Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004) User Reviews

what they said

[Sarah-60 · 7/10 · 12 February 2004]

glad to see here that I'm not the only one already hooked after just 3 episodes.

I've tried to explain to people why they must watch it, but the only way they will understand is to watch it!

Its hilarious: terrible acting, atrocious script, wobbly sets, appalling dubbing, and some very alarming wigs.

And lots of slow motion (well, its hard to fill a half hour slot with story all the time)

I'm looking forward to saying 'I told you so' to lots of people when they 'discover' this show in 6 months!

1980's TV at its funniest

[richteabiscuit · 8/10 · 9 February 2004]

This is a comedy spoofing the best and worst of TV from the 1980's. Garth Marenghi is a horror writer who created a show during the 1980's so deep and meaningful that the networks banished it to storage. Now in 2004 the vaults have been opened unleashing it for the world to enjoy. By taking inspiration from classic shows including "Twin Peaks" and "The A Team" a fantastic show has been created. It centers on a Hospital where the docs carry guns and fight supernatural beings. The scripts are deliberately cheesy, the editing is poor and the acting is very wooden. But that is what makes it so funny. There are even those alwful end tags popular with American shows were the main characters laugh at some rubbish joke. If you lived during the 1980's you must see this!

Innovative and refreshing

[Chris Dillhole · 9/10 · 5 February 2004]

I watched this show with trepidation expecting it to be another hit and miss, or even plain miss, of a mini-series. I was more then pleasantly suprised when the show proved not only to be hilarious but a much needed break from the vapid 'reality' shows that have come to expunge any palatability from our viewing pleasure. The 'bad acting', or 'showing the truth' as Garth puts it, is amazingly funny. This is especially true in the character of Garth's boss and the chef (The Office's Stephan Merchant). Overall, it can tend to be a bit tedious by the end but at the moment it is hysterical and I can't wait to see where they go from here.

A different, inventive and, most importantly, hilarious comedy. Shows there is still hope for TV.

[wierzbowskisteedman · 10/10 · 7 April 2004]

Hospital horror Dark Place is the creation of awful writer Garth Marenghi (Matthew Holness), who wrote, directed and starred. He claims it is deep and inspirational, when in fact it is just shoddy and awful.

Darkplace isn't joke orientated, its the terrible production and acting that provides all the laughs, that mainly come from Garth's publisher, Dean Learner (Richard Ayocade) who plays the hospital boss Thornton Reed. His inability to do two things at once when it comes to acting (for example deliver a line and hang up a phone) is hilarious to watch.

Some of the highlights include a "dirt bike" chase through a forest (using tiny children's bicycles), a doctor being attacked by a steam iron and another being chased by a possessed stapler, a woman turning into broccoli and Dean Learner trying to justify how he punched a child actor. However, you have to see it to realize how funny it really is, my words can't do enough.

Darkplace won't appeal to everyone's tastes, but still it looks like it will probably be a cult hit. If its ever repeated, its worth a look just to see what you think. It provides a refreshing change from awful reality TV and soap operas.

I, for one, can't wait for the DVD and/or a second batch of episodes "from the Channel 4 vaults". I give it a solid 10/10.

The BEST COMEDY since The Office

[englandfan66_1985 · 10/10 · 14 February 2004]

"In the 1980's the horror writing genius and self confessed "sooth" Garth Marenghi penned a ground-breaking series of tele-plays. Of the 64 episodes written, only 50 managed to make it into production during the two-month filming. Marenghi's aim was simple: "To change the evolutionary course of mankind over a series of half-hour episodes". However, Merenghi claims that his series was too ground-breaking, and too shocking for the public, and for the past twenty years direct government intervention prevented the shows from ever seeing the light of day. That is, until now. Channel 4 (and E4) are now for the first time running six episodes from the series, and Garth Marenghi has said he is willing to be personally held accountable to God for the consequences."

Garth Marenghi's Dark Place is a spoof of all horror films, tv and action tv from the 80's. Its set up as if the series was made in the 80's and was banned and is now eventually being shown. Throughout the episodes we get to see the cast and crew's comments on the episode's scenes. This is the best comedy since the office.

9/10 (and I've only seen 3 episodes from the first series so far)

"the pube on the pipe idea came from a real life situation" Garth Marenghi

Lovely stuff

[gazmo-86907 · 10/10 · 4 September 2019]

Fantastically stupid and wonderfully daft.....exactly how its meant to be!

I bloody dare you!

[brownfish · 27 April 2004]

All hail Garth Marenghi (Matthew Holness), his creation "Darkplace" is true comic genius. In my estimation it is right up there with the likes of "Brass Eye", "Jam", "League of Gentlemen" and "The Office".

Although this programme may not be suitable for all audiences i.e. people who don't understand or appreciate great comedy when it comes along and would rather watch "My Family". This is the ultimate for fans of contemporary comedy, shows that look to push the boundaries and limitations of the human mind.

I dare you, or maybe not you but anyone who hasn't seen Darkplace yet to watch it. It will develop you as a human being.

Oh and by the way i was hooked on Darkplace after 1 minute.

We were young, we were physically fit and we were challenging logic.

[SendiTolver · 9/10 · 19 July 2018]

I'm Garth Marenghi. Author, dreamweaver, visionary, plus actor. You're about to enter the world of my imagination. You are entering my Darkplace. Garth Marenghi is genius, and as Dean Lerner himself said:"Garth is the most significant artist that I have ever worked with, and I have worked with Lulu and four other people.". And when Dean Learner says that. At the beginning of every episode Garth Marenghi reads excerpt from his novels that only further proves his masterful writing abilities (Mike stared in disbelief as his hands fell of from 'Slasher'.). Music by Stig Baasvik, based on melodies originally whistled by Garth Marenghi.

'Garth Marenghi's Darkplace' is fantastic horror and behind the scenes spoof. Probably the best there ever is. It ran only six episodes before the show was cancelled because the low viewer numbers, and it is sad. But on the other hand, the long run would have become repetitive and finally turned stale. Six twenty five minute long episodes is perfect length for such absurdity. The writing is masterfully bad as the acting and directing (all of this is on purpose of course). Constant continuity errors and bad dialogue offers laugh after laugh. But not most of the jokes are on your face, at least half the jokes are very subtle that you notice them on the second (or fourth or even on the sixth) viewing, or when someone points it out for you. TV show inside TV show have never been funnier, and the really funny part about it is that I actually cared about the show and characters Garth Marenghi had created.

Gun doting doctors in hospital constantly plagued by supernatural forces can never be any cooler than in Garth Marenghi's imagination.

say you were there first time round - watch it now

[sscsgh · 9/10 · 16 February 2004]

I wasn't fully sure what to expect and nearly didn't watch it at all, that would have been a mistake. Three episodes in and I'm hooked and I'm slowly working on all my friends too as it would be a shame if this slipped by without getting the audience it deserves. I was a bit concerned after the first episode that the jokes would quickly wear a bit thin but this hasn't proved to be the case. I don't think it will be everyone's cup of tea but well worth trying because if it is you're in for one of the funnier half hours of television you'll see all week.

SINCE WHEN WERE YOU ORTHADOX, RICK?

[nujuv · 9/10 · 5 February 2004]

Imagine a place between tuseday and purple - between the eighties and chest wigs. Now think back to Saphire and Steel, Deathwatch and certain episodes of Dr Who. Welcome... to Darkplace

Dodgy effects (forgivable - and amusing) and dodgy scripts (unforgivable - and hysterical) ruled the roost shamelessly and here they are aped to the max. I've only seen the first episode (as well as the 'Official' Garth Marenghi website) and I screamed in a miasmous catatony - I gaped shudderously at the incomprehousity of the spectacle - I laughed till I stopped laughing. It's looking good - and I hope it's a short run, as these things can be flogged silly.

As it stands, it is refreshingly sarcastic about nerd orientated broadcasting - and amazingly would stand as a series from the period. Whiffs of Michael Mann, William Friedkin, HP Lovecraft, Starsky & Hutch and hospital based soaps should have folk wincing and laughing till doomsday.

Plot snippets so far: the guy went axe happy in a trout farm. Nuff said.

Had high hopes but it's a one joke show really

[stevenvenn · 6/10 · 9 March 2013]

I love British comedies and I love spoofs of 80s TV shows. But this seems to be neither a very funny comedy nor a successful parody. I think aesthetically they have the 80s style of a Glen Larson show down pat but that's where the joke ends (and it gets repeated over and over again). I think that satire works best when there is a certain seriousness and earnestness to the writing and the performances, that the characters aren't in on the joke. That doesn't seem like the case here. This just seemed like it was riding on the strength of how weird and wacky the 80s were for TV production and for bad writing and acting. One joke. But the show doesn't go further and becomes just as bad a show or worse than the ones that would have been cancelled in the 80s. I think they could have taken the aesthetic but had tighter, more comedic writing. I like Richard Ayoade and Matt Berry in IT Crowd who are mostly wasted in this show.

No this show is not the best comedy since The Office, that award goes to Peep Show which is something I recommend people go and check out. Alternatively The Mighty Boosh or Spaced are miles ahead in creativity and humour.

Hilariously awful, bonkers, and genius all at the same time!

[AdrenalinDragon · 10/10 · 27 November 2020]

A British TV series that managed to be really crappy, stupid, and genius all at the very same time. Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is an awesome concept of intentionally setting out to be a genuinely awful '80s Horror series with all the bad hallmarks of filmmaking and performances, yet also managing to mock itself with hilarious and bonkers moments almost non-stop. The series throughout the episodes also have small interview/documentary style scenes with the filmmakers and actors to add further context of what is going on behind the scenes and how the crew were feeling shooting specific scenes, leading to some pretty funny moments and insights.

Ironically, the real crew trying to find the film equipment that was used to record '80s media actually made the show more expensive, yet it still feels very authentic due to the execution. The DVD Bonus Footage/Commentary pushes this even further by keeping the actors in character. With only six 25 minute episodes, it zips by very quickly and I wish there was another season. On the other hand though, doing that might have tarnished its perfect track record, so keeping it short and sweet was probably for the best. It wasn't the biggest show ever even in the UK, but outside of that I don't know if many have heard of it. Give it a go when you can.

10/10

Nails aesthetic, but not humour

[mcantelon · 6/10 · 14 November 2015]

I wanted to like this series, as it really nails the aesthetic of low- budget 80s productions. The props are great, the acting and costuming is appropriately B movie, but that alone isn't enough to carry the series. If the same effort had been put into writing as was put into production, this could have been a classic series, but the writing's lacklustre. There are laughs to be had, but in some episodes they're few and far between. Everything feels tepid and safe. For a much tighter execution of the concept behind the series, Danger 5 series 2 is a much better way to spend one's viewing time. I'm surprised this has such a high rating.

It's successful in being bad

[armsr003 · 3/10 · 27 October 2020]

Clearly trying to be funny from being a poorly made show. From the writing to the acting to the special effects they are all poor. If you are someone who finds thing like this kind of thing funny then you will enjoy this otherwise avoid.

Best UK show on TV at the moment.

[ShadowKnuxx · 26 February 2004]

When The show 'Little Britain' ended, I felt that TV was lacking in any hilarious new comedies. Then I saw an advert for 'Garth Marenghi's Darkplace' so I decided to watch it.

Since then I've been hooked, I have never seen anything like this show before. It is truly amazing. This proves that you don't need clever scripts, great acting or impressive special effects.

Highlights for me include, Episode 4's bike chase, Episode 1's graveyard shootout and well, pretty much the entire show.

This show is pure comic genious.

I'll finish with a quote...

"She was like a candle in the wind ... unreliable"

Brilliant

[Jeremy_Urquhart · 10/10 · 19 May 2011]

Words cannot describe just how good Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is. But I'll give it a shot regardless. Darkplace is an intentionally poorly made surreal and nonsensical medical drama show within a show. It follows a group of doctors tackling supernatural oddities, with hilarious commentaries by the real life actors who play the actors in the show who play the doctors in the show within the show. I know that's a little confusing. What makes Darkplace so unbelievably brilliant is the continuity errors, bad acting, awful dialogue, gaping plot holes, and absurd story lines (all deliberately done, mind you). Highlights include a woman turning into broccoli, an awesome bike chase through a forest (with out of place motorbike sound effects), some incredibly offensive Scottish stereo- typing, and the unforgettable fake 80's song "One Track Lover," which must be heard to be believed. There's so many more hilarious moments, but most are so absurd that their really difficult to try and explain, so I'd just say watch the show for yourself. It's a pity this show was cancelled so soon, and unfortunately, there's only six episodes. Maybe that's to be expected when a show is as unique as this one. Still, those six episodes are filled with so much awesomeness that they must be seen.

Fantastic

[PoHakk · 10/10 · 6 January 2011]

Recently I came across Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. And I am glad I did. I will try to keep this short, this show is one of the funniest shows.... No, this IS the funniest show I have ever seen. Hilarious puns and story lines, outrageously obvious usage of miniatures, its just all around great. The editing is fantastic and really helps push the already funny dialog over the top. After I watched the series I found myself unable to sleep! All I could do was lay there in bed and giggle. And when I woke up it just started all over again. All day at work I just kept remembering funny dialog. And laughing out loud like a madman. The show is great. Its just too bad there's only 6 episodes! Search until you find it, take a day off from work, make your favorite lunch, turn your damn cellphone off and watch Garth Marenghi's Darkplace!

Best show ever

[andrew-hill515 · 10/10 · 3 November 2018]

It's amazing. I can't do it justice in a review, you should watch it, if you haven't already.

cool, a classic

[piffel · 9/10 · 20 February 2004]

This is one of the best things on tv today, if you ever get half a chance to watch it then DO!!!! so cheep it's priceless! 9 out of 10

GENIUS!

[lhabla · 10/10 · 6 February 2004]

As I post this we are only 2 episodes in, but this is the funniest spoof I have ever seen! A lot of bad dubbing, god awful acting, even worse special effects make this program what it is, a spoof on 70s/80s sci-fi/horror programs mixed in with dark comedy. I can see this getting a cult following, its sure as hell not for everyone.

You may recognise 'Garth Marenghi' from doing a cameo as that computer geek who corrected a comment on Bruce Lee on the classic Office. You can see the links between the programs, and co writer Stephen Merchant has a cool part on episode 2.

Overall, brilliant program that can only get better as it goes on! Roll on the DVD!

Insanely, inanely funny

[grantss · 9/10 · 10 May 2023]

In the 1980s horror writer Garth Marenghi wrote, directed and starred in a TV series so cutting edge that TV channels refused to show it. It's now the early 2000s and the series is finally being released. Set in Darkplace Hospital, Marenghi plays Dr Rick Dagless, a caring yet unconventional doctor. His colleagues are Drs Lucien Sanchez and Liz Asher and boss is Thornton Reed. Together they deal with some bizarre, paranormal cases.

A hysterically funny, highly unconventional series. First of all, it's a series within a series as we have actors playing characters playing characters. This allows for two strands of humour. First, there's a satire on the makers of the series (Marenghi et al) and the making of the series.

Then there's the series itself which is filled with absurdist, over-the-top humour. While there's some great visual gags and punchlines part of the comedy is the intentional cheap, B-grade feel to proceedings: deliberately hammy acting (Richard Ayoade as Dean Lerner as Thornton Reed is fantastic here), poor production values (e.g. Seeing the strings attached to flying objects), badly synced voiceovers, cheesy jokes. It's so intentionally bad it's brilliant.

The main cast - Matthew Holness as Garth Marenghi as Dr Rick Dagless, Richard Ayoade as Dean Lerner as Thornton Reed, Matt Berry as Todd Rivers as Dr Lucien Sanchez, Alice Lowe as Madeleine Wool as Dr Liz Asher - are excellent. Ayoade and Holness also wrote the show and Ayoade directed it.

We also have notable supporting cast members: Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding of The Mighty Boosh fame and Stephen Merchant of The Office and Extras fame. The appearance of Barratt and Fielding shows the quality and sort of humour you should expect.

Superb comedy series.

Uneven but a lot of fun

[runamokprods · 7/10 · 24 January 2017]

Like most parodies – especially of genres that are practically already parodies of themselves – this can be uneven. It can be repetitive at times, and some jokes fall off the cliff from the heights of Monty Python like silly, to just dopey. But when it IS funny, it can be laugh out loud funny. And this is another one of those cases where the DVD extras are arguably even better than the show itself.

Garth Marenghi (Matthew Holness) is a very low rent variation on a Stephen King type novelist, whose horror books once sold in the millions, but whose latest novel sold either 213 or 179 copies depending on whom you believe. Possessed of an ego the size of all outdoors, Marenghi wrote, produced and starred in this low budget horror series set in a hospital, where he plays the brave and brilliant head doctor. Marengehi introduces each of the six episodes, and they are interrupted for occasional commentary by Marenghi and sometimes his publisher Dean Learner (played by creator Richard Ayoade) a fast talking guy who seems more like a pimp on a 70s TV show than a purveyor of literature, and who has been convinced by Marenghi to play his boss in the series – despite the fact that he has absolutely no acting ability whatsoever (but he's cheap). They're joined by Todd Rivers (Matt Berry), a hunky leading man in decline from drink who pronounces every line like he's doing Shakespeare in a huge auditorium and Madeline Wool as the obligatory female who seems to be in the show to be a punching bag – literal and figurative (Alice Lowe).

All the actors are very funny as bad actors in an awful TV show and also as 'themselves' in the interview sections. (Although, curiously, Alice Lowe as Madeline is left out of all the interviews).

For me the very funniest bits were the lengthy extra 'interviews' on the DVD, which feature some hysterical (and clever) improv as the cast (always in character) discuss the making of the series. Those left me wondering how they didn't crack themselves up more often (you see than almost fall apart more than once).

Uneven yes, but also a lot of fun.

Wonderfully Bad Entertainment

[hellraiser7 · 10/10 · 7 January 2015]

We've all sat thought a TV show or movie that was so bad it was good. Why we would have guilty admiration or even like them despite how badly their put together let alone content, it's hard to say. May'be it's because we sense the people who made it at least tried to make something good despite the end result, yet weirdly enough it actually turned out to be good in a not so good way.

This is one of my favorite comedies of all time but it's also one of my favorite parodies in the genre. This is the kinda show that the guys from "Mystery Science Theater 3000" would have a field day with. It's basically a parody on both Steven King novels, 80's TV shows, and badly made shows all wrapped into one which I'll admit makes a very tasty combination.

I just love how everything in this show is just so deliciously bad, which is why this parody works so well. From the premise which feels more like a mish mash of premises that don't really mesh well together, where it's a hospital drama, day and nighttime soaps, horror, action and cop show all at once; I'm not kidding. It's almost as if they creator that made this didn't know what in the hell he wanted the show to be which makes it all the more funny because literally the creator was more busy being creative than actually concerned with the content of his work (has he never heard of proofreading).

The whole show is pretty much a character of it's own because it was obviously done on a low or no budget. Production value is not on par, the acting is terrible, writing is bad, fight and shootout choreography is off (in some shootouts you don't even see them use blanks just the sound of gunfire that at times isn't even on sync with the characters pulling the trigger), the list goes on. Yet you really like this show because it really feels like they tried, if not very well.

One of my favorite episodes is "Scotish Fog" (I'm not kidding that's the title). To me this episode was a dream come true because it's a homage and parody to two of the films "The Fog" and "Halloween" from my favorite movie director John Carpenter.

Another is the Brochali episode where we see one of the worst one on one fights ever, it was just fraking hilarious as we see how badly choreographed it is, the cinematography in both the punches and kicks is angled wrong so you can easily see their not connecting. The sound effects aren't in cynic, let alone both actors Garth and Luchen both haven't trained you can easily see Luchen's kicks are pathetically too low as if both actors are only imitating what they saw in martial arts films. Then we see Dean come in a break up the fight which is hilarious because he is caring a 12 gauge with him which is just so random, why the heck is he even carrying one? The characters in the parody are great, I really like Garth whom is a Steven King like writer whom is obviously a total hack. Not just from creating, producing, directing, and acting in the show which was a big mistake on all fronts, but even his novels aren't very good (how their highly successful is beyond me).

I like how in each episode you hear him read off of one of his novels, the content is just so deliciously terrible you can tell he doesn't know how to generate suspense or each kill just seems to simply happen out of nowhere. And each of the stories he reads don't really correlate with the title of the book; I only have two conclusions to this: One, either he mistitled his stories after he wrote them. Two, as he was writing his story he had another idea in mind that overlapped what he was writing.

What I like about him is he's not an egotist the guy is just someone that despite not knowing entirely what in the hell he is doing, is a person that tries and really believes in what he does despite the end result; which to me makes him kinda a holy fool. And he is an imaginative person despite a flawed imagination but hey some imagination is better than none.

Though my favorite character is Dean Larner whom is Garth's publisher. He is just so fraking hilarious he just has some of the best lines and scenes. One scene that was great with him was probably the worst chase scene I've ever scene where he's chasing down a car by riding a bike as what looks like super speed, it cracks me up because you can clearly see behind him is obviously screen background and it's moving back too fast, let alone his character was meant to ride a motorcycle but they didn't have the money to rent one. I really like seeing him try to act which he can't he's merely just trying to imitate a police chief type from 70's cop shows.

And of course what he says in the interview segments which are also the best part of this parody. One great think he says is when he mentions how were living in dangerous times and that reading, the horror genre, and everything else is in decline. I thought what he said was funny because it's kinda true to how I feel about what's currently happening in the entertainment right now. How most companies are more concerned with making more money than the quality of their product whether it works or not.

Overall if your a fan of the parody genre and your looking for something different than "Garth Mareghi's Darkplace" is the best place to be.

Rating: 4 stars

Hilarious in its outlandishness

[tinytots2 · 7/10 · 11 March 2022]

A British classic, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is a horror parody comedy that excels in its weird zaniness. The excessive slow motion scenes, the deliberately shoddy editing and continuity flaws, the overacting ... all of these contribute to the ludicrousness and aid in replicating the feel of the cheesy low-budget 80s shows. The writing contains many gems and the pseudo documentary style with in character cast interviews further enhances the show's levity. With only 6 episodes, it offers a small but fresh sampling of plotlines while also reinforcing the gag of it being a lost series that was retrieved.

While not all the humour landed for me, I could appreciate the creativity in the dialogue and especially in the intentionally poor production quality. Some of the elements across episodes however did feel a little repetitive (like an over-reliance on mists).

But Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is well worth a watch, especially to those who are aficionados of compelling B-flicks and quirky parodies.

What in God's creation o' crow sh*te....?

[Isakawa · 3/10 · 12 February 2007]

I did not seriously believe this would, nor could come to any good. I was right. You cannot seriously think this to be comic genius, surely! Many say 'Ooh, it's right up there with The Office', but that was utter rubbish as well. It's incomprehendable how people can stand comedy made to look like fly-on-the-wall, real-life sound bite, documentary-style reality. On top of that, this particular take on the ever-weakening comedy barrel (too much scraping at the bottom, you see) is based around a fictitious 1980's TV show so purposefully badly made that after five minutes, it just becomes an embarrassment, for all the reasons it doesn't intend to be. Fine, have a spoof, poorly put together, horror/comedy, outlining how poorly funded such television is and having a good laugh in the meantime, but, for the love of Buddha, do not keep inter-cutting it with atrociously acted sound bites from cast and producer telling us tongue-in-cheek how marvellous they thought it was and is. In one respect it is identical to The Office - and any other jape that should only really be told once. I get the joke, it's just not funny.