As someone who grew up in the ’90s and was always eager for a good scare, I can confidently say that “Welcome to Dead House” from “Goosebumps” and “The Tale of the Dead Man’s Float” from “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” were two episodes that left an indelible mark on me. The chilling atmosphere of Dark Falls and the unforgettable image of the Corpse rising from the pool have stayed with me long after I first watched them.
As a passionate cinephile, I must say that the ’90s was an era of innovation when it comes to children’s media. It was a time where creators weren’t afraid to explore the boundaries of what kid-friendly content could be. This period saw a growing acceptance of scary stories targeted towards kids, with entire series dedicated to giving them chills. Notably, 1992 marked the release of the first Goosebumps book and the debut of Are You Afraid of the Dark? These milestones signified a significant shift in children’s entertainment.
Occasionally, series not typically associated with fear would become unsettling for children due to one or two episodes containing something distressing. It wasn’t necessary for an episode to be a Halloween special to be eerie; sometimes, all it took was a character telling a chilling ghost story. Even when kids anticipated that the tale would eventually have a positive resolution, they could still expect events to take a dark and ominous turn before reaching that point.
10 “And Then There Was Shawn”
Boy Meets World – Season 5, Episode 17
In the ordinary course of events, the TV series “Boy Meets World” was quite ordinary. Yet, there were instances when something extraordinary or otherworldly transpired. The episode titled “And Then There Was Shawn” centers around the group being trapped inside the school during detention, while a murderer is at large in a humorous take on teen slasher films.
A Slasher at John Adams High
Shawn’s passion for horror films appears to be the group’s secret weapon. But as the murderer starts picking off the cast members one by one, even well-known characters like Mr. Feeny and Jennifer Love Hewitt (as Jennifer Love “Feffy” Fefferman) fall victim. Eventually, only Cory, Topanga, and Shawn are left to face the masked murderer, who is shockingly revealed to be none other than Shawn’s twin brother. However, it’s later unveiled that this entire story has been a nightmare of Shawn’s, although a closing gag hints that there might still be a real killer lurking around.
Contrary to popular belief, this particular episode wasn’t aired during Halloween but in February instead. However, the true Halloween story within the season, “The Witches of Pennbrook,” where Jack and Shawn narrowly escape being sacrificed by a coven of witches, was surprisingly chilling even for a spooky holiday like Halloween.
9 “Pink Bow Tie”
Round the Twist – Season 2, Episode 4
Around the Lighthouse presented an Australian children’s horror series centered around the Twist family living in a house that attracted strange occurrences, much like a magnet for the supernatural. One memorable episode, titled “Pink Necktie,” focused on a device capable of either reversing or speeding up a person’s age. The narrative begins with some neighborhood boys sharing an unsettling event they had witnessed.
The Comics Left Little to the Imagination
The ensuing story revolves around two burglars trying to get their hands on the machine. During a scuffle, they initially transform themselves into little kids. This funny scene, however, segues into aging themselves into dust, causing the kids to scream in horror.
In the initial show, the camera stops before the robbers meet their end, and the children later narrate the events. Contrastingly, a comic version was created that provided a clear picture of what occurred: The two crooks are transformed into skeletons while the kids scream in terror, witnessing the grisly scene unfold.
Stream on Amazon Prime Video
8 “Changing Nature”
Dinosaurs – Season 4, Episode 7
The show, titled “Dinosaurs“, centered around a clan of dinosaur characters who exhibited human-like behaviors. Regrettably, any television program featuring dinosaurs has a predetermined end, which was portrayed in the series finale, “Changing Nature.”
Following the elimination of a large number of beetles, a company that Earl is employed by was involved with, the usual food source for these beetles – cider poppies – begin to overgrow. Consequently, the family notices this situation and attempts to bring it to public attention through media outlets; however, Earl’s company takes action to prevent such disclosure.
“Goodnight…And Goodbye.”
Regrettably, in my opinion as a film critic, the plot takes an unexpected and disastrous turn when humanity’s misguided effort to control poppies results in the annihilation of Earth’s vegetation. The consequences are dire, ushering in a new ice age that leaves our planet barren and unrecognizable. As the story reaches its heart-wrenching conclusion, the family clings together for warmth, their hopes for a joyful ending cruelly dashed. Yet, amidst this despair, they find solace in the knowledge that their bond as a family remains unbroken.
Stream on Disney+
7 “Abracadaver”
The Powerpuff Girls – Season 1, Episode 10
Regardless of its adorable visual aesthetic, The Powerpuff Girls consistently demonstrated, much like other Cartoon Network productions, an ability to delve into darkness when necessary. A particularly memorable instance of this was “Abracadaver.” In this episode, as an old theater is brought down, the Mayor shares a heartbreaking tale with the girls about a magician named Al Lusion, who perished on stage due to a failed magic trick.
“You Laughed at Me… But Now, Revenge!”
It’s plausible that trapped within an iron coffin, Al was transformed into a grotesque, decomposed zombie known as “Abracadaver,” possessing potent magical abilities. In his confusion, he believes Blossom resembles the girl who led to his on-stage demise and intends to subject her to the same fate in the iron maiden.
The charming aesthetic of the series often contrasts with disturbingly grim visuals, ranging from Abracadaver’s design to the ominous red hue that permeates throughout the scenes. Remarkably, a zombie movie the characters watch even manages to frighten spectators. To heighten the suspense, the resolution of the storyline remains unclear as the girls triumph through magic, yet the methods they employed remain unexplained, intensifying the sense of peril.
Stream on Max
6 “Allnighter”
The Adventures of Pete & Pete – Season 3, Episode 8
The Show “Pete & Pete” centers around two brothers sharing a name who reside in an extraordinary neighborhood filled with peculiar characters, such as a watchful guardian angel who scrutinizes underwear and a local superhero. In one episode titled “Allnighter,” the narrative takes a chilling turn when the children are confined to the principal’s office after hours.
Don’t Lose Your Head…
Consequently, this implies that the children will encounter an ancient school myth: the night watchman. It’s rumored he captures kids, beheads them, eats their eyes, and makes clothing from their skin. The audience is shown a shadow of the guard wielding an axe against something.
The children find themselves trapped inside the school after dark, with danger lurking around every turn. As fate would have it, they encounter a guard whose silhouette seems to bear a head. In the end, surprisingly, this guard turns out to be kind and even reveals his hidden secret garden to the kids.
5 “Heart on a Chain”
Eerie, Indiana – Season 1, Episode 7
Eerie, Indiana was a horror science fiction series starring Omri Katz, who would also become well-known for his role in the similarly horrifying Hocus Pocus. The main character, Marshall Teller, moves from New Jersey to the titular town, where he encounters all sorts of surreal phenomena. That said, one of the more well-known episodes proved to be more sad than scary.
The Heart Will Live On…
“In ‘Heart on a Chain’, Marshall and his schoolmate, Devon, find themselves vying for the affections of a new student at their school, Melanie Monroe, who has moved to town for a lifesaving heart transplant. Tragically, Devon meets an untimely end in an accident, only to later discover that he was a match for Melanie’s transplant. As days pass, Melanie displays peculiar behavior, hinting at the possibility that Devon is somehow influencing her from beyond the grave.”
It could be that Melanie is simply grieving over Devon’s death, but something strange occurs when she lays the locket he gave her on a tombstone, as it seems to make an angel statue cry. Some astute viewers have even spotted a figure like the Grim Reaper in the cemetery, which has sparked dark humor about Melanie not appearing following this episode.
4 “Attack of the Slime Monster”
Ghostwriter – Season 3, Episode 9
Ghostwriter was an unusual television series produced by Sesame Workshop, centered around a group of children living in New York City who engage with a spectral character named Ghostwriter. This ghost communicates solely through writing, helping the kids to unravel mysteries that were frequently presented as four-episode story arcs. Although Ghostwriter was generally supportive, some of the show’s antagonists were infamous for their dangerous and frightening behavior.
“Gotcha!”
One of the most notorious tales is “The Slime Monster’s Rampage,” where the narrative begins with a child creating a story about a sentient slime monster doll named “Gooey Gus.” However, as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that Gooey Gus has a will of its own, capturing victims in sticky slime. A failed attempt to calm down the doll using water results in it growing to human proportions. In the end, the children find a way to vanquish the monster by using vegetable oil.
In this scenario, the narrative unfolds as if it were a tale penned by children. At a certain juncture, these young authors contemplate having their fictional counterparts bond with the monster, but soon discover that such an interaction would clash with the story’s overall mood. Despite this inconsistency, the episode manages to incorporate some unexpected plot twists. For instance, “Gooey Gus” makes an appearance at a climactic barbecue scene. The narrative then switches to the characters confirming their safety, accompanied by a playful “Gotcha!” It’s worth mentioning that horror special effects legend Tom Savini was involved in creating the terrifying doll.
3 “Ghost Story”
Salute Your Shorts – Season 1, Episode 2
As a movie connoisseur, let me share my thoughts on the nostalgic Nickelodeon series, “Salute Your Shorts.” This show took us on a whimsical journey through the lives of children at a summer camp. One of the most enchanting aspects of summer camps is the shared experience of swapping ghost stories by the firelight, and “Ghost Story” was no exception in delivering a chilling tale reminiscent of the iconic “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”
“The Freddie Krueger of Custodians”
The title story revolves around Zeke the Plumber, a custodian who lost his nose to a parrot. This ended in tragedy when he didn’t smell the gas leak that killed him. As a ghost, it is said he’ll haunt the dreams of anyone who touches his plunger, leading the campers to have nightmares of him. However, Zeke might be lurking in the real world, too.
In contrast to the usual non-threatening vibe of “Salute Your Shorts,” some spectators anticipated Zeke might be a prank similar to what you see in Scooby-Doo. Yet, as it turned out, Zeke was indeed the camp counselor donning a disguise. However, his unsettling mask and terrifying dream sequences, which seemed to grant him otherworldly abilities, made sure that young viewers like me were genuinely terrified regardless. That’s probably why he’s frequently mistaken for an antagonist from “Are You Afraid of the Dark.”
2 “Welcome to Dead House”
Goosebumps – Season 2, Episodes 20 & 21
The Goosebumps television show took inspiration from its namesake book series. The episode “Welcome to Dead House,” an adaptation of the first book in the original collection, is frequently cited as the most frightening installment. A family relocates to a spooky house in the enigmatic town of Dark Falls, where everything and everyone appears lifeless. As the story unfolds, it’s revealed that the townsfolk are actually undead corpses who trick people into the area to feast on their blood, dooming the new arrivals to become part of their ranks.
Dark Falls Can Always Use Some Fresh Blood
1. The atmosphere is already ominous, but the strange behavior and deteriorating sanity of the Dead Falls residents intensify the fear. In an intriguing plot twist for the series adaptation, the family’s mother hangs a charm to bring good luck. In a chilling moment, the neighbors trick the family into destroying it, cruelly revealing that the mother was correct and they had just demolished their only protection.
In both adaptations, I discovered that the ghouls had a vulnerability to sunlight, which enabled my family and me to flee. Yet, the television adaptation introduced an unexpected turn of events. Just when we thought it was all over, our beloved dog returned at the last moment, only to be fatally wounded in the original novel. However, it wasn’t long before we learned that the dog had been slain and resurrected as a ghoul, hinting that our family may not have fully escaped our grim destiny after all.
Stream on Netflix
1 “The Tale of the Dead Man’s Float”
Are You Afraid of the Dark? – Season 5, Episode 1
One of Nickelodeon’s popular shows from the 1990s, known as “Are You Afraid of the Dark?“, was a horror anthology series featuring a group of kids who would tell each other spine-tingling stories around a campfire. From encounters with demonic dogs to witchcraft that could steal your face, this series was notorious for giving nightmares to children, even when the ghosts seemed friendly. For many viewers, the most terrifying episode was “The Tale of the Dead Man’s Float.”
“Submitted for the Approval of the Midnight Society…”
Two young students discover that their school’s swimming pool is haunted due to the disturbance of a graveyard during construction. They later join forces with the school’s custodian, who has personal ties to the haunting, to put an end to it. Throughout much of the narrative, the antagonist, referred to as The Corpse, remains unseen. Yet, when the protagonists conceive a plan to make it visible using dye, its actual form is revealed to be a grotesque, rotting skeleton – a rare instance where a visible menace becomes more terrifying than something not seen.
A troubling part of the narrative revolves around the caretaker’s past. In his youth, he served as a lifeguard, but tragically, while under his supervision, a young boy, portrayed by Jay Baruchel, met a grim fate at the hands of the Corpse. This unfortunate event is depicted vividly on-screen and contrary to the series’ tendency, the boy does not miraculously recover in the end.
Stream on Amazon Prime Video
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2024-08-18 22:02