Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town

TV review by Kari Croop, Common Sense Media
Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Killer concept injects edgy humor into small-town life.

IFC Comedy 2010
Rate TV

Parents say

age 15+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

No reviews yet.

Add your rating

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate tv

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this "gothic comic miniseries" from Canadian sketch comedy group Kids in the Hall was designed to make adults laugh with its mature (and sometimes morbid) humor. As the title suggests, death and murder are part of the plot, and there's some mid-level violence (with visible blood) that's played for laughs, along with a few scenes involving alcohol and characters who drink to excess and do drugs. Thanks to the show's late-night time slot, you'll also hear some unbleeped language (including "s--t," "prick," and "bitch") and see some characters in sexual situations, although there isn't any nudity.

Community Reviews

hamstergurl09
hamstergurl09 Adult
January 5, 2013
age 15+

The Kids Are Still Funny

As a fan of "The Kids in the Hall," I expected to like this show, but I was not completely sure if the Kids would still be able to pull off a funny show after being off the air for so long. "Death Comes to Town" entirely exceeded my expectations, as it is absolutely brilliant. People who aren't into dark humor won't like it, but dark humor is my favorite genre of comedy, so it was perfect for me. It's moderately edgy (about the same amount as the original "Kids in the Hall" series) and completely hilarious. Considering some adult themes in this, it will probably not be appropriate for younger teenagers, although I'm fifteen (which is more of mid-teenaged) and I can handle it just fine. I find myself and my family often quoting the show. Sadly, it's only a miniseries, and it ends so quickly! I love the show. I definitely recommend it.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

DEATH COMES TO TOWN quite literally when the Grim Reaper (Mark McKinney) rides his bicycle into Shuckton, Ontario, and moves in to the No Tell Motel. He's got plans to kill, of course. But nobody suspects what tragedies await until the town's mayor, Larry Bowman (Bruce McCulloch), turns up dead. Suddenly, everyone's a suspect, including the mayor's alcoholic wife, Marilyn (Dave Foley); his blustery mistress, TV news forecaster Heather Weather (Scott Thompson); and hand sanitizer-huffing town miscreant Crim Hollingsworth (also Thompson).

Is It Any Good?

This "gothic comic miniseries" was co-written by Canadian sketch-comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall. And when it comes to laughs, Death doesn't disappoint, particularly if you're already a fan of the Kids and their unique brand of subversive humor. The concept itself is quite clever -- it plays like a mash-up of Reno 911! and Waiting for Guffman -- and these characters are some of the best the Kids have ever come up with. Fastidious town coroner Dusty Diamond is a definite keeper.

Although there's some iffy stuff to be aware of, content-wise, older teens (and their parents) with a penchant for subtle humor will definitely appreciate the bone-dry gags. The only downside is that the miniseries consists of just eight 30-minute episodes, which breeze by so fast that you feel like you're leaving Shuckton far too soon. Here's hoping the Kids pen another chapter so we can come back and visit again.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the show's use of satire. How can you tell that it isn't meant to be taken seriously? Does the presence of deadpan humor downplay the violence and make it seem any less extreme?

  • What are the potential real-life consequences of some of the behavior you see in the show? What message does it send when a show plays that kind of behavior for laughs?

  • Why do we laugh when men dress in drag and impersonate women? Would the show be as funny if male actors only played male characters, and female actors played the female characters instead?

TV Details

Our Editors Recommend

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate