Is Snuff Box okay for fans of The IT Crowd?

It's much darker and more surreal. While Matt Berry is just as funny, the tone is less 'sitcom' and more 'disturbing sketch show.' If you liked his character's bombast, you'll like this, but be ready for the depravity.

Why is it called Snuff Box?

It's a play on 'snuff' (as in snuff films or death) and the historical item. Given they play hangmen, the name fits the grim, 18th-century-adjacent aesthetic of their gentleman's club.

Does it have a lot of gore since they are hangmen?

Not really. It's more about the idea of being an executioner and the social awkwardness surrounding it. The 'depravity' is more social and sexual than it is bloody.

Is it available on mainstream streaming?

As of 2026, it's often found on niche platforms like Hoopla or through specialty British comedy collections. It's rarely on the big giants like Netflix.

Snuff Box – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Snuff Box

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2006

52%

WISE Score

A pitch-black, surrealist sketch comedy about hangmen that is absolutely not for your eight-year-old.

Snuff Box

show

NR, 2006

52%

WISE Score

A pitch-black, surrealist sketch comedy about hangmen that is absolutely not for your eight-year-old.

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Screenwise Verdict

Snuff Box is a brilliant, weird, and deeply dark piece of British comedy that belongs nowhere near a family movie night. If you know Matt Berry from What We Do in the Shadows or The IT Crowd, you know the vibe, but this is the raw, 2006 version of that energy.

It’s imaginative and funny if you have a high tolerance for the macabre, but as far as a 'WISE' recommendation for kids goes, it fails almost every metric. It's safe for your own brain if you like the genre, but it's a hard pass for anyone under 16.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults or very mature older teens (16+). It’s a show about depravity and hangmen—keep it for your own post-bedtime viewing.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The show centers on 'general depravity' and hangmen competing for women. It's intentionally the opposite of wholesome.

Imaginative

The surreal, absurd sketch structure and Matt Berry's bizarre musical interludes are incredibly creative and unique.

Safe

Includes dark themes involving death, sexual situations, and crude humor. It's for mature audiences only.

Enriching

While it won't teach your kid history, it's a high-water mark for surrealist British comedy and character work.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Surrealist masterclass for fans of Matt Berry's hyper-theatrical delivery and weird musical numbers.
Absurdist humor that pushes boundaries, perfect for parents who need a break from sanitized family content.
Cult classic status featuring the legendary duo of Berry and Rich Fulcher at their most unfiltered.

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What to Watch For

The premise revolves around hangmen and executions, treated with a very dark, comedic levity.
Frequent scenes of general depravity, including sexual frustration, drinking, and cruel behavior towards others.
The humor is often cringe-inducing and surreal, which can be unsettling if you aren't prepared for the tone.

Conversation Starters

"How does the show use absurdity to make something dark like 'executioners' funny?"
"Why do you think Matt Berry uses so much music in a sketch comedy show?"
"What's the difference between 'dark humor' and just being mean?"

Deep Dive

The Berry-Fulcher Dynamic

If you've ever found yourself deep in a YouTube rabbit hole of 'Matt Berry saying things weirdly,' Snuff Box is the source material you've been looking for. Released in 2006, it captures a specific era of British surrealism that is less 'whimsical' than The Mighty Boosh and significantly more 'bitter.'

Berry and Rich Fulcher play executioners who hang out in a private club, and the show essentially follows their petty rivalries and bizarre failures. It’s structured with recurring sketches—the most famous being the 'boyfriend' sketch where Berry finds increasingly elaborate ways to react to women telling him they have a partner—and interspersed with genuinely catchy, albeit weird, musical numbers.

For a parent, this is a 'treat yourself' show. It’s short (only six episodes), punchy, and completely unapologetic. It doesn't try to be likable. It doesn't try to be moral. It just tries to be as strange as possible. If you're looking for something to watch with a teen who thinks they've seen everything, this might be the one to test their limits, but for younger kids, the themes of execution and general misanthropy are a total non-starter.

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