Moving forward, I need to focus on sharpening my dialogue and irony to make sure the comedy serves the overall message of the film. Sources:

IMDb. (n.d.). Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/

IMDb. (n.d.). The Lobster. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3464902/

MasterClass. (2021, September 3). How to write dark humor: 3 tips for writing dark comedy. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-dark-humor