Ernest_scared_stupid_poster.jpgWelcome to the last little horror review for the month of October! We’ve explored exciting movies, thrilling movies, and fun movies in the past few weeks that have all played a part in getting me into the spirit of Halloween and horror movies at a young age. And now, it’s time to do this once more by closing out the week with something a lotmore wacky. Three words… Ernest Scared Stupid!

Now I know you’re probably thinkin’, “What in the… are you kidding me? That one’s not even scary! It’s stupid! Completely ridonkulous! And furthermore, it’s Ernest. Ernest P. friggin’ Worrell. He’s only scary because nobody can sit through his movies, what is your problem little man?!” Well first off, that’s Mr. Little Man to you; and second, Ernest Scared Stupid is an underrated classic; because third, you shut your gawdang facehole!

Now that I’ve gotten my goofy little intro out of my system, I’m here to say that yes I am indeed serious about this one and really, what more do you need? Sure it’s silly and for kids, but many of us liked silly stuff as kids. It’s a nice little change of pace from the other films out there.

So let’s get onto the movie shall we?

It starts with a scene in the 19th century where we see some of Ernest’s ancestors capturing an evil troll (named Trantor) who’s been capturing kids and terrorizing people. They manage to catch him and end up burying him. To top it off, they plant an oak tree to further seal him away. We later learn that Trantor can only be released on the night before Halloween by a living member of the Worrell family, and that every generation of Worrells gets dumber and dumber.

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Don’t question it, it was the 90’s.

Anyway, we go into the film’s modern day setting where we’re introduced to a few kids: Elizabeth, Joey, and Kenny. They all hang out and have made a haunted house to play around with, while Ernest is making a living as a garbage truck driver. After the kids’ haunted house is torn down by bullies, they go to Ernest and he helps them look for a tree where they’ll build a treehouse. They soon come across a rather creepy-looking tree that’s big enough, and get right to work.

Not long after this, a woman named Old Lady Hackmore (played by the late Eartha Kitt) sees what they’re doing and is upset that they happen to be using the tree that contains Trantor. Ernest goes to talk to her and learns more about the history behind it while the kids play on the treehouse. He returns and tells the kids what he’s learned, and… well, he ends up summoning Trantor. How? He’s Ernest, just watch how it happens.

I’ll admit it’s hard not to facepalm… before I laugh, that is.

From there, the whole movie is pretty much what you expect and you’ll either love it, hate it, or have a good time laughing and making fun of it. For me, it’s definitely a case of enjoying the crazy things and celebrating the movie’s silliness. If you’ve seen the Ernest movies, you know what you’re in for. Jim Varney had fun with the character and it really shows.

Regardless of how you might feel about his style of humor, there’s no denying that Jim was very talented and loved doing something that kids could appreciate. His short-lived show Hey Vern, Its Ernest! won a couple Daytime Emmy awards, and the commercials that he did as Ernest are also entertaining.

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For what it’s worth, Ernest Scared Stupid manages to have things that can be a little freaky for younger children. Trantor captures many kids and turns them into small inanimate wooden dolls. These scenes are surprisingly creepy. On top of that, the troll looks hideous and the effects are very well-done.

One part that’s always stood out to me and many others who’ve seen the film is this little moment where Ernest, thinking he’s found the solution to fighting Trantor, encounters him with Miak.

No clue why someone made this looping video, but… yeah. lol

Miak? Hell, I wanna get myself some of that. But it’s seasonal and not usually available during the fall season. And its gotta be fresh and made in Bulgaria for that extra authenticity! Know what I mean? Can’t have that cheaper stuff.

It’s like with salsa picantes. You gotta have some of that Pace that’s made with fresh ingredients in San Antonio, not that “other stuff” made in New York City.

Another one of my favourite scenes is this part where he encounters the troll while driving around with his dog Rimshot. Good ‘ol Rimshot! I love it when he’s driving the truck as Ernest tries fighting off the troll. It’s almost like that cool truck fight from Raiders of the Lost Ark, but with more hilarity.

Did I mention Rimshot is awesome?

So anyway, there are definitely a lot of things in the movie, both silly and occasionally creepy. It’s a good balance though and the funny moments definitely add to the charm. And because it’s set during Halloween, it’s perfectly festive and a lot of fun to watch.

Some would say that Ernest is way too silly for their tastes, and that’s understandable. But me personally? I like his movies, and this is easily one of my favourites. I’ll have to review the other films at a later point, but in the mean time I recommend watching this if you want something more lighthearted and goofy. It’s great for getting kids into horror films without being too frightening. Simply put, It’s a fun little movie. Check it out!

So until next time, make sure you have enough Miak and save some for me. See ya later! o/