The latest “Treehouse of Horror” episode of *The Simpsons*, part of Season 37, was particularly gruesome and action-packed, making it one of the best Halloween specials in recent years. These annual Halloween specials have been a tradition since the show’s second season, featuring three spooky stories that place the characters of Springfield in terrifying situations. Because these stories aren’t part of the show’s regular timeline, any character is fair game, and this year’s episode really delivered on the horror.
Similar to the different phases *The Simpsons* has experienced over the years, the annual Treehouse of Horror specials have also evolved. Starting around the 30th installment, the series has seen a resurgence in genuinely scary horror. This yearâs *Treehouse of Horror XXXVI* is a standout â it’s one of the most intense and gruesome Halloween episodes in a long time, making it a must-see for fans of the show.
Treehouse of Horror XXXVI Doesnât Hold Back on Death
Treehouse of Horror XXXVI, the third episode of *The Simpsons*’ 37th season, kicks things off with a thrilling segment called âThe Last Days of Crisco.â Inspired by classic monster movies like *The Blob* and *Jaws*, this story takes place in a 1970s Springfield where a huge mass of grease starts growing in the sewers. This âFatbergâ eventually bursts out and begins absorbing all the grease around townâeven the grease inside people! Itâs a fast-paced and deadly start to the Halloween special, featuring several character deaths.
I absolutely love how *The Simpsons* Halloween specials aren’t afraid to kill off characters â often in really funny ways! The first segment of this one is full of that, with tons of people getting taken out by this giant grease blob, and some surprisingly dark imagery. But it’s brilliant because even with all that chaos, they still throw in these perfect little jokes, like Louâs fiancĂ© telling him to just enjoy the carnival *while* a monster is attacking! And the show doesn’t let up from there â the second segment, âClown Night with the Devil,â is just as intense and keeps the energy going.
Inspired by the horror film *Late Night With the Devil*, this story presents a rediscovered taping of “The Krusty the Clown Show” from 1995. In it, the Devil (voiced by Idris Elba) arrives to claim Krusty’s soul, a consequence of a deal Krusty made to maintain the showâs popularity. It’s a shockingly violent episode, featuring the sudden and graphic deaths of several child characters. There’s even a darkly humorous moment where Ralph Wiggum becomes possessed by the Devil.
This year’s segment is by far the most graphic and violent, featuring truly disturbing images, such as Sideshow Mel’s gruesome injury. *The Simpsons* has successfully used shocking visuals in its best Halloween episodes, and this one is no exception, continuing the show’s tendency to balance dark humor with intense death and violence â exemplified by the morbid joke about the monkey and the ripped face. This approach is particularly effective in the final segment, âPlastic World.â
The most memorable Treehouse of Horror segments often feature a completely different visual style, and âPlastic Worldâ is a great example. It presents a future similar to the movie *Waterworld*, where the world is covered in plastic. The segment shows intense violence as people fight over dwindling food supplies, and it takes an unexpected turn when Homer and Marge transform into dangerous plastic beings. They then try to turn Bart and Lisa into plastic too, leading to a violent showdown with many characters caught in the middle.
What really stands out in this segment is how visually dynamic it is â the way the 2D characters interact with the 3D animated figures is fantastic. Itâs a wonderfully crafted and exciting conclusion to this yearâs Halloween special. All three parts of the special were well-done and clearly inspired by horror, so if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth checking out this Halloween â the team clearly put a lot of effort into it.
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2025-10-20 18:10