What are some good dark humor bedtime stories?

One characteristic is the unexpectedness. They often have a twist that catches you off - guard, like in the story where the doctor says 'I'll deal with you later' to the man who thinks he's a deck of cards. Another is that they can be a bit macabre. For example, the skeleton asking for a beer and a mop. It's not your typical humorous situation but it makes you laugh because it's so absurd and a little bit creepy at the same time. Also, they sometimes play with taboos or uncomfortable topics in a way that still manages to be funny, without being too offensive.

One 'dark bedtime story' could be 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. It's about a woman's descent into madness as she's confined to a room with yellow wallpaper. Another is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' where a narrator is haunted by the sound of a dead man's heart. And 'The Cask of Amontillado' which involves a man being walled up alive.

Sure. There's a story about a little boy who has an imaginary friend. But this imaginary friend is a grumpy old man who constantly complains. One night, the boy says he's scared of the dark. The old man says 'The dark is the least of your problems, kid. Wait until you see what real monsters look like'. It's a short but darkly humorous story.

Well, a great dark humor story should be able to make you laugh while also making you a bit uncomfortable. It might use black - and - white situations and then add a strange or abnormal element. For instance, a story where a group of people are waiting for a bus in a really cold winter day. When the bus finally arrives, it's a hearse. The normal expectation of a warm bus is replaced with a vehicle associated with death, creating that dark humor effect. The story also needs to have some sort of punchline or final thought that ties the whole dark and funny concept together.

Dark humor short stories often feature unexpected or absurd situations. For example, characters might find themselves in a completely illogical yet real - ish situation, like in 'The Metamorphosis' where a man turns into an insect.

Dark humor short stories also tend to play with taboos. They might touch on topics like death, violence, or social norms in a way that is not typical. By breaking these boundaries in a humorous context, they create a unique and often thought - provoking reading experience. This can make the reader both uncomfortable and amused at the same time.

They often involve personal or unique situations. For example, something that happens only within a family or a small group. Dark humor in these stories usually takes an unexpected turn, like in the story of the old cat. The comment about the cat not scratching furniture after death is unexpected and a bit dark. It's not the normal reaction one would expect in a mourning situation.

A cemetery worker was asked why he liked his job. He said, 'Well, it's the only place where people are always laid back.' This dark humor story uses a play on words with 'laid back' in the context of a cemetery where people are literally laid to rest.

Sure. Here's one. A man goes to the doctor and says, 'Doctor, I keep thinking I'm a deck of cards.' The doctor replies, 'I'll deal with you later.'

One classic is 'Catch - 22' by Joseph Heller. It uses dark humor to expose the absurdity of war and military bureaucracy. Another is 'Slaughterhouse - Five' by Kurt Vonnegut. It tells the story of Billy Pilgrim's time - traveling experiences during World War II in a darkly humorous way. And 'Fight Club' by Chuck Palahniuk also has elements of dark humor as it delves into themes of consumerism and masculinity in a rather dark and satirical way.