Syp

Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985) — Candy candy candy candy

“Trim the mains, slip the sheets, flibber the giblets! I WANT MY MOMMY!”

Justin’s rating: One-half sack of nostalgic candy

Justin’s review: I’m sure that all of us, if we’re being honest, experienced certain movies and TV specials as kids that genuinely terrified us — even if they’re objectively not that scary. Chalk it up to a wildly overactive imagination that I’ve had ever since childhood, but one of my biggest sources of fright around October 31st emerged from Garfield’s Halloween Adventure in the mid-80s.

I was the perfect age for it, just nine years old, ripe for the undoing of my psyche by a cute kids cartoon that abruptly shifted into full-on, pants-wetting horror. I hated it. I loved it. And I watched it every year it came on after that.

This is what the kids these days would call a creepypasta — an unnerving tale that sucks you in until you can’t escape and it sets up shop in your mind. I don’t think kids were really ready for that in 1985, but then again, almost every “kids” movie that decade was out to mess us up.

OK, so let’s dig into this. Garfield’s Halloween Adventure is a half-hour special where that fat cat learns whether or not felines can absorb a ton of high-fructose corn syrup. Garfield and Odie dress up and head out for CANDYCANDYCANDY. There’s nothing deep here, just the pure, unadulterated love of getting free sweets. Various mild amusements and mild musical numbers ensue as you might expect as they go out on this most sacred of nights.

And then it happens. Then this special ventures into a realm best left alone, but here we go anyway.

Garfield and Odie take a small boat to an island with a not-at-all-haunted house, populated by the most frightening old wart of a man ever. You know the animators enjoyed creating this grotesque abomination (just check out the drooling spit that he wipes away as he talks!). And as we grapple with his looks, the animals are subject to a pirate ghost story that’s treated a little too seriously.

And then… and then… the pirate spectres show up, coming closer and closer to the house while young Justin tries hard not to wet his pants. I think this is why this hit a nerve, because this special does a great job making the characters and viewers feel alone and in danger of a threat that’s growing closer. It’s nothing huge, but it hit a nerve, and the payoff of the giant ghost heads helped to seal the deal.

C’mon, what kid isn’t going to stay up all night after hearing, “There’s no escaping! They know we’re here! They know who we are!”

All in all, this is a really well-done special. The animation is generally excellent and hits on those Halloween trick-or-treat vibes that we all knew well from childhood. And what Halloween is complete without an eerie story and a scare or two?

Intermission!

  • Apparently, this special was the debut of Binky, the most terrifying clown ever. Well, in the top five.
  • Jon wearing a pumpkin head is an improvement on his face
  • “Gar-Halloween-field”
  • “When did you start liking pumpkin innards?” “Since never! Ptooey!”
  • Odie’s attic costume is pretty funny
  • I swear I have all of these songs committed to memory — “Scaredy Cat” is a favorite
  • Walking on a peg leg looks hard, but it’s good for lasagna-taking
  • I love how utterly greedy Garfield is on Halloween
  • But why would he take a boat? There had to be plenty more houses on his side
  • “This could be the worst night of your liiiiiiives.”
  • “Do you believe this?” “BELIEEEEEVE THIS my friends!”
  • So was that guy supposed to be 110 years old?
  • Nice very very mild twist at the end

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