Its application of [Iannucci's] signature barbed comic voice to such grim history (executions are a constant source of gallows humor) packs its own punch.
Kudos are deserved everywhere for a well-written, beautifully played and offbeat piece of re-imagined history that's always funny despite humour sometimes stemming from a distinct sense of unease.
There is one thing that power can't stand, and that is to be mocked: The social importance of this topical romp should not be underestimated.
TheShiznit.co.uk
December 21, 2017
There's real horror in it too at times...It's a risk, where it could've been guilty of overreaching, but there's a chaotic tone here established into which it all fits quite snugly.
The Death of Stalin marks the first instance in which Iannucci has applied his style to real-life figures, and it's as though he has crafted a historical foundation for the rest of his work.
