We all deal with frustrating people in our own way – some have a higher tolerance for irritation than others, while some may choose to simply cut someone entirely out of their lives. Neither of these are particularly fascinating when it comes to art, since we’re conditioned as a species to be naturally curious about…
Category: dark comedy
Meet the Applegates (1991)
Whenever the subject of domesticity and suburbia comes up in a film, I tend to refer to the time David Lynch very effectively stated “I discovered that if one looks a little closer at this beautiful world, there are always red ants underneath”, a simple sentiment that says everything we need to know about the…
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (2025)
If you were to drive down any rural or countryside road in Sub-Saharan Africa, chances are that you would spot one of the unofficial birds of the continent, the guinea fowl. These plump, uniquely-coloured birds are icons of many regions of Africa, and are often seen as welcome additions to any homestead, farm or rural…
Duplex (2003)
While he is relatively beloved, based on his endearing personality that makes it impossible to harbour any negative feelings towards him, as well as his universally adored style of acting, Danny DeVito’s work often tends to go overlooked, at least in terms of his directorial output. Throw Momma from the Train is a classic and…
Misericordia (2025)
Anyone who has spent a little time in Europe will undoubtedly be familiar with the experience of retreating from the bustling cities and instead making their way through the small towns and villages that seem to be scattered liberally across the continent. It’s a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of large urban centres,…
The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
Every small town has its secrets lurking beneath the idyllic surface. There have been so many works that situate themselves in quaint hamlets and use these settings as the foundation for examinations of the darker and more perverse side of society, usually being fashioned as darkly satirical subversions of common perceptions of small-town life. One…
The Heroics (2021)
There’s something quite peculiar about The Heroics (French: Les héroïques), a particularly off-kilter quality that persists throughout the film. Perhaps it’s the tone, which oscillates between hilarious and tragic with very little difficulty, often in the same scene. It could possibly be the narrative, which is about as meandering as the main character’s life. The…
The People’s Joker (2024)
What is life other than the continuous process of trying to figure out your identity, and maintaining the image of being in control when in reality we are all as hopelessly clueless about existence as everyone else? It’s often been said that anyone who doesn’t have even a minor existential crisis at some point is…
The Second Act (2024)
While his work is divisive to the point where calling them an acquired taste would be enormously generous, it’s impossible to deny that Quentin Dupieux (otherwise known as Mr Oizo in some circles) is a filmmaker who has grown into one of the unique artistic visionaries of his generation and has continuously worked to redefine…
Four Lions (2010)
Satire has existed for as long as stories have been told – whether Jonathan Swift playfully advocated for the consumption of alternative forms of meat, or the nightly talk shows in which writers work around the clock to give their hosts the most up-to-date jokes possible, we have been culturally predisposed to laughing at ourselves…
The Postmodern Pelican 