By Joseph "Skull Vault" Walter
I was recently made aware of this gem, so, being the nostalgia and Halloween freak that I am, I had to get it. So I did. And here we are.
Let's take a peek at the front and back covers!
In any case, one of the reasons I was so quick to seek this rare piece out was because it contained two of my favorite Halloween Specials: Rugrats' "Candy Bar Creep Show" (as covered here) and the incredible "Doug's Halloween" (which I haven't covered just yet... but only because it's difficult to put overwhelming nostalgic adoration into words that humans can understand.)
The third inclusion is Ren & Stimpy's "Haunted House."
Now, I wasn't allowed to watch Ren & Stimpy as a kid, so I don't have too much of an attachment to the series, aside from the fact that it's from that same golden era of Nicktoons.
That said, I watched "Haunted House" for the very first time (actually, this might even be the first full segment of Ren & Stimpy that I've ever seen, period!) and man oh man, did I enjoy it thoroughly. Even better, I got to have the pleasure of watching it with my best friend (yes, that one), who has been a massive fan of the series since its initial debut, which made the experience even more special.
Lastly, I'd be remiss if I failed to mention that this VHS also has a few commercials and bumpers that are sure to bring back memories of a better time. Best of all, though, is that a few of the bumpers are seasonal idents, meaning you get to organically experience gems like this:
Holding this tape... it almost feels like it's pure nostalgia given physical form. There's a power in it. It pulses with the Halloween memories of an entire generation.
In other words, "Frightfest" doesn't just contain excellent cartoons, but something even more precious: a collective feeling from a specific moment in time, forever immortalized and able to be experienced anew.
So dim the lights, set up a blanket fort and pop in the tape: it's time to enjoy the memories of Halloweens past, the joy of trick or treating, and the comfort of these incredible childhood masterpieces.