Reserach into Genre - Props

Research into genre - Props

Props within dark comedies are usually things that define the dark elements within the films, in some instances such as terrorism within comedies like Four Lions the props of the improvised explosives that the characters take with them.

Other dark comedies include death, in most of these films there is a prop of a weapon suggests defending themselves or carrying out a murder. As for defending themselves in the film Shaun of the Dead a cricket bat is a weapon used throughout that Shaun takes with him. During the film this prop is used to fight of zombie hordes it is even used in the film poster.

Another topic of a dark comedy would be drug abuse, this is seen as a sensitive subject that the genre thrives off of. The props in this type of dark comedy include needles, powder etc. All are seen in the film trainspotting which takes a comical turn on the drug scene in the 1990s in Scotland. The dangers of drugs and its effects aim to show the dark side of the substances.


Dark comedies focus on the worst topics the human life can encounter one being war. One example being Dr Strangelove, taking a turn making the cold war events humourous. A prop in this film includes a bomb which a soldier satirically rides down as it is sent from the plane. Another would be the furniture used in the war room whihcis frequently referenced throughout, these props add to the serious element of the film suggesting the characters are bothered about the future of their countery after the bombs are sent.