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The Coen brothers possess a deep understanding of the subtle elements in film, often bringing hidden nuances to the forefront. They skillfully navigate these subtleties through the use of dark humor. In their movies, characters appear at ease with awkward situations, and their actions can be inadvertently humorous. They express their thoughts openly and honestly, with some being more innocent than others. Even the individuals with culpability can’t escape the darker aspects of their actions.
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The 10 Darkest Moments from Coen Brothers Movies
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) – Saloon Salutation
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a Western anthology that follows the adventures of the singing cowboy Buster Scruggs. In one scene, he enters a saloon where patrons must disarm upon entering. Buster complies and joins a poker game.
There’s a cowboy in white who initially doesn’t want to play, but a tall man named Surly Joe forces the issue by brandishing his pistol. Buster notices that Joe has violated the saloon’s firearm policy. In a clever twist, Buster kicks a loose plank in the table, causing Joe to accidentally shoot himself multiple times.
What sets this scene apart is how the Coen brothers take a simple, juvenile concept (like the ‘stop hitting yourself’ prank) and turn it into a dark comedy. Buster then sings a song about the dead man, which strangely puts the barroom patrons at ease. The contrast between Buster’s good-natured appearance, his clean attire, and his willingness to commit a murder is as darkly humorous as finding a fly in your ointment.”
Barton Fink (1991) – Room Service
Barton Fink, a loquacious playwright from New York, is brought to Hollywood to write scripts for a wrestling film, even though he knows nothing about the subject. He faces tight deadlines and little guidance. He takes up residence in the Hotel Earle to focus on his work, but is constantly disturbed by the noises from the adjacent room.
In the midst of his frustrations, Fink encounters Charlie Meadows, an insurance salesman who apologizes for the noise. Fink forms an unexpected friendship with Charlie, who, unbeknownst to Fink, is the notorious serial killer Karl “Madman” Mundt. This seemingly mild-mannered connection is the central enigma of the story.
As Fink grapples with mounting pressure from studio executives, he seeks assistance from a secretary who works for an alcoholic scriptwriter. Tragically, this woman is murdered by Charlie Meadows, whose true identity as Karl is revealed. When the police arrive to investigate the hotel, Karl ruthlessly guns them down, leaving Fink as the sole witness to this horrifying ordeal.
What adds to the story’s darkness is the lingering uncertainty and moral dilemma left in its wake. Fink unwittingly befriended a serial killer, treating him with kindness and trust. This unsettling revelation raises questions about the nature of human connections and the darkness that can hide beneath the surface.
Blood Simple (1984) – Renting is Murder
“Blood Simple” is a neo-noir film that revolves around a bartender, an unfaithful wife, and a private detective. The story begins with PI Loren Visser investigating the infidelity of Abby, the wife of bar owner Julian Marty. Marty pays Visser to kill his wife and her lover, Ray, but Visser double-crosses Marty by killing him and taking the money. He then frames Abby for Marty’s murder.
As the plot unfolds, Ray realizes that Abby has been wrongly accused, but he is killed by Visser before he can do anything about it. Abby manages to escape and eventually confronts Visser in a tense and dark showdown, where she outsmarts and outguns him.
The film’s complexity lies in the fact that Abby is both a victim of circumstances and an unwitting participant in the violence. She had an affair due to her unhappy marriage, but she ends up having to defend herself and ultimately takes a life. The series of murders can be traced back to her, even though she is not the initial instigator of the violence, highlighting the moral ambiguity and dark twists in the story.
Burn After Reading (2008) – Closet Conspiracy
“Burn After Reading” is a darkly comedic film centered around two gym employees, Chad and Linda, who stumble upon a CD containing sensitive information from a CIA analyst named Osbourne Cox. Despite their bumbling attempts to blackmail Cox, Chad’s decision to break into Cox’s house to steal more files ends in tragedy. When he hides in a closet, he is discovered, shot, and killed.
What earns this film a spot on the list is the brilliance of Chad’s sheer incompetence. His complete lack of skill becomes an unexpected asset in the world of espionage. Linda instructs him to remove any identifying items from his person, which only leads Cox to believe Chad is a government agent. Chad’s death triggers a bizarre chain of events marked by confusion and sabotage, all stemming from misunderstandings and misinterpretations that were never intended.
Fargo (1996) – Traffic Stop
“Fargo” earns its place on the list due to the stark contrast between the harsh winter landscape and the brutal consequences of a botched crime scheme. When Jerry Lundegaard, a car sales manager, enlists the help of two criminals, Carl Showalter and Gaear Grimsrud, to abduct his wife Jean for ransom money from his wealthy father-in-law, the plan takes a dark and unexpected turn. During their journey to a designated meeting point, their path intersects with a police officer who discovers Jean’s captivity. This unforeseen encounter forces Gaear to resort to lethal violence, emphasizing the inescapable nature of fate even in the most desolate and remote locations.
The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001) – Close Shave
“The Man Who Wasn’t There” centers around Ed Crane, a barber who becomes suspicious that his wife, Doris, is having an affair with her boss, “Big Dave” Brewster. In an ill-conceived attempt to confront Brewster, Ed’s plans go awry when a customer tips off Brewster about the blackmail. In a heated confrontation, Ed ends up accidentally killing Brewster during a haircut. Subsequently, the legal system becomes involved, and Doris is held responsible for the murder. However, before the court proceedings can unfold, Doris takes her own life in her jail cell.
The significance of this narrative lies in the fact that Ed’s misguided actions, driven by his belief that Doris was unfaithful, actually put her in greater danger than her alleged affair ever did. Ed’s actions ultimately led to tragic consequences for both of them. As the truth emerges, Doris, feeling a profound sense of guilt and despair, makes the tragic decision to end her own life, along with that of her unborn child.
Miller’s Crossing (1990) – Into the Woods
“Miller’s Crossing” depicts a growing conflict between Irish and Italian mafia groups. Tom Reagan serves as a mediator for the Irish gang and decides to remove Bernie, a member who has been embezzling from the boss. Tom eventually fakes Bernie’s execution and saves his life. However, Bernie puts Tom in a dangerous situation when he kills an Italian mobster’s lover and replaces her with another woman’s body.
What earns this film a place on the list is the perilous position Tom places himself in. Being a double agent on both sides of the criminal world is a recipe for a premature death. Tom didn’t have personal issues with Bernie, but Bernie’s continued existence caused more problems than his death. Tom’s revenge was a dark opportunity for a fresh start at a normal life, but it came at the cost of taking another man’s life.
No Country for Old Men (2007) – Home Free
“No Country for Old Men” is set in Texas and revolves around a drug deal gone awry. Llewyn Moss stumbles upon a suitcase filled with drug money and decides to take it for himself. The enigmatic hitman Anton Chigurh is in relentless pursuit of Moss and the money, while law enforcement is also on their trail. Chigurh threatens to harm Moss’s wife, Carla Jean, and their eventual encounter leaves the story with an ambiguous conclusion.
What sets this film apart is Chigurh’s peculiar approach to decision-making. He often relies on the flip of a coin to determine the fate of others, making him appear as a character with a chaotic neutral disposition. When Carla Jean questions his moral compass, Chigurh nonchalantly checks his boots, presumably for any traces of blood, before departing her house.
A Serious Man (2009) – Calming the Storm
“A Serious Man” is a darkly comedic film centered around Larry Gopnik, a Jewish professor, whose life is a series of unfortunate events. His wife leaves him to marry a widower, his children veer off the right path, and the school committee rejects his tenure application. As these misfortunes pile up, Larry’s faith wavers, and he begins to question whether his virtuous actions will ever yield the rewards he hopes for. The impending tornado heading for the school serves as a stark symbol of the relentless and harsh reality that good deeds often seem to go unnoticed and unrewarded in Larry’s world.
True Grit (2010) – Double the Grit
“True Grit,” based on Charles Portis’ Western novel, tells the story of Mattie Ross hiring the lawman Rooster Cogburn to eliminate the outlaw Tom Chaney, who murdered her father. During their quest, they interrogate two outlaws, Quincy and Moon, to uncover Chaney’s whereabouts. In a critical moment, Cogburn, emphasizing the importance of determination, is pushed to his limits in a dim dugout while Mattie watches. In this vulnerable situation, the truth and innocence hang by a thread as they deal with the dying outlaw’s last words. Cogburn’s unwavering determination becomes evident when he’s reluctantly forced to kill one of the outlaws in front of Mattie.
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