6. Treehouse of Horror VI (Season 7, October 29, 1995)
So many of the first 10 Treehouse of Horror episodes are ranked near the top, I know. But most of them are so good. That includes this one from Season 7, which taps into some of my biggest fears (no pun intended). In a reference to Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, all of the big mascots in Springfield come to life and don’t seem content to just live amongst the human citizens peacefully. In another tale inspired by A Nightmare on Elm Street, Groundskeeper Willie is killed in a fire accident brought on by the carelessness of the school parents, and therefore, he haunts their children’s dreams as he kills them one by one. It’s some spooky stuff, which really helps me to stand by my assertion that the initial specials are the creepiest, despite the scary episodes that come later in the series. Plus it all ends with a light, fun story that experiments in 3D animation by getting Homer stuck in another dimension.
5. Treehouse of Horror XII (Season 13, November 6, 2001)
Now, some might fault this episode for its sort of weak attempt at dipping into the Harry Potter craze of the time, but I think it’s actually pretty funny for what it’s trying to do. Bart, while trying to make a handsome man appear in class, fails at the spell so poorly he accidentally creates this sickly looking frog prince. Stuff like that is a comedic opportunity that can’t be squandered. And it’s preceded by two stellar segments, one of which has Pierce Brosnan as a sexy and very creepy “Ultrahouse” voice, and in the other Homer gets cursed by a gypsy. It’s a Simpsons episode that completely feels like it’s in an alternate, fantasy world, but it’s probably supposed to.
4. Treehouse of Horror VI (Season 5, October 28, 1993)
This is where The Simpsons seem to have finally found what they wanted their Treehouse of Horror specials to be. Neither the scariness nor the funniness overpowers the other because there’s plenty of both. It accomplishes so much with the simplest of premises. Homer sells his soul to the Devil for a donut. Bart is haunted by gremlins in a nod to a famous Twilight Zone episode. And Mr. Burns is Dracula. Each of these packs in a bunch in such a short amount of time.
3. Treehouse of Horror VII (Season 8, October 27, 1996)
One of the best things about a Treehouse of Horror special is the fact that each of the three segments within an episode can be completely different narratively and tonally from one another, but they all still feel like they’re giving you something Halloweenie. This is one of those episodes. What starts with “The Thing and I,” in which Bart discovers he has an evil twin brother who’s been kept in the attic since birth, ends with a political tale of the day with Kang and Kodos trying to take over America using the bodies of Bill Clinton and Bob Dole. And sure, 1996 was a presidential election year, so not only was this story timely, but it also really highlights the comedic talent of the Simpsons writers’ ability to make you laugh so hard at the subtlest of comedic beats.
2. Treehouse of Horror V (Season 6, October 28, 1993)
I’m of the mind that The Simpsons found their Treehouse of Horror sweet spot around Season 5 and stayed in that spot for about five years. And this episode is right in the midst of that. It’s one you can go back to every October and never tire of. The references are spot on, with the first tale playing on Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Shining,” called “The Shinning” in this case, fitting in everything from the blood in the elevator to the film’s most iconic image. There’s also the second story, “Time and Punishment,” where Homer gets his hand caught in a toaster that takes him on a time-traveling adventure where he can’t help but screw up the future. And finally, “Nightmare Cafeteria,” a cannibalistic tale that ends with the Simpsons family doing a very creepy skinless dance in reference to A Chorus Line. It’s the show at it’s finest and could easily tie for first place if there were ties in episode rankings.
1. Treehouse of Horror VIII (Season 9, October 26, 1997)
After watching every Treehouse of Horror, Season 9 takes the prize for finding the perfect balance between creepy, funny, and true Halloween spirit. Each of the stories is very entertaining and has iconic Simpsons images to go in the Treehouse of Horror history book. After everyone is wiped out and some become mutants, Homer wanders through Springfield alone, at one point dancing naked in a church. Professor Frink has a garage sale of different inventions, only for Homer to buy a matter transportation machine (inspired by David Cronenberg’s The Fly) that makes it easier for him to get beer from the couch and turns Bart into a flyboy. And then there’s Marge, Patty, and Selma tormenting the town as a group of witches. If someone was just getting started on a Treehouse of Horror binge for the first time, I’d suggest this one. More than just a great Halloween special, it’s a great Simpsons episode.
Related Topics: A Clockwork Orange, Guillermo del Toro, The Shining, The Simpsons, Update The Lists
