LogFAQs > #929581875

39. Treehouse of Horror IV (Simpsons Episode) (18 points)
Nominated by: Paulg235 (2/4 remaining)
https://www.simpsonsworld.com/video/275206211805

Importance: 5
Fear: 3.5
Snake: 9.5

I think this is one of my favorites of the classic Treehouse of Horror canon, and contains some of the most iconic moments of the legendary horror anthology series. Who can forget such great parts such as Ned Flanders' Devil, with the obvious irony literally killing you if not for the fact that you're laughing too hard to notice! Homer is so great in this short as well, scarfing his soul doughnut in front of DevilFlanders before he even has a chance to finish talking out his deal. The best part is easily him saving the crumb, thinking he's outsmarting the devil, only to eat later that night, with one of my favorite quotes of the show, "Mmmm, forbidden doughnut." It's just so great! I also love Homer in hell being force-fed all the doughnuts but it just completely backfires. You just never know what you're gonna get in any particular scene, and that really keeps the pace and laughs flowing so well.

"Terror at 5 1/2 Feet" is a Twilight Zone parody, a common source of inspiration for the show. While this isn't my favorite of Treehouse 4, but it's probably the most focused on horror. Bart actually feels like he's in intense danger in this short, and he's even sent away to an insane asylum at the end. The gremlin attacking the bus even gives you one last shocker before you go!

The final short is a vampiric mix of Bram Stoker's Dracula (the film) and The Lost Boys. There's healthy doses of both horror and comedy here, and Mr. Burns as Gary Oldman's Dracula is such a wonderful portrayal and just makes too much sense not to do. I love the gags such as the slides in Burns' castle, and the destruction of valuable paintings and artifacts because of attacks believed to be carried out by a mummy (despite the obvious signs of vampirism).

Once again, this Treehouse of Horror works so well because it has so much affection for the stories it parodies and doesn't just stick to one particular mold or substitutes references as jokes. The Simpsons gag-a-minute model works so well for Treehouse and there's no way you'll catch every reference on a first watch-through. Treehouse of Horror IV is commonly listed as one of the best in the series, and if you watch even one of these segments, you will easily see why.
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I try in vain to slumber, my reveries gripped by violent terror. My only salvation, the shock of awakening. Something is very, very wrong here.