Every Halloween season, there are certain traditions that just have to happen, pumpkins on the porch, a bowl of candy that mysteriously keeps getting lighter, and for me, popping in Ernest Scared Stupid. It’s a yearly ritual at this point, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Jim Varney’s Ernest P. Worrell is pure chaotic goodness, that perfect mix of lovable goof and accidental hero who somehow saves the day through sheer dumb luck and heart. In this one, he manages to unleash an ancient troll (because of course he does) on the small town of Briarville, and what follows is a perfect blend of slapstick comedy, Halloween atmosphere, and surprisingly creepy creature effects for a kid’s movie. Seriously, the trolls still look fantastic and unsettling to this day, the Chiodo Brothers really went all out.
What makes Ernest Scared Stupid so timeless is that it captures that magic 90s balance of spooky and silly. It’s the kind of movie that makes you laugh, jump, and feel like a kid again all at once. There’s something so comforting about Ernest’s over-the-top expressions, the campy dialogue, and the pure heart that drives it all.
It’s not high art, and it’s not trying to be, it’s Halloween comfort food in movie form. The kind you revisit every October with a grin on your face, some popcorn in your lap, and maybe a faint smell of pumpkin candles in the air.
So yeah, every year, I return to Briarville to watch Ernest face off against those slimy trolls armed with nothing but courage, friendship, and milk. It’s goofy, it’s gross, it’s heartwarming, and it’s Halloween magic through and through.
KnowhutImean?