Garth Marenghi's Darkplace Proves Horror is Hilarious

[@wozzab9136]

Matthew Holness, who plays Garth Marenghi, was actually in the original British The Office. Played a small role as the IT guy, but was hilarious. Was lucky enough to see Garth Marenghi live last year - was brilliant

[@MJE-riffs]

I was lucky enough to write for Matthew Holness (AKA Garth Marenghi) when he appeared in one of the Doctor Who audio spinoffs, alongside 6th Doctor Colin Baker.

[@CJJC]

@@MJE-riffs Didn’t expect you here, Matthew. Marvellous.

[@shinyagumon7015]

Me and my friends constantly quote "I know writers who use subtext and they are all cowards." All the time 😂

[@gaz-l621]

A line that started as a joke but more and more I feel is just a true statement as I get older and see the state of media literacy in the world

[@motorcycleboy9000]

"I'm one of the few authors who's written more books than he's read" and "Your humble fabulist." 😂 Dean Koontz, sit in the corner.

[@LiveHedgehog]

My favourite line in this show is in a later episode; "When I heard my wife died, I could barely finish my lunch!"

[@rayname908]

Man To Man with Dean Learner continues the story of the amazing team who brought you Garth Marenghi

[@swatki]

@@rayname908 This is the way. Man to Man with Dean Learner is where to go after Darkplace!!!

[@christopherlundgren1700]

And thank YOU very much!

[@MJE-riffs]

Garth has made a bit of a comeback in recent years, having released two novels in his inimitable style, Terrortome and Incarcerat.

[@MatthewGRedhead]

How did you find the books? I love the show, but I'm reading Incarcerat and I don't think the style translates well to book form.

[@MJE-riffs]

@@MatthewGRedhead I enjoyed them, but you're not the only one to tell me they don't think it works as prose.

[@CJJC]

Audiobook is the way to go

[@michaeljohn1978]

The very concept of the show means it could only be one series. The idea that it was a fake TV show that never aired and has been found in a box in a basement

[@captainufo4587]

To be honest, though, in-universe Garth wrote and shoot (unrequested) between 50 and 64 episodes. Some were lost to time (or the Thames, depending on accounts), still there was room for more seasons; it just was very niche in its appeal and sorta expensive to make (turns out fake cheap is not cheap at all).

[@Sgt_Glory]

Can't believe you guys are covering Darkplace, this is classic. can't wait to see it.

[@DoYouFeelLucky]

"As I rounded the corner, I felt muscular and compact...like corned beef."

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

A lot of the people from this went on to make 'The IT Crowd' about a group of workers in the IT department of a large company. I think that you would both like it.

[@MackerelCat]

They absolutely would it is so brilliant 😂

[@PHDiaz-vv7yo]

@@MackerelCat”Faaaaaaaaaaaaatheerrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!”

[@paulmckee4168]

This show is honestly one of the funniest ever made! Channel 4 had some amazing comedy shows back in the day!

[@scepteredisle]

Monkey drivers!

[@Mr.NiceUK]

It looks like it was shot in the 80s because the show within the show is supposed to be a forgotten canceled show from the 80s, with the interview segments etc "present day" 2004. It even uses the Channel 4 ident from the 80s at the beginning, something lost on non UK viewers.

[@paxillusinvolutus5213]

Blimey. Was not expecting you to encounter this. Brilliant.

[@hypercc1]

I've loved Darkplace ever since it first came out and watch it at least once a year. The joy of this show is you can watch it for the fiftieth time and all of a sudden spot something you've missed on all the other viewings. For example it was only on a recent re-watching that the hospital itself seems to be in two different places. At the start you see it in the middle of nowhere (there's not even any roads leading up to it) as if someone has just dropped it in a field but then when the characters are on the roof you can see a cityscape behind them.

[@nickblooruk]

The fact that it takes itself so seriously, is the cherry on the cake.

[@omegastar19]

A show that has actors playing characters playing actors playing characters.

[@pokes404]

Watching Garth fire a prop, unlimited-ammo revolver on a cheap cemetery set; and then hard cutting to the boss indiscriminately firing a real shotgun at an actual cemetery broke something in my brain the first time I watched this. I must have laughed for 3 minutes straight. Basically missed the rest of the episode and had to catch it on a rerun to see how it ended.

[@trailersic]

There is about 30 minutes of in character interview footage that they couldn't fit into the show on the dvd extras, it's all gold.

[@TreyBlythe]

There's an Aussie show called Danger 5 that is very similar to this.

[@allendean9807]

Matt Berry’s “Beritone “ is amazing. He is my favorite Vampire on What we do in the Shadows

[@wisconsinfirenerd]

one of the great things about Darkplace is that it doesn't slow down, it just keeps ramping up, especially the "behind the scenes" interviews

[@RicktheCrofter]

One of the actors appeared in an Australian web series called “Danger 5. “ and The series was WWII reimagined as a 1960s spy movie. Danger 5 was a five member team of super spies, each member representing a different allied nation. There were two seasons, with the first season the better one. (Season Two was WWll reimagined as a 1980s movie.) There was also an introductory episode divided into several short segments. In the beginning of each episode the colonel, who was an American Bald Eagle, would describe the mission. He would end his briefing with the phrase. “And kill Hitler!” Hitler would survive every episode by diving out the same window, never mind where he was. Just an example of the silliness. If you can find it, I suggest you check out Danger 5. Edit. I was wrong, the two series do not share an actor. But check out Danger 5 anyway, for the same sort of silliness.

[@guksack]

My favourite thing about this show is that each episode cost £500,000 (Nearly $1mil in 2004) to make in their effort to make it look cheap, because they shot it on genuine film - Cheap in the 80s, expensive in 2004 (Even more expensive now). They did some tests and felt they couldn't achieve the same look on video, so had to commit to shooting on film.

[@DM-kv9kj]

Film was never cheap. It got a bit more expensive by the 00s, sure but proper TV film and moreso movie film has always been a huge expense for productions. I feel like you might be confusing "film in the 80s" with like home movie camera tapes or something.

[@guksack]

@@DM-kv9kj Nope! In the 80s (and before) it was cheaper to film on film outside of a studio environment. And even then recording to tape was cheap but cassettes were so expensive that the likes of the BBC would record over them (Which is why there are lots of missing Doctor Who episodes). Even my local BBC News shot reports on film as far as the 80s. Source - my father who shot 16mm film professionally for television up until the 90s. 16mm being what they used for Darkplace (Half film grade quality but great for standard definition television). But in summary - got far too expensive for most British television shows by 2004. But pre-1990 was cheap enough to be used for a one-off local news report.

[@gaz-l621]

It's kind of odd, considering the most obvious comparison (classic era Doctor Who) was shot primarily on video for studio stuff, and the location shoots on film tend to look the best now.

[@meronr74]

Garth Marenghi has recently done a couple of book tours in theatres, completely in character and his interactions with the audience during the Q&A were hilarious.

[@joshwagner4368]

Can only hope you guys watch the rest of the series. Episode four has the greatest car chase every filmed.

[@targetaudience]

We are watching the rest!

[@PHDiaz-vv7yo]

@@targetaudiencesing along with One Track Lover in the finale

[@williamblakehall5566]

There's the Trek-like nostalgia, where Trek is like a commonly shared language, and you never forget it, but there are also other great shows at the very edge of your memory which you are in danger of forgetting, and Darkplace is one such show. So, thank you for stirring the old memory pot and keeping this fresh in my mind. (Also, points for the This is My Gorn Costume T-shirt -- I failed to get my own, but maybe next year.) This reminds me a little of comedies like Black Dynamite, which uses amateurish goofs to great effect.

[@MrTickleTrunk]

DARK PLACE! It ws an absolutely brilliant parody show. Yessss! The show was sadly only a hidden gem for us in the Western hemosphere.

[@carlgibson285]

There are a couple of reasons why they only made 6 episodes of Darkplace. One is that the show wasn't advertised and was buried in a late-night slot when it first aired, and the other is that it was surprisingly expensive to make. Apparently it costs a lot of money to make something look intentionally cheap.

[@Rah84eem]

This is a cult classic 🇬🇧 thx for your reaction.

[@Frantic89]

Man this show is a trip when you're flying high

[@TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond]

are you gonna watch the rest? Because it's amazing. They also did a sequel series "Man to Man with Dean Learner" it wasn't quite as good, but it's still very funny. Has most of the same cast playing the same characters, plus a bunch of new ones. So technically it had 2 series.

[@targetaudience]

Yes!

[@medicman65]

I had almost forgotten about "Dark Place" and I'm soooo glad y'all found it!

[@wesleyclarke3398]

I grew up on the mean streets of Essex! lol Don't live to far from Romford either, been a long time since i have seen this - well done guys

[@deeesher]

As much fun as this show is, you can't overlook the quality of the cast. Most notably is Matt Berry and Richard Ayoade. Both of them went on to do IT Crowd, and soooo many other well known things I can't begin to list them all. And not to be overlooked, Matthew Holness, who plays Garth Merenghi. He wrote and directed a genuine (but very underrated) horror movie called Possum. This one will give you nightmares.

[@TheHunter]

This was fantastic and exactly what I was expecting/hoping and I'd love for you to react to the rest of the episodes, especially since it's only 5 just to get it out of the way! I'm curious if you take any suggestions of anything else that isn't Sci-fi/Horror? As I would like to recommend that you react to 4 videos that are trailers not actually trailers, they're more like characters shorts. Specifically RWBY (Pronounced Ruby), there's the Red, White, Black and Yellow trailer, all available on youtube and all 5 minutes or (collectively 19 mins).

[@scepteredisle]

"Are you OK?" "I'll get a mop"

[@richierich398]

I’ve never seen this before. I have got to check this out.😂😂

[@vincegamer]

Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to see a reaction to this

[@Mah_Boiiii]

OH MAN! I haven't seen this in forever! It's so damn funny.

[@PHILD0]

Once you've entered the "realms of the fantastique", it's hard to leave.

[@AzBats0221]

Matt Berry also has made some excellent albums - great singer.

[@JamesDatWork]

I recognized the one guy from the IT Crowd .... another great British show.

[@Sgt_Glory]

Two of them are in IT Crowd! Matt Berry (Douglas) and Richard Ayoade (Moss)

[@JamesDatWork]

@@Sgt_Glory oh yeah ... Codsworth himself

[@trailersic]

Eagleheart (another show that aired on Adult Swim) was originally supposed to be like this with interviews and a show within the show, but they only wanted the show within the show so that's how that ended up. Otherwise it may have been compared to this.

[@PHDiaz-vv7yo]

You fellas reacted to this?? This superlative docudrama of working in the NHS during the early eighties??? (Break out the onion ninjas for Skippy The Eye Child- a real tear jerker)

[@AT4W]

THAT'S THE MOTHER, RICK!

[@EveryoneWhoUsesThisTV]

Man to Man with Dean Learner, is a spin-off of this show you may also like....

[@clasicradiolover]

You had to mention Red Dwarf. That one really didn't take off till the third season.

[@JoeMama410]

I know two of the actors from The IT Crowd, but most people probably know Matt Berry from What We Do in the Shadows. The movie is worth one viewing but the show is significantly better.

[@swatki]

How much Red Dwarf did you guys watch? You seem to have not enjoyed it but at its peak (maybe series four through six) it was fantastic.

[@PuppetDungeon]

"This is what I wish Red Dwarf was..." You'd appreciate Nick Frost's brilliant Hyperdrive or the Canadian/German show Lexx. As for similar to this but horror vibes, The Heart She Holler is HIGHLY inspired by this.

[@clasicradiolover]

2:42 Isn't this Moss from The IT Crowd?

[@dupersuper1938]

Yup

[@johnb2422]

I am currently listening to an audio book of Garth Marenghi, Terrortome. Check it out if you want a full length novel read by the man himself.

[@MJE-riffs]

I hope someday you guys will react to the 1981 TV version of The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. Red Dwarf it's not.

[@clasicradiolover]

2:23 This guy I know from The IT Crowd

[@WVRSpenceWestVirginiaRebel]

She's turning into broccoli!

[@DirigoDuke]

If you guys haven’t watched Little Shop of Horrors (1986 - theatrical cut) you’re not doing horror right.

[@damienkakoschke3099]

Oh, those guys worked together before the IT Crowd (series 2).

[@feralstorm]

Damn, so THAT'S what Lazlo was doing in an earlier life! 😮,

[@UberNeuman]

It's a good thing that you did like it or you'll be delivered a proper knuckle supper!

[@Tigerscub108]

More Darkplace reactions!

[@andrewbrown3070]

That was glorious! 😆

[@jacobjackddd]

it was ahead of its time...again

[@MorbidMind123]

If you guys liked this you'd probably like another British genre comedy called Red Dwarf! I'm sorry I had to

[@JAYWALKER1000]

Have you seen Fawlty Towers????

[@MackerelCat]

Influenced a lot by another British comedy called Acorn Antiques. Might not be your thing but I love it 😂

[@ange1uk]

If you like some random UK weird, no holds barred comedy like this, try out The Day Today and later Brass Eye. Hilarious stuff.

[@dupersuper1938]

I'm still so sad they didn't like Red Dwarf... For more Matt Berry see: The IT Crowd Krapopolis Disenchantment Horrificata Illuminata Darkplace Illuminatum What We do in the Shadows Fallout Toast of London Toast of Tinsel Town Christopher Robbin The Wild Robot The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run Asterix and Obelix: Mansion of the Gods The Book of Boba Fett episodes of Community, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Last Week Tonight, Letters Live, The Sarah Silverman Program, Portlandia, Archer, Major Lazer and Simpsons for more Richard Ayoade see: The IT Crowd Krapopolis Disenchantment Horrificata Illuminata Darkplace Illuminatum Man to Man with Dean Learner the Big Fat Quizzes Gadget Man The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar The Rat Catcher Harmontown Lego Movie 2 Paddington 2 Box Trolls Monsters at Work The Watch Soul Birdgirl Kung-Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight episodes of The Mandalorian, Danger Mouse, Black Mirror, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Have I Got News for You

[@ProfMoff]

This is out there

[@EveryoneWhoUsesThisTV]

The best 80's show of the noughties.... :) Writer, director and actor Richard Ayoade is my favourite source of dry anti-humour.

[@motorcycleboy9000]

Welcome to my dark place.

[@whisperienced]

I didn't know Jim Cornette was in movies.

[@DuncanEvans-t7q]

It was such a shame you didn't get behind Red Dwarf, but this kinda makes up for it. I've loved this show since it was originally shown in the UK. An absolute insanity of a show taking the micky out of horror and 80s TV show clichés

[@WolvesbaneNetwork]

Alex and josh are buddies arent they?

[@Denaxas71]

I love GM DP

[@azoriusmage]

The best

[@markreed392]

You rem8nded me that I had actually seen this before. I think the trauma of such complete stupidity caused my brain to forget the show in order to protect itself.

[@targetaudience]

Hahaha