Burke & Hare (2010)

Burke & Hare takes a truly grim slice of history and spins it into a mischievous, macabre romp that’s far more entertaining than it has any right to be. The film’s special trick is its tone: it leans into dark humor with a wink and a shiver, letting you laugh even as you’re aware you probably shouldn’t, and it’s buoyed by a game cast that treats the absurdity seriously enough to make it funnier. The period production gives the whole thing a tactile, smoky Edinburgh vibe, like a pub story that keeps getting worse and somehow more delightful. If you’re allergic to gallows comedy or don’t like your laughs anywhere near horror, it may not be your cup of tea—but if you can handle a wicked grin with your thriller, it’s a surprisingly enjoyable ride.

Burke & Hare is clearly aiming for a cheeky, macabre romp—part period crime story, part dark comedy—about two grifters who stumble into murder-for-profit. The problem is the film rarely commits: the humor often lands with a thud, the thriller/horror elements are too timid to generate real tension, and the tone wobbles between slapstick and grim without finding a satisfying balance. If you’re expecting sharp laughs, genuine scares, or a bold satirical edge, this may feel like a talented cast and director stuck in a strangely cautious gear. It’s most tolerable if you like quirky period pieces and can enjoy the performances and production design even when the jokes and menace don’t fully connect.