It boggles the imagination as to how The Simpsons keep coming up with new Halloween-themed segments for 24 years, but they do. However, some are certainly better than others.
This year’s outing brings us three new segments. First up is a Doctor Seuss mash-up, starring “The Fat in The Hat”—guess who’s wearing the hat. Next is a rather predictable story of head swapping, where Bart’s head is attached to Lisa’s body, called “Dead and Shoulders.” However, the final segment is a really clever parody of the 1932 classic horror film “Freaks” called “Freaks No Geeks” with a surprise ending that had my kids rolling on the floor with laughter.
The best “segment,” though, may be the opening “couch gag” conceived by famed director Guillermo del Toro. In the short time, he pays homage to virtually every horror trope imaginable, including many of Del Toro’s own, as well as zombies, three-eyed ravens, giant lizards, vampires, Blade, Stephen King, more zombies, three-eyed fishes, Hitchcock, Lovecraft, Poe, The Universal Monsters, Alice in Wonderland, and, of course, zombies. The segment is so bursting with references, you’ll need to record this one and watch it over several times—possibly frame-by-frame—to catch everything.
My only question is how the show can possibly top this opening next year for Treehouse of Horror XXV.
The Simpsons Treehouse of Terror XXIV premieres Sunday night at 8PM ET and 7PM CT on Fox.
