FrankenWeenie (2012) (Movie Review)

In 1984, director Tim Burton created a live action short-film titled “FrankenWeenie”, which re-told the story of “Frankenstein”, except it featured a deceased family dog in the role of the monster. I actually grew-up watching the short on Disney channel, and would later grow-up with it on home video. As such, I’ve always considered it a minor classic to watch around Halloween, and an important chapter in Tim Burton’s early career. Over the years, I became a devoted fan of Tim Burton’s movies, and ever sense his 2005 stop-motion picture “Corpse Bride”, I genuinely wanted to see Burton recreate his original “FrankenWeenie”. Much to my surprise and delight, my wish came true in 2012 with the theatrical stop-motion animated picture “FrankenWeenie”. This movie came out at a time in which I felt Burton was losing his creative touch, which made this feel like a breath of fresh air, and the first film of his in a while that felt like something special to him. While he isn’t without passion in his projects, I feel there’s a day and night difference between the movie’s that studios hire him to direct, versus the movies he genuinely wants to make. For example, 1993’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was something special that stemmed from his imagination, whereas 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland” was something he directed because a studio hired him. As such, I can always feel the difference between original Tim Burton, and Burton committed to doing the job he was hired to do.   

   “FrankenWeenie” is clearly something special from Tim Burton, as both a love letter to his original short film, and to old Halloween specials in general. He even went the extra mile to present the film in Black and White, which is daring, as kids today in general don’t care for Black and White films … they like their bright colors, pop-culture references, and non-stop energy. 

“FrankenWeenie” is refreshingly slower paced, more relaxed, doesn’t throw pop-culture jokes in your face, and yet, I still find it very absorbing, with its own simple atmosphere and laid-back tone. The plot in many respects is just like the original short, but expanded in just the right ways to be feature length. A young boy named Victor Frankenstein loves to make home movies, which leads to a cereal moment of stop-motion characters watching a stop-motion film. His lead home movie star and closest friend is his pet dog Sparky. One day the dog tragically dies, and is buried in the towns local pet-cemetery … which is modeled perfectly after the original live action short. After a quirky new science teacher lectures Victor and his class on the power of electricity, Victor suddenly has an idea to revive the dog in his very own Frankenstein lab. After literally crossing the lines of life and death, Victor has to deal with the Ethics of bringing his dog back, and needs to keep him under control. Meanwhile, a hunchbacked “Igor” child discovers Victors secret, and soon, all his classmates aim to bring their dead pets back from the dead … only bigger and crazier.

    The appeal of the film once again comes from it’s odd, yet absorbing atmosphere. While I can imagine some kids and general viewers getting bored with the film’s presentation, I personally find myself sucked into it every time. I’ll admit, I don’t know if I would have liked this movie if I saw it as a little kid, but being exposed to it as a young adult, at a time when family films are overly animated, fast moving, and rely on either juvenile hummer or pop-culture jokes … “FrankenWeenie” just felt like something to admire. It’s also a genuinely delightful experience, with a lovable lead character, appealing stop-motion effects, and I even find the Black and White look of the movie to be gorgeous. Victors Attic lab setting lends itself to a display of stop-motion marvels. There are admittedly some boring detours, like the classmates working on their early science projects, but the film always manages to pull me back with its own unique charm. My favorite scene in the whole film is this quiet little moment when Sparky runs away from home, and goes to his own grave-stone … as if he feels like he belongs there. It’s a somber little moment, and I feel you can analyze something of substance from it.  

    Also, unlike most Halloween specials, the spooky imagery is used sparingly, which I surprisingly find myself appreciating here. Typically, I prefer my Halloween specials to feature the holiday in every frame, but in this film … it really pops whenever something traditionally Halloween-esk appears on screen. Of course, the film was shot in 3D, so the spooky imagery literally pops … and it’s effective when we see things like swarms of bats or a black cat screeching into the camera. One thing I do miss are musical numbers, which characterized Burtons first two stop-motion films, but there are at least some catchy songs on the soundtrack, including Karen O’s “Strange Love”, and Plain White T’s rendition of “Pet Sematary”. Danny Elfman naturally provides another winning score that adds a lot to the film’s whimsical personality. Also, for as subdued, and refreshingly laidback as the film is, I feel it rewards the viewer with a thrilling, monster packed third-act. When all the other greedy kids bring their pet’s to life, it leads to a lot of creative creature designs, and some really fun sequences of monster mayhem. Ever sense the early days of Ray Harryhausen, monsters have always been more appealing to me in stop-motion form. I especially love this wink to Gamera with this giant Turtle monster.    

    However, the most important monster for this movie to get right was its lead dog Sparky, as he’s the heart of the movie, and thankfully he steals the show with his signature cute-factor, and charming personality. He’s wide-eyed, energetic, and conveys the right amount of emotion needed for this character to leave an impression. Despite begin a Frankenstein-esk creature, I just want to reach into the TV screen and take this dog home as my own pet. Personally, I’ve come to view Sparky as a Halloween mascot in his own right, even though he’s not marketed as frequently as Jack Skellington. Tim Burton has a tradition of having a dead dog character featured in his stop-motion films, including the ghost dog Zero from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, the skeleton dog Scraps from “Corps Bride”, and even the experimented pet dog Abercrombie from his short film “Vincent” ... which is visually referenced at one point in the film when Sparky’s shadow resembles a scary monster. More to the point, it was only a matter of time for Burton to make a lead character out of a stop-motion zombie dog … and he had the perfect template to begin with. The connection between the boy and the dog also works, and the two share some genuinely touching scenes together. Even the poodle with the Bride of Frankenstein hair is given a bigger role in this film, and has her own odd, if genuinely touching connection to Sparky.   

    This also marked the first Burton movie in years to not have either Johnny Depp or Helena Bonham Carter in leading roles … which was highly refreshing. Instead, Burton brought back cast members from some of his earlier films. Famed comedian Martin Short, who was in Burtons “Mars Attacks!”, voices a number of characters in this film. Thankfully, he’s not voicing any obvious comedic characters, and instead voices a dad who’s encouraging his son to do more with his life. It’s both a refreshing change for the actor, and an improvement on the one-note parent from the original short. Catherine O'Hara, who played the mother in “Beetlejuice”, and the voices of Sally in “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, is likewise voicing a number of characters in this film, including an odd girl whose cat’s litter tells the future ... it’s that special kind of weird character that can only exist in a Tim Burton movie. The most special of all is the late Martin Landau, who was previously in “Sleepy Hollow”, and played Bela Lugosi in Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood”, voices a kooky science teacher in this film. It was a perfect role for the late actor, and aside from being enjoyably over the top, I like that this teacher has some genuine heart-to-heart moments with the lead boy Victor. The two share a humble conversation on the crossroads between a scientist’s intelligence and his emotions, and it's a great little scene. 

The most nostalgic cast member of all is Winona Ryder, who jump-started her career with early Burton films like “Beetlejuice” and “Edward Scissorhands”. In this movie, it’s a minor role as the voice of a troubled neighborhood girl named Elsa, but it’s still nice to have her present in a big theatrical picture, and this was before her career rebounded with “Stranger Things”. Plus, her character is a loving callback to her original Livia character from “Beetlejuice”. Lastly, the late horror icon Christopher Lee, who also appeared in a number of Burton movies, makes a visual cameo in a scene where the parents are watching the 1950 classic “Horror of Dracula” on TV ... which is a great touch. Just like in the original shot film, this movie builds to a thrilling climax set in a burning win-mile. The difference in this version is that the dog Sparky is trying to rescue his little poodle friend from the clutches of a monstrous Vampire-Cat named Mr. Whiskers ... because of course something like that would happen in a bizarre movie like this. It’s an awesome set-piece for a final battle, and the showdown between Sparky and Mr. Whiskers is in all honestly my favorite hero versus villain match from any of Burtons animated Halloween films. Everything ends on an emotional high-note, and it leaves me with a big, dumb smile on my face every time.

     In the end, I personally adore “FrankenWeenie” … it’s one of my favorite animated films to re-watch around Halloween, and it has a secure spot among my favorite Tim Burton movies. Re-making one of his own classic short films, and giving it a more modern look was a welcome change of pace, and the result is a genuinely heartwarming film, combined with an odd Burton style premise, likable characters, subtlety, and an action packed ending full of awesome creature effects. It's one of those special movies that can win me over with its own simple charm, and never needs any big song numbers or spooky highlights to hold my interest. It’s a film that tends to sneak-up on me, as I don’t usually think about watching it annually for Halloween, but I still find myself watching it anyway, and loving it more with each passing season. “FrankenWeenie” came out at a time when Burton needed something special, and it payed off with a positive reception of critics, as well as a nomination at the Academy Awards for best animated picture. If you’re a fan of stop-motion or Burton movies in general, then this film is well worth looking into. It has a distinct atmosphere, a refreshingly simple premise, and heart as big as its central character.    

Thanks for reading my review of the animated 2012 movie “FrankenWeenie” … and let’s make every day in October feel like Halloween!

 

 

My Top 10 Horror Movie Scores

 

There are several details that go into the quality of what makes an effectively chilling horror movie, and for me, one of the most important things to get right is the instrumental music track. Music adds so much to the experience, as it breath’s life into the films atmosphere, heightens the suspense, and submerses us into a spooky films other worldly mood. Granted, there are a lot of classic Horror movie scores to choose from, but I’m aiming for my own personal favorites … some famous … some less famous. With that said, turn up the volume, and get ready for chills with my Top 10 personal favorite Horror movie music tracks.

 

#10 John Williams score for “Jaws” (1975) 

It’s the classic, Oscar-winning score that got people frightened to go swimming. This score is so well known, it’s almost pointless to discuss it in detail. John William’s classic music score is about as classic as horror movie scores get, and it’s definitely one of the films strengths, as it builds suspense, and allows you to feel the sharks presence without showing it on screen. Objectively, this score should probably rank higher, although personally, I feel it’s been overplayed in the media, to the point where it’s lost its original momentum. Still, it’s a classic score, and one of the greats that the genera has to offer.  

 

#9 Jerry Goldsmith’s score for “Poltergeist” (1982) 

The late Jerry Goldsmith is personally my favorite movie music composer, and among his many acolytes were his horror movie scores … so expect more than one on my countdown. On the note of personal favorites, 1982’s “Poltergeist” is my personal favorite classic horror movie, and Jerry Goldsmiths score is one of the films many winning ingredients. It’s one of those rare horror scores that’s just as disturbing as it is peaceful and inviting. This score is punctuated by a children’s quire, which gives the track it’s duel personality. There’s something about kids singing that can sound warm and cheerful at one moment, and eerily creepy the next. This score was so effective, it was Nominated at the Academy Awards for best original music score, which is a rarity for horror movie tracks.   

 

#8 Philip Glass’s score for “Dracula” (1931) 

Aside from the “Swan Lake” music herd during the opening credits, there initially wasn’t a single musicale note herd throughout the rest of the 1931 “Dracula” classic. Some may say that it only adds to the films chilling atmosphere, but I think others would regard it as dull. In 1999, there was a special edition, which added a musical score composed by Phillip Glass. This may spoil some of the subtlety of the chilling quiet moments, but personally, I prefer the special edition, because the music composed by Phillip Glass is nothing short of awesome! Every time I hear those violins, it just gives me chills, and when matched with the imagery, it just makes the film feel more like a haunting spectacle. If you prefer the silent approach, that’s fine, but I just find the atmosphere all the more effective with this captivating score.

 

#7 Danny Elfman’s score for “Sleepy Hollow” (1999) 

Danny Elfman is the main reoccurring musician for Tim Burton’s dark and twisted movies … and with “Sleepy Hollow”, he really got to work his magic with a horror movie score. It’s a track that takes on a variety of spooky personalities … the monster chases are electrified with a rousing score … while the quieter moments are punctuated with a subtle haunting score, one that balances its chilling atmosphere with a sense of wonder … and perhaps even a touch of beauty. It’s hands down one of my favorite joint Burton and Elfman calibrations, as well as one of my favorite horror movie scores.  

 

#6 Jack Nitzsche’s score for “The Exorcist” (1973) 

While those of us familiar with this score associate it with one of cinema’s most terrifying horror movies … it’s really not a traditional scary movie score. Honestly, I feel this music has the personality of a detective cereal, in fact, I could easily picture this score working as the theme music for the “Unsolved Mysteries” series. While this score doesn’t “spook me” in the vain of other classic horror scores, it never the less gives this movie a distinct personality, and is very engaging to listen to.    

 

#5 Popol Vuh’s score for “Nosferatu the Vampyre” (1979) 

It’s one thing to say that a horror score gave me goosebumps … and it’s another to say that a spooky score put me in a hypnotic trance. Paired with the opening credits, you’d swear Popol Vuh’s score for 1979’s “Nosferatu the Vampyre” was for a real documentary on pagan cultures. It’s a subtle yet relentlessly eerie quire you’d imagine hearing from a group gathered in ancient ruins … and it absolutely paralyzes the senses. No joke, it’s a score that somehow relaxes, while also making my hair stand on in … and it takes a snap of the fingers to break the trance … or as featured in the movie, a blood-curdling scream from a woman … that'll snap me out of it.    

 

#4 Michael Abels score for “US” (2019) 

The most recent horror movie score for my countdown, Michael Abels opening track for “US” hooked me from the title card sequence, and kept me bound in a heightened state of anxiety. It’s yet another great example of a score hooking me in from the start, and it continues to leave an impression on repeat viewings. If you haven’t seen 2019’s “US” yet, do check it out … it’s one of the decades best, and I guarantee the score will pull you into the chilling experience from scene one.   

 

#3 Alan Silvestri’s score for “Van Helsing” (2004) 

While more of a summer action movie then a real horror film, “Van Helsing” nevertheless rounds up the classic Universal Monsters, and is boasted by one of my all-time favorite movie scores. Seriously, paired with Alan Silvestri’s track, the classic monsters have never felt more epic or larger than life. The opening scene perfectly sets the adrenaline, with pounding drums in the distance, and a full-on Latin quire singing into the night. It’s about as awesome as a monster movie track could ever sound, and it gets me pumped out of my mind every time. This score also lends to an awesome hero theme that never lets down.   

 

#2 Jerry Goldsmith’s score for “The Omen” (1976) 

My favorite composer Jerry Goldsmith returns to my countdown with a rare horror score that won the Academy Award for Best Original Music. While previous scores have either entranced me or breathed life into the film’s chilling atmosphere … this score actually terrifies me. It is the evilest, most haunting music track I’ve ever heard, and it’s perfectly fitting for a movie revolving around the Anti-Christ. Right from the opening credits, this score putts me in a state of unease, and promises a sinister experience. It’s also a highly effective score during the chase and action scenes, as it excites me to the point where I’m on the edge of my seat. Being honest, while this movie is a classic of the genera, I think this score alone is superior to the whole film ... that’s just how good it is, and one of one-hundred reasons why Jerry Goldsmith remains my favorite composer.    

 

Before I reveal my #1 favorite, here are some honorable mentions …

Jerry Goldsmith’s score for “The Mummy”

Elliot Goldenthal’s score for “Pet Semetary”

Bernard Herrmann’s score for “Psycho”

Jerry Goldsmith’s score for “Gremlins”

Wendy Carlos score for “The Shining”

 

#1 John Carpenter’s score for “Halloween” (1978) 

Surprise, surprise … John Carpenters brilliant music score for the 1978 horror classic “Halloween” is personally my favorite horror track of all time. Whenever I hear those music beats, I’m suddenly entranced, and I have goosebumps all through my body. The movie is already great on it’s own, but this score truly enhances the experience, and submerses me into it’s spooky Halloween-night atmosphere. The melody is so simple, yet so effective, and for me it’s the definitive staple of an iconic horror movie track.

Thanks for reading my countdown, and let’s make every day in October feel like Halloween.    

28 Days Later (2001) (Movie Review)

 

    

2020 has been a most stressful and difficult year … with a viral pandemic … workers laid-off … … increased anger amongst ourselves … rioting … and never before has the 2001 horror classic “28 Days Later” felt more relevant for a discussion. Obviously, fans of the genera look back on this movie as the event that launched the modern-day zombie craze, but there’s so much more to it … including both political and social subtext, which carry a great deal of weight in our current stress-filled climate. 

 The movie begins with a brilliant subversion of expectations … as we go into this movie knowing it’s a zombie film, yet this opening still catches you off-guard. We see news footage of rioting and cause in populated areas … but it’s not the zombie epidemic just yet … its simply uncontrollable human events spiraling out of control. Amidst these events, a team of scientists are developing a drug that can help people cope with outbursts of anger. They use Apes as test subjects, which develop troubling results … instead of a drug decreasing anger … it plants the seeds of a virus, which enhances the primal rage in a living host. A small team of animal rights’ activists break into the lab in an effort to free the Apes … only to accidently unleash the virus out into the world. One month later, a young delivery man awakens from a coma, only to find that the UK has been completely evacuated, and ravaging zombie-like creatures are lurking in the shadows. In an effort to possibly start a new life, the young man teams-up with a small group of survivors, and fight for whatever value is left in living. Unfortunately, in a crumbling society, it’s not just the zombies that pose a threat.

  If that opening synopsis reminds you of a certain TV series on AMC, then you’re not too far off. This film is what inspired “The Walking Dead” comic series, as well as the 2004 remake of “Dawn of the Dead”, and the novel titled “World War Z”. Prior to this movie, zombies were just seen as lumbering corpses that shuffle and stumble all over. These zombies however behave like rabid animals, and run at break-neck speeds. Fans refer to this particular bread as “Marathon Zombies”. However, there’s something even more frightening underneath the surface of these creatures then just their speed. These zombies aren’t aimlessly looking for brains to feed on, their driven by a blind and uncontrollable rage that has consumed them whole, and now acting on “the rage” is all they have. As such, in a clever piece of commentary, director Danny Boyle and screen writer Alex Garland use this zombie epidemic as a backdrop to a political allegory regarding “Social Rage”, and that if we don’t calm-down, our sporadic and wild anger will be the instruments of our own downfall. One of the core details prominently on display with these zombies are the blood-red eyes … which is a metaphorical representation of “blind rage”. I don’t need to address any specific examples in our current culture, but in general, we see it all the time with either “road rage” or “social unrest”, and it’s this underlining subtext that scares me far more than the actual zombies seen on screen.      

  On the flip side, our survivors represent hope in dark times, and why it’s important to make life worth living. We frequently see the characters asking why they should bother trying to stay alive in a world that’s dead, and we get counter points on why we should always look for substance in living … because even if it’s small, your life can still carry value. It’s another commentary for people in general, and again, it’s not preachy with its message. The filmmakers were also wise to cast largely unknown actors at the time, who all shine in this film, and give the movie an atmosphere of watching real people in these larger than life events. I’ll always associate Cillian Murphy with his villain roles in “Red Eye”, and for playing the Scarecrow in “Batman Begins”, but he also makes for a compelling lead hero in this film. I also found subtlety in his relation with Naomie Harris’s character, and it’s just cool to have an unconventional relation between different ethnicities. Brendan Gleeson is also a welcome presence, and receives one of the most original and disturbing zombie deaths I’ve ever seen … in which a fresh-corpse drops blood on his face, and turns him rabid. In other words, these zombies are a threat even when they’re not moving.       

  Director Danny Boyle was still riding the success of his 1996 drama “Trainspotting”, which had elements of grounded, real-life horror, and here we see him carry those same tones over into pure horror. Needless to say, Danny Boyle directs the shit out of this movie, and infuses it with a chilling atmosphere. My favorite scene of the whole movie is the aftermath of when Cillian Murphy’s character awakes from his coma, and goes on a walkabout through the abandoned city of London. Whenever I think of this movie, the first visual that always comes to mind is our lead walking across London’s Westminster Bridge without a single soul in sight. This is where the director’s talents really shine, as he’s not focusing on mass carnage, or burning buildings, and instead is focusing on the wide spectrum of the empty landscape. It’s his figurative representation of Hell on Earth … which isn’t frantic cause or the landscape on fire … it’s simply being alone in a familiar area that’s devoid of activity or life. I wouldn’t be surprised if Boyle took inspiration from the very first “Twilight Zone” episode “Where is Everybody?”, as that too focuses on a single-man who’s suddenly alone in the massive world. If there was any direction I didn’t like from Boyle in this film, it would be the rapid editing during the zombie action. I’ve personally never been a fan of the style, as I just find it more frustrating then exciting.      

   Also, I’m not a huge fan of the films third act, in which we face a new threat in the form of solders inviting our survivors to their comfortable home-base … only to hold them hostage, as the men are desperate to have sex with the two ladies. The leader claims it’s for a greater purpose to repopulate the planet, but the troops themselves behave with uncontrollable excitement, as well as cultishly dress up the girls like dolls, and are acting on impulse. 

I understand this is yet another example of humans becoming monsters without literally becoming zombies, but it just never felt natural to me. I could imagine these troops acting this desperate after Ten Years of this … but the epidemic has only been going on for a month, and there’s hordes of zombies right outside their door … I think they’ve got more important things to worry about. I suppose it leads to a fun cat-and-mouse climax in their big mansion hold-up, and there are some effective details on display. I like that amidst the action, Cillian Murphy’s character begins to resemble a zombie himself, to the point where his love-interest doesn’t even recognize if it’s really him. This once again visually represents that everyone has rage within them, and can have moments of resembling a monster, but it’s our moral choice to not let ourselves be consumed by rage. Unlike most zombie films, this movie actually has a positive ending, with a final image visualizing hope, and the potential of overcoming the current hardships of the world. It maybe a little on the nose, but still something to keep in the back of our minds as we face our own global problems.

  In the end, “28 Days Later” is one of my all-time favorites of the zombie sub-genera, and I’ve always looked back on it as a Horror movie classic in its own right. Without question, it was a big film for its respected decade. Back in 2001, many viewers, and even critics were regarding the film as one of “the scariest movies”, right on the same high-bar as the original 1973 classic “The Exorcist”. While I personally didn’t find the movie all that frightening ... certainly not on the same level as “The Exorcist” ... I do at least view it as one of the greats of the genera, and one that was in many respects ahead of it’s time. It still works as a straightforward zombie film, with a fair share of gruesome excitement, but it’s the themes and political subtext of the film that really holds-up, and give the film value. If you simply remember this film as that one big zombie movie that kicked off a decade long craze … I strongly encourage you to give the film a second watch … because I feel there’s more to it than simply another hit zombie movie.

Thanks for reading my review of the 2001 Horror classic “28 Days Later” … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!    

 

My Top 10 Spooky Disney Animated Shorts

 

Way back when I was just a little kid, it always excited me to combine two things I loved into one offering, and for today’s topic ... it’s animated Disney shorts with a spooky Halloween make-over. Oh boy, I loved Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck cartoons so much as a kid, and when you put them in a holiday themed scenario ... it’s instant gold. 

Their Halloween shorts are among some of their most nostalgic, and I find myself watching every year. For this countdown, I’ll be listing my personal favorite Spooky or Halloween Disney shorts, but only the shorts featuring the Mickey Mouse characters ... so don't expect any "Night on Bald Mountain" for this list. Also, there won't be any episodes from half-hour Disney channel programs that utilize these characters (sorry, no "DuckTales"). With all that said ... let's see what kind of tricks and treats await us. 

#10 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “Pluto’s Judgment Day”

Disney had a positive way of conveying timeless morals to kids, all except for episodes like this in which he scared the kids into taking his message to heart. Well, I don't think anything scared kids more then this short in which ... Pluto goes to Hell.    

Mickey's dog Pluto is a real bully toward cats, and his actions of chasing them down lead to a terrifying nightmare. Pluto gets captured by a hellish underground cat cult who put him on trial, and sentence him to death by way of burning. So, in other words, kids need to learn to be good or they’ll suffer by burning at the steak … I guess that’s one way to make sure the message sticks with you. Seeing poor Pluto chained up and tortured in this episode is unpleasant enough, but we also learn that he’s responsible for the death of some cats, which really makes this a darker Disney venture than usual. Actually, some of the animation in this episode can get quiet terrifying, especially this one red robbed cat prosecutor. It may not be the most enjoyable Disney episode to watch, but it’s undeniably one of their most memorable spooky outings.

#9 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “Mickey’s Haunted House”

It’s a dark, stormy night, and Micky’s desperation to reach shelter leads him to an abandoned house ... one that just happens to be haunted! Before long, he's confronted by a hooded reaper, along with an army of spooks, and they use Mickey as a means to throw a giant house party. There’s so many spooky visual highlights, and the animation is great for such an old Black and White cartoon. We have the hooded crypt keeper, Bat's, skeletons having a freak-out, and a full-on party in which all the haunted objects come to life. It’s great stuff that gets me in the perfect holiday mood.  

 

#8 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “Mickey’s Run-Away Brain” 

When Mickey forgets that he’s going to take his girlfriend Mini out for a special vacation anniversary, he becomes desperate to gain money any way he can … even if that means paying a visit to a shady back-alley doctor. Soon, he finds himself the captive to a mad scientist, who aims to switch Mickey’s brain with that of a giant Pete monster. After the experiment, Mickey’s real body has become a rabid monster, and is in pursuit of Mini. Thus, the chase is on for Mickey to get his body back, and protect his girl friend … from himself, or more specifically his ... Runaway Brain. 

Seeing Mickey as a wretched monster is refreshingly different from virtually any other appearance he’s made, and it makes this an unforgettable dark episode. For a mid-90’s cartoon short, both the animation and writing feel like they’re on a higher level of quality then most other Disney shorts of the time. Not only are the visuals fast and expressive, but the lighting is also gorgeous … in fact, from a technical view point, this might just be one of the best-looking Mickey Mouse cartoons I’ve ever seen. There are of course loving visual nods to “Frankenstein” all throughout, as well as an oddly placed replica shot from “The Exorcist”. It’s kind of a free for all short, in which anything can happen, it’s looks amazing, and the jokes are great. It certainly marks a bright spot for Mickey’s dark ventures, and was even Nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Animated Short.

#7 Donald Duck Cartoon: “Donald Duck and the Gorilla” 

It’s refreshing that not every spooky themed Disney short needs either the common images or elements we associate with Halloween to leave an impression. Sometimes, all you need is a dark and stormy night … with an unwanted house guest making a surprise visit. When it comes to funny home invasion adventures with Disney characters, nothing quiet tops ... Donald and the Gorilla. 

For this spooky venture, Donald and his nephews find themselves at the mercy of a giant gorilla, who just escaped from the zoo, and is now terrorizing their home. Thus, it becomes a dark adventure, with characters roaming about the house in an effort to get rid of the invading Gorilla, or at the very least, avoid getting eaten. Again, despite not featuring any of the staples of Halloween, it still invokes an atmosphere of the holiday, especially when your comfortable home becomes the setting for a dangerous game of cat and mouse ... or in this case, frightened duck and angry gorilla.  

  

#6 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “GHOUL Friend” 

In this Dark Disney short, Mickey is out for a pleasant drive in the country, but unfortunately, his car breaks down in a most foreboding neck of the woods. All his attempts to fix his car fail, and it’s at this most unfortunate time, he’s approached by ... Zombie Goofy. 

You’d think for a Disney short, that goofy designed as a zombie would be tame and generic … but’s that’s impressively not the case. Zombie Goofy is downright grotesque, and the stuff of nightmares for little kids. What follows is a funny chase through the woods, with Mickey fleeing for his life from a rabid corps. Everything from the dark-blue lighting, to the detailed back drops are all a work of art, and there’s some nice little nods to other Disney properties like “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. Of course, it all builds to a funny joke that zombie goofy was simply trying to … literally … lend Micky a hand with fixing his car. As far as spooky themed Disney shorts are concerned, this one is guaranteed to leave a memorable impression on younger viewers, and well worth checking out during the creepiest time of the year.     

#5 Donald Duck Cartoon: “Donald’s Halloween Scare” 

It’s once again the spookiest night of the year, and everyone is out celebrating, including Donald’s kids Huey, Dewey, and Louie, who are out scaring-up some candy. However, Donald gets the jump on them posing as a masked killer, and scaring the kids out of all their treats. 

Well, two can play this game, and the boys hatch their own trick to get back at their greedy uncle. With the help of Micky, Goofy and Minnie, they send Donald through a living nightmare, in which he’s perused by the ghoulish spirits of his nephews, seeking revenge after literally being frightened to death. This once again is a highly decorative short, with gorgeous colors, striking images, and awesome details … like a wicked face in the moon cross-dissolving into a lit-up scarecrow face. If you want a dark Disney toon that has Halloween featured in just about every frame, this is a top-tear short to check out.

#4 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “Lonesome Ghosts”

In this animated classic, Mickey, Donald and Goofy are out hunting a silly gang of Ghosts in a creepy old house. 

It’s always a treat to have all three of the classic Disney characters together in one episode, and each encounter with the ghosts leads to some great slapstick. For an old cartoon from 1937, there’s some great animation on display, and I love all the details of the house ... from the banging window shutters ... to the tilted stairways. This also pre-dated "Ghostbusters", and can be called the real genesis tub for goofy mishaps with Ghost-Exterminators. The four titular Lonesome Ghosts featured in this episode have become staples of the holiday season for me, and just as marketable from Disney’s side of the Halloween season.

#3 Donald Duck Cartoon: “Duck Pimples” 

What’s creepier than physical haunts … how about mental haunts. It’s once again a dark and stormy night for Donald Duck, who’s reading scary books, as well as listening to frightening stories on the radio.

It doesn’t take long for the chills of the night to take their towel, and as a result … Donald loses his mind! Random people begin appearing in his house, the setting changes, and Donald finds himself caught in a capper, in which he’s the suspect to kidnaping and theft. It’s a fun examination of one surrendering to the night, and letting his imagination run wild, to the point where you can no-longer tell dreams apart from reality. The backgrounds are striking, the atmosphere absorbing, the comedic moments on display are bizarre, and the end result is a wild dive into insanity. 

#2 Mickey Mouse Cartoon: “The Mad Doctor”

One of Disney's darker episodes was titled “The Mad Doctor”, which involved an evil scientist that captured Pluto, and is experimenting on him in his castle. Thus, it’s up to Mickey to rescue him, all while battling traps lade throughout the castle, and armies of skeletons. This episode features stunning animation, and a lot of spooky details, including skeletons coming to life, giant spiders, and the castle itself becomes a character. 

It's almost like a video game, as Mickey goes from one obstacle to another in an effort to rescue his captured friend. Now, despite some amazing animation, this short can also get rather disturbing. In fact, this short has a reputation for being ... the banned Mickey Mouse Cartoon ... as its shocking depictions were too much for several countries. We have Pluto's shadow pealed apart, and most notably of all is this shot of Micky Mouse strapped to a table ... as he's about to be sawed in half. It’s some crazy dark stuff for a Disney cartoon, but that’s what also gives the episode some appeal, because it’s so drastically different from what we typically get from these cartoons.

#2 Mickey and Minnie: "Hansel and Gretel" 

There was already a Disney Hansel and Gretel short from way back in the day, and while it was a terrific Silly Symphany offering, it didn't feature any of our classic characters, and thus, couldn't fit this specific list. 

Decades later, Mickey and Minnie got to star in their own animated Hansel and Gretel short, and it takes the familiar formula to a whole other level. It's still the same premise with the characters leeward into an appetizing cottage, with wall-to-wall sweets to eat, and a nice old lady running the show. Of course, the lady is really a Witch who's fattening up her victims so she can cook them. It hits all those familiar notes, but it accelerates with its presentation, as there's no talking and it's all visuals and music. It's almost like a twisted "Fantasia" short, as the music packs a similar momentum and keeps building through the segment into one big crescendo and the end. The animation in the lighting, movement, imagery and backgrounds are likewise exploding with detail, ingenuity and personality. It's one of the lesser-known Mickey shorts, but well worth checking out during the witching season.    

Before I reveal my #1 Favorite, here are some quick honorable mentions … 

“Mickey's Haunted House” 

“Soup's On”

“Donald's Lucky Day”

“How to Be a Detective” 

“The Worm Turns”

 

#1 Donald Duck Cartoon: “Trick R’ Treat” (1952)

Here’s one of my favorite Disney cartoons, that’s always stood out to me as a Halloween classic along with the likes of “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown". 

When Donald Duck cruelly mistreats his nephews, a kind old Witch named Hazel comes to their aid, and gives them a healthy dose of ... Trick or Treat. Old Witch Hazel is one of the most memorable guest characters from the Disney cartoon roster, and her hex casting antics lead to some bouncy animation highlights. There’s a really catchy theme song to boot in this episode, and the animation, like I said, is just bursting with memorable holiday visuals. It's neither the darkest or spookiest of Disney shorts ... but it's the one that I love watch the most around this time of year. A lot of people say that 1968’s “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” is what really started the notion of classic animated Halloween specials, but look at this short, which came out almost a decade before it, and is just swimming with holiday delights. In my view, this right here is a top-tier Disney Halloween Treat!

Thanks for reading my Countdown ... and continue to enjoy the Halloween Specials you love!