
A writer for this year’s Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Halloween special shared why they made it more intense and violent than usual. The annual special has become a beloved Halloween tradition, offering a unique and often spooky take on the town of Springfield. Because these episodes aren’t part of the show’s regular storyline, characters are at greater risk, and more likely to meet a dramatic end.
The annual Halloween special of The Simpsons, known as Treehouse of Horror, is famous for killing off characters, but this year’s episode felt especially violent to many viewers. All three stories featured a large number of deaths, and the ‘Clown Night With the Devil’ segment was particularly graphic and disturbing. Writer Mike Price recently told Cracked that he intentionally made this year’s special more shocking and bloody.
Why Treehouse of Horror XXXVI Was a Bloody Episode of The Simpsons
Mike Price, the writer behind the “Clown Night With the Devil” segment in The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror XXXVI, discussed the segment’s violent ending. He didn’t necessarily feel “joy” in killing off characters, but admitted it was enjoyable to push boundaries. Having been with the show for over 20 years, this was his first Halloween special, and he wanted to make it particularly scary. He also felt some past specials hadn’t been frightening enough and aimed to deliver a truly Halloween-themed experience this year.
Price wanted to create a truly scary Halloween episode, especially since some past episodes hadn’t focused much on horror. He was also inspired by the graphic nature of the movie Late Night With the Devil. “We wanted to match that level of gore,” he said, explaining the decision to include shocking moments like Nelson exploding and Sideshow Mel being attacked by Mr. Teeny. While not necessarily happy, Price described the resulting scenes as entertaining.
You Should Catch Up With Treehouse of Horror

Over the years, The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror episodes have consistently improved. While there were times when the specials weren’t very scary or focused on horror, recent years have seen a welcome return to the series’ spooky roots. This year’s episode was particularly good, and now it’s even easier to watch!
Disney+ is currently streaming all 35 episodes of Treehouse of Horror, plus a bunch of other Halloween specials. With the spooky season here, now’s the perfect time to start watching!
HT – Cracked
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2025-10-25 18:44