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Afraid of the Dark

Trevor Noah

Netflix · 2017 · 67 min

An international hour of impressions and cultural observation.

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Trevor Noah is at his most comfortable when he is playing with vocal mimicry and pointing out the oddities of human behavior from a global perspective. The core appeal here is his fluid transition between characters, whether he is imagining a British colonizer trying to politely steal India from a confused farmer, or walking through the mechanics of how a Russian accent can ward off street creeps and nighttime terrors alike. It is less about heavy-handed political takedowns and more about the theatrical side of cultural observation.\n\nFilmed at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, the 2017 release came during Noah’s early years hosting The Daily Show. While his late-night hosting duties demanded a tight focus on American political chaos, this hour leans heavily into international territory, utilizing his background as a South African comic traveling the globe. Notable bits include a breakdown of why a Black James Bond, specifically Idris Elba, would make a terrible spy because his mere presence would immediately draw suspicion, and an extended imagined meeting between Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela, where Mandela teaches Obama the vocal art of sounding presidential.\n\nThe hour is paced with a relaxed, conversational rhythm. It received praise for showing a more laidback side of Noah compared to his nightly news desk persona, though some critics pointed out that his observations on Western culture can occasionally feel like a tourist catalog.

The set list

6 bits

  1. Traffic signals in New York City versus Africa

    Observes how fearless New Yorkers trust pedestrian crosswalk signals implicitly, joking that green lights mean having the 'white man on your side,' whereas in Africa traffic signals are merely suggestions

  2. Nelson Mandela coaching Barack Obama

    Envisions a dialogue where elder statesman Mandela gives young junior senator Obama an impromptu voice coaching lesson on how to speak like a future Black president

  3. Idris Elba as James Bond

    Explains why a Black James Bond would struggle to operate as an international undercover spy in predominantly white European spaces where he immediately stands out

  4. Drinking in Scotland and origins of the Scottish accent

    Recalls drinking too much in Edinburgh, deadpanning that the Scottish drink to die, and theorizes that the thick Scottish accent developed from centuries of Scots holding back vomit

  5. Vaginas versus penises and female empowerment

    Rebuts the insult 'don't be a pussy' by asserting the strength and resilience of vaginas compared to the fragility of penises, which break if sat on wrong

  6. Using a Russian accent to conquer fear of the dark

    Demonstrates adopting a menacing Russian accent in dark or frightening situations to take control and make everyone else afraid

How it plays

Tone
Witty, thoughtful, silly yet pointed and understated
On stage
Charismatic, charming, and conversational with an easygoing smile, strolling the stage with a chameleonic voice
Pace
Conversational and laidback rather than rapid one-liners, with precise delivery and physical humor
About
colonialism, immigration and nationalism, accents and perceptions of voice, travel as an antidote to ignorance, drinking culture, gender and female empowerment

What the critics said

Critics widely praised Noah's storytelling, charm, and versatile accents, highlighting how thriving outside the Daily Show desk allowed him to deliver a refreshing, globally minded perspective on culture and politics

In the room: Enraptured and highly responsive to his physical comedy and character accents

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: media.netflix.com, allmovie.com, rottentomatoes.com, mic.com, decider.com, eponymousreview.com, vodzilla.co, imdb.com.

Backstory

Filmed during the New York Comedy Festival days before the 2016 US presidential election; reflects his viewpoint as a South African immigrant in New York City amid global political events like Brexit

Details

Released
Taped
2016, Beacon Theatre, New York City
Runtime
67 min
Where
Netflix
Director
David Paul Meyer
Honors
100% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes based on 6 reviews
Topics
Before
Lost in Translation (2015)
After
Son of Patricia (2018)

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