The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Episode 4

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Episode 4

Aired: October 28th, 1993
Season 5: Episode 5
Written by: Watch Conan O'Brien, The Late Bill Oakley, The Estate of Josh Weinstein, Disfigured Dan McGrath, Greg "It's Alive!" Daniels, and Bilious Bill Canterbury

Welcome to the fourth Treehouse of Horror "Review". This is the first Treehouse of Horror without the standard warning from Marge/Homer, instead we have Bart hosting the episode with each segment represented as a painting in a parody of Rod Serling's "Night Gallery". Marge eventually asks if he warned the audience that the episodes are scary, so they managed to sneak it in. I should mention that this is one of my favorite Treehouse Episodes as all of the segments are great.

Segment 1 - The Devil and Homer Simpson 

The segment opens with Homer asleep at his desk dreaming of donuts and as he awakens looking to satisfy his urge his worst nightmare comes true, his coworkers finished off all of the donuts. In a desperate plea Homer proclaims that he would sell his soul for a donut. The devil, who just happens to be Flanders appears and is willing to make this deal. Homer believes he is smarter than the devil since he left one sliver of the donut, but of course he eats the remainder at night. When the devil Flanders appears to take Homer to hell the Simpson family begs for a trial, in the end we find out that Homer already promised his soul to Marge on their wedding night. As punishment Flanders turns Homers head into a giant donut.

Overall I enjoyed this episode, and I love the twist of having Flanders play the devil. The donut head Homer is iconic and more people know that image than the episode itself.

Here is the list of the references I noticed while watching this segment.
- The Jury of the Damned includes Lizzie Borden, Benedict Arnold, Blackbeard, Jonathan Dillinger, John Wilkes Booth, The Starting Line of the 1976 Philadelphia Flyers, and Richard Nixon.

- The title and the plot is a play on the Devil and Daniel Webster.

- When the Devil Flanders gets angry at Homer at the nuclear power plant, the form he assumes is exactly like the demon Chernabog in the "A Night on Bald Mountain segment" from Fantasia.

- Homer's ironic punishment of being force-fed donuts is a parody of the Merrie Melodies cartoon Pigs is Pigs

Segment 2 -Terror at 5½ Feet 

Even though I will mention it in the references section it is worth saying that the entire segment is a retelling of the Twilight Zone episode Nightmare at 20,000 feet. Bart is on the school bus during a rainy day and he notices a gremlin on the side of the bus trying to take off a wheel. Everyone thinks he is crazy and it isn't until he finally shoots the monster with a flare causing the bus to pull over when the rest of the people notice the scratch marks and tire damage. The number of references may be low but this is a fun episode. The ending with Flanders being decapitated by the gremlin is a gruesome touch that helped but this one over the edge. 

Here are the references I noticed in the segment. 

- The episode is a parody of the Twilight Zone episode Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.

- "Psycho" reference: Skinner talking about his mother.

Segment 3 - Bart Simpson's Dracula 

Once again I will mention the fact that this segment is a retelling of the film, Bram Stokers Dracula. This may be my favorite segment since it has the most legit horror elements. The vampires are all creepy and the scene of Bart floating outside of Lisa's window is great. There is not a ton more to say other than I highly recommend this segment to help get you in the Halloween mood. 

Here are the references I noticed in the segment. 

- Bram Stoker's Dracula - The entire episode.

- Pennsylvania: A parody of Transylvania, Dracula's rumored living place. 

- Salems Lot/Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Bart and the other kids floating outside the window as a vampires

- "A Charlie Brown Christmas" : The end of the segment  

Closing: There is no traditional closing that ties back to the Halloween party, which is odd since the other episodes always did that. Either way this is a great episode and one I would suggest people start with as a means to being introduced to the Treehouse of Horror Episodes. Good Night Everyone.