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Well they were okay with it becasue they knew about the threat Colm made beforehand to Padraic. He wasn't crazy, he was determined and they knew that.

It did seem to go from light-hearted comedy to strange territory rather abruptly, however, like Padraic, the audience probably didn't take Colm's threat serious. Especially since the movie was making us laugh pretty hard at the whole situation. Then suddenly, bam, bang, boom, the guy actually follows through and does it, much to the audience's shock and dismay.

I think this is what separates BoI as a dark comedy from the other dark comedies that I've seen. I liked it a lot and was quite taken in by the crossroad these two found themselves at. I've never seen a movie quite like it.

As far as how the townspeople reacted goes.... that might actually be a realistic response. You have to consider that the treatment of mental health issues were not completely established back in that day.

Plus, they were in a small town, perhaps they didn't have very many choices when it comes to health care.