Looking for a kid-friendly Halloween flick this season? John Cherry’s Ernest Scared Stupid from 1991 is perfect for the occasion. There is certainly a slew of harmless and silly Ernest films, but I feel this one might be the best of the series. Plus, it’s celebrating its thirtieth anniversary on October 11th! Despite being aimed squarely at youngsters there’s plenty to enjoy here for more seasoned horror fans.
This time out, Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) is a bumbling garbage man in a small town in Missouri. Unbeknownst to the dimwitted but goodhearted Ernest, his ancestor was responsible for the imprisonment of a troll underneath a tree in the woods outside of town. Of course, Ernest accidentally frees the gooey beast from its underground prison and it promptly begins turning local children into wood for a mysterious ritual. The adults dismiss Ernest’s outlandish claims, so he enlists the aid of the local kids to fight back against the troll. Fan-favorite actress Eartha Kitt has a sizable supporting role as an eccentric old woman with knowledge of the troll and its past.
Charles Gale and Coke Sams’ script is goofy and lighthearted. It follows a pretty basic formula, but both Varney and Kitt turn in spirited performances, giving some flavor to the straightforward story. I particularly enjoyed the sequences where Ernest takes on a variety of personalities in absurdist montages (although the presentation of the Mongolian is pretty cringy for today’s sensibilities).
The inclusion of Kitt is one of the aforementioned elements that make this a stronger Ernest outing. Bruce Arnston and Kirby Shelstad’s score is another. Bouncy and mischievous, it conveys the right mixture of fun and light creepiness. It is the makeup effects work of the Chiodo Brothers, though, that gave the film a huge spark. Known for being the creature creators for Critters and Killer Klowns from Outer Space, the creative trio deliver memorably expressive and pleasingly gross animatronic effects.
John Cherry’s Ernest Scared Stupid is probably the best of the franchise. The late lamented Jim Varney is lovable as ever as the lead and Eartha Kitt is always a treat. When I caught my first glimpse of the troll, I recognized the Chiodo Brothers’ style and I knew we’d be in for some goopy fun. Other than a dated element that is obviously not meant to be hurtful, the film holds up pretty well. Recommended for fans of silly slimy monsters, cool ramshackle treehouses, and ancient curses.
Michael Cavender