I’m not a big fan of horror movies, so Simpsons Treehouse of Horror is one of my preferred spooky shows to watch around Halloween. Hardcore Simpsons fans consider the years 1990 to 1998 to be the golden years in terms of the writing, storylines, and commentary. There are some great video essays about this, including this one: ‘The Day the Simpsons Died’. Some of these Treehouse of Horror episodes were released post-1998 but I think they’re all great. Here are my picks! (In chronological order).
1. Treehouse of Horror IV: The Devil and Homer Simpson (1993) 🍩🔥
In the plot twist of the century, it's revealed that Flanders is the devil. After Homer says he would sell his soul for a donut, devil Flanders appears in his office. Homer leaves one bite of the donut in the fridge. He goes down to the kitchen for a late night snack and finishes it, and is then plunged into the depths of hell. Lisa says: "Wait! Doesn't my father have the right to a fair trial?" To which Flanders replies:
You Americans with your due process and fair trials!
Homer is force fed donuts, but instead of going insane he enjoys it. At the trial held in The Simpsons' living room, the jury find that Homer's soul is the property of Marge, but Homer has to live with a donut head for the rest of his life.
2. Treehouse of Horror V: The Shinning (1994) 🪓
Willie: Boy you can read my thoughts! You've got the shinning
Bart: You mean The Shining?
Willie: You wanna get sued?
No TV and no beer make Homer go...something something. The fact that a family friendly TV show like The Simpsons did a parody of The Shining is genius. I never understood any of these references watching this episode when I was younger.
3. Treehouse of Horror V: Time and Punishment (1994)
"Slaverinos"
After the toaster breaks, Homer gets to work and tries to fix it but accidentally creates a time travelling toaster. He shifts from dimension to dimension, going into alternative realities, including one where Ned Flanders is a cult leader. The re-Neducation Centre is truly a dystopian nightmare. Homer finds himself in a perfect universe, but when Marge asks what a donut is, he runs away screaming. Then we see it's raining donuts outside.
4. Treehouse of Horror VI: Homer Cubed (1995)
Marge: Homer where are you?
Homer: I’m somewhere where I don’t know where I am! Marge: Do you see towels? You’re probably in the linen closet
One of the most groundbreaking episodes of its time was this 3D episode, inspired by Tron. Marge's sisters Patty and Selma are on their way over so Homer hides behind a bookshelf and accidentally enters a different dimension. I love the part when he's transported into the real world and is walking around terrified, then finds an Erotic Cakes bakery and suddenly everything is okay. Not sure why the civilians around him aren’t reacting to the cartoon yellow man in front of them.
5. Treehouse of Horror VII: The Thing and I (1996) 👶🏼👶🏼
In this episode, it's revealed that Bart has an evil twin called Hugo who's been chained up in the attic for years. I remember watching this episode when I was younger and finding it creepy, classic Simpsons Treehouse of Horror is great because the tension is built really well. There are so many funny lines, like when Lisa and Bart tell Homer and Marge that they went up to the attic and Marge's deadpan delivery: “You went into the attic? I am very disappointed and terrified.” I love the dramatic sound effects that happen every time something new is revealed, and Doctor Hibbert brings a sense of familiarity and comfort while explaining Hugo's backstory.
But what to do with poor Hugo? Too crazy for boys town, too much of a boy for crazy town!
Another really funny moment was when Homer and Marge were explaining why they kept their son up in the attic all these years:
Marge: “So we did the only humane thing”
Homer: “We chained Hugo up in the attic like an animal and fed him a bucket of fish heads once a week”
Marge: "It saved our marriage!"
The twist of this episode= Bart was the evil twin the whole time.
I'm really in the mood to watch this now.
6. Treehouse of Horror VII: Citizen Kang (1996) 🇺🇸
Homer is abducted by aliens, Kang and Kodos. They decide that the best way to take over earth is to kidnap the presidential candidates Bill Clinton and Bob Dole and take on their identities. While disguised as politicians, the aliens talk a load of generic nonsense, but no one notices. It's normal.
It’s true, we’re aliens but what are you going to do about it? It’s a two-party system! You have to vote for one of us.
“Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos.”
7. Treehouse of Horror XIV: Reaper Madness (2003)
The Grim Reaper comes to The Simpson house because it's apparently Bart's time to die. The plot twist: Homer hits Death over the head with a bowling ball: "This is for Snowball I and JFK!" and he dies. Now that Death is gone, everyone is immortal. This follows a hilarious scene of the mobster crew shooting "Frankie the squealer" who has been shot about 30 times (judging by the bullet holes) but still hasn't died. Homer makes the mistake of trying on Death's robe: "Check it out, I finally found a dead guy's clothes that fit me!" and he becomes the new Death.
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