It’s October; we’re allowed to laugh at morbid subject matter more than normal.

“Duplex,” a comedic feature film, takes advantage of those allowances. That said, Danny DeVito has woven us a dark tale at which to laugh.

DeVito’s characters are average people – a run-of-the-mill couple that gets stuck with an overbearing tenant. And after enormous pressure, they go to great lengths to find any bit of solitude.

-DeVito harnesses Larry Doyle, a writer behind “Beavis and Butt-head” and “The Simpsons.” Also writing for “Duplex” is John Hamburg, a writer behind “Meet the Parents” and “Zoolander.”

Alex (Ben Stiller) and wife Nancy (Drew Barrymore) move into their new abode under the assumption that there’s a sweet old lady near the end of her days renting out the upstairs room.

Newcomer Eileen Essel plays tenant Mrs. Connelly, who’s transformation from sweet old lady to gigantic thorn in Alex and Nancy’s side is so gradual and well-performed, it’s a wonder why Essel didn’t act earlier in life.

There’s also a great cameo by Kumar Pallana as an owner of an Indian restaurant. Pallana is best known for the role of Pagoda in Wes Anderson’s modern classic “The Royal Tenenbaums.”

It’s hard to overcome all the bad press from “Death to Smoochy,” but I’d say the one thing saving it in the public eye is that Ben Stiller already played this character in “Meet the Parents.”

But different from the Jay Roach comedy, “Duplex” is openly morbid and on the very dark edge of comedy.

Also, “Meet the Parents” was just a random set of events that happened to one poor guy. In “Duplex,” it feels like there’s something more under the surface, as if there’s a conspiracy against the young couple.

Danny DeVito more than makes up for his stutter step with “Death to Smoochy.” He, along with writers Doyle and Hamburg, delivers a cohesive and smooth movie with enough star power to push it inside the top five at the box office.

Don’t be afraid to laugh at old ladies getting thrown down stairs, or any of the other horrible things done to this poor old woman; I know I wanted to see her dead by the end of it.

All too soon, it’ll be Christmas time and we’ll forget about all things macabre for another 11 months. Until then, get your fill with “Duplex.”