What We Can Learn from These Dark Comedies

The useful part

There are times as a movie viewer (or human being) that you don't feel like sunshine and want comedy with a bite. It's a genre I love, and it's also one of the most risky, razor-thin tones to hit as a writer and/or director. The humor still has to hit, but it almost feels like a punch to the gut at the same time, like you aren't sure if you have permission to laugh.

How it works

• The kooky, madcap drama of a world on the brink of nuclear disaster shouldn't work as well as it does, but the fact that every character buys into the high drama and ridiculous reasoning of the story (and...
• The drama behind the bits is often heavy, but the levity gives you just enough room.
• Here are five of our favorites that walked the line perfectly, and what the filmmakers said about that..

Details worth keeping

Sometimes, you're not in the mood for rainbows and cotton candy. You need something with a bit more edge, for whatever reason. And, heck, I'm in the mood for that this week.