5 Brands That Used Dark Humor to Absolute Perfection

Humor is always good in advertising. But do you know what’s even better than that? Dark humor! Dark humor, as you might know, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matters, which are generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered serious or painful to discuss. Add this to advertising and you have at your hand a perfect 30-second spot that can give anyone the jitters while keeping them hooked all along. Also, nothing probably delivers the message as well as a commercial that makes sound use of dark humor.

So, for today’s #FunnyFridays segment, we have for you 5 awesome dark humor-based commercials that will keep you engaged and jittery at the same time.

1. Horizon Therapeutics: Down and Out Kidney

We are judged by the company we keep; well guess what, we also suffer on the basis of the company we keep.

Biopharmaceutical company Horizon Therapeutics launched a campaign called Down and Out Kidney, which threw light on the prevalence and impact of gout in chronic kidney disease. The ad showcased kidney as an unsuspecting lead character whose growing interaction with uric acid not only endangers himself but also his friends- foot, hand, bone, and heart. The ad used animation as an out-of-the-box way to shed light on a serious topic and showcase how fatal the ‘friendship’ between kidneys and uric acid can be.

2. DVDpost.be: Osama bin Laden

This hilarious commercial by the DVD renting company DVDpost.be not only takes a dig at couch potatoes but also showcases how it can reach its customers anywhere, anytime.

The ad shows a mailman knocking at someone’s door. The audience is taken by shock when the person opening the door is none other than OBL himself (just kidding- only OBL’s face is superimposed over another man’s face). However, the message displayed next is enough to crack everyone up. Watch the ad to know what it was.

3. Panasonic Lumix: Climber Ad

Pictures remind you of the things that you’ve seen in your life. They also come in handy for others to find out the things that you’ve come across once you’re dead!

This uncomfortable-yet-funny commercial by Panasonic Lumix shows a climber taking pictures as he jumps around from one mountain to another, all the while taking pictures on his camera. Seconds later, we see two paramedics seeing those pictures on the same camera- beside the body of the climber who lies dead, probably after falling off a cliff.

Sad, but at least the pictures were great!

4. DeWalt: Powerful Grill Ad

How often do you wish that you had a drilling machine that could pierce through anything that comes in its way? Well, be careful what you wish for!

This commercial by DeWalt shows a man trying to drill a hole in the wall with the drill machine. Just then a careless idiot walks by the other side of the wall. What happens next is nothing short of watching a psychopath movie. Watch the ad to know why you should steer clear of walls when someone’s drilling a hole in them!

5. GoodYear: Changing Tires is a Bad Idea

If the caption isn’t enough to spook you, watching the ads will probably do it for you.

Tyre company GoodYear released three short, crisp, and hilarious ads to demonstrate the number of ways you could die while changing your car’s tires. You could fall off a highway, get bumped by an oncoming vehicle, or even get run over by it. Solution? Get all your car’s tires replaced at GoodYear and you won’t have to die while doing it yourself!

Wrapping Up

And that was a wrap of another #FunnyFridays segment. Dark humor, if used correctly, can go a long way in not just delivering your brand’s message but also ensuring maximum engagement toward your ads. All you need to do is figure out what would make your audience uncomfortable and laugh at the same time. Pretty easy, right?😆

We’ll be back with more awesome videos for you. Till then, stay tuned!