The Best Simpson's Treehouse of Horror Segments
The Simpsons are a classic staple for a 90's kid like me, and if you also happened to be a spooky bitch then you would have loved the Treehouse of Horror themed episodes, which all had a spooky, scary or Halloween themed vibe to them. Well there are so many I thought I would save you having to suffer through the terrible episode where they turn inside out at the end and give you a list of the go-to Treehouse of Horror episodes you should be watching!
The Shinning - Season 6
The Shinning has to be the most iconic horror episode ever, especially as it is based off the most iconic horror movie and book ever The Shining by Stephen King. When The Simpsons stay at a large snowed-in mansion, no TV and no beer makes Homer go crazy in a similar vein of Johnny in the original movie. "Go crazy?" "Don't mind if I do!
The Island of Dr. Hibbert - Season 14
Based on H.G Wells The Island of Doctor Moreau, and with a bit of a Fantasy Island tweak, The Island of Dr. Hibbert sees the Simpsons family vacationing on Dr. Hibbert's Island of Lost Souls, only to discover that Dr. Hibbert is turning the citizens of Springfield into half human-half animal hybrids. Homer beds a feline Marge and milks a half-cow Flanders, only to agree to his own transformation when he realises that all the animals do is sleep and eat and mate. It's a great twist on the source material, and a pretty memorable one!
Citizen Kang - Season 8
"We will go forwards, not backwards. Upwards, not forwards. And always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom. End communication" A constantly quoted series of nonsense comes from the season 8 episode Citizen Kang, where the aliens Kang and Kodos disguise themselves as Bob Dole and Bill Clinton in the middle of a presidential election in a bid to take over the world. Of course, Homer realises that the aliens are taking over and does his best to stop the alien invasion to face-tearing-off results."
I've Grown A Costume To Your Face - Season 17
This episode is actually one of my favourite Treehouse of Horror episodes, which features the whole town of Springfield being cursed by a witch and turning into real versions of their Halloween costumes. It's a satisfying, sight-gag heavy that sees Lisa turning into Einstein, Bart turning into a vampire boy, Marge turning into a skeleton, Homer turning into a headless horseman, and Maggie turning into a witch. I dont know why, but I love this ridiculously simply story so much!
Wiz Kids - Season 13
Wiz Kids is a rip off from Harry Potter, which sees Lisa as a burgeoning witch competing in the schools talent show against the evil Voldemort-like character of Mr Burns. One of my favourite parts of this episode has to be early in the segment, which sees Milhouse accidentally turning his toad into a lewd drunk that flirts with Edna Krabapple.
House of Whacks - Season 13
Another one of my favourite Treehouse of Horror episodes comes from season 13 where guest star Pierce Brosnan places a Hal-like version from 2001: A Space Odyssey, where the Simpsons' home is transformed into a technologically advanced ultrahouse. I loved Pierce playing the Hal so much that I named and voiced by GPS after him. In this episode, Pierce actually develops a major crush on Marge and sets about targeting Homer for death so he can take over as her husband.
The Raven - Season 2
The last segment of the season 2 Treehouse of Horror episode is a lovingly-crafted tribute to Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven, complete with the macabre author's lyrical prose stacked up against a taunted Homer, and a crafty annoying raven that is clearly Bart. It was beautifully well done, and highly enjoyable.
Clown Without Pity - Season 4
When Homer buys Bart a Krusty the Klown Doll from a marked House of Evil he bites off more then he can chew when the Krusty Doll has been switched to evil and is now trying to kill Homer - as all evil dolls are won to do. The best part is Homer's easy take on the situation where he simply puts Krusty into a bag of laundry, in which the doll replies "Do you think your dirty socks can stop me? Well... they are making me kind of dizzy"
Terror at 5 and 1/2 Feet - Season 5
One of the best Twilight Zone parodies that The Simpsons decided to heed was the classic episode Nightmare at 20,000 feet, in which the original sees a man freaking out while on a domestic flight thinking that he has seen some come of terrifying gremlin like monster out the side of the place, tearing apart the wings. In The Simpsons classic episode, it's actually Bart who sees a "gremlin on the side of the bus" as it starts to tear Otto's beloved vehicle to shreds. It's a well crafted segment, and certainly one of The Simpsons best!
