The Simpsons - Treehouse of Horror

Alright, now this is more like it – if you’re going to release each season of The Simpsons at such a lame Grampa in a motorised wheelchair with a dead battery-like pace that by the time you get to the current season technology will probably have advanced so as to have replaced DVD three times over, at least dangle a few donuts worthy of a fan’s attention in the interim.

Whilst the two four-episode compilations that preceded Treehouse of Horror had their moments, they were but cobbled together with a vague thematic similarity rather than with any desire for episode quality. With the traditional annual Halloween shows being regular highlights of often otherwise lacklustre later seasons, at least you know you’re on a winner here, especially as the four selected for this release contain many of the most memorable Treehouse moments from throughout the years, including the much talked about one where Homer goes all bulgy, anti-flat and computerised in 3D on our arses, as well as one of the most devilishly blatant ever “how the hell did they get away with that?!� moments involving Burns and Smithers.

Sure, it’s no substitute for the third season set we’re drooling in anticipation for more than a collision between a Duff truck and a Lard Lad van on our very own front lawn, but it’s certainly a mighty fine companion to waste away just under an hour and a half of our lives with...

Treehouse of Horror V (season 6): The Shin... erm, oops - we don’t want to get sued - The Shinning has a stab taken at it – will no TV and no beer make Homer go crazy? Time and Punishment sees Homer have a stab at toaster-tinkering with world-altering ramifications and Nightmare Cafeteria discovers a soylent new use for students on detention. Oh, and never rely on Willie...

"Tell you what. We come back and everybody’s slaughtered, I owe you a Coke." – Monty Burns

Treehouse of Horror VI (season 7): Homer’s greed (oh alright, and an atmospheric anomaly as well) sees advertising go mad in Attack of the 50ft Eyesores, Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace – well, let’s just say a somewhat dead Willie dons a stripy shirt and has a sudden interest in dreams, and Homer3 sees the head of the Simpsons household disappear into fat air and into a whole new dimension...

"Do not touch Willie – good advice!" – Homer Simpson.

Treehouse of Horror VII (season 8): The Thing and I shows us that if Hu-go up to The Simpsons’ attic then you may find more than flowers, Lisa’s science project sees her create a world of her own in The Genesis Tub, finally getting the goddess-like worship she so deserves and Citizen Kang gives us a whole new angle on Clin-ton, Bobdole and the whole US electoral system...

"Science has already proven the dangers of smoking, alcohol and Chinese food, but I can still ruin soft drinks for everyone!" – Lisa Simpson

Treehouse of Horror XII (season 13): Homer learns it isn’t wise to cross a gypsy fortune teller in Hex and the City, House of Whacks sees Casa Simpson upgraded to Ultrahouse standard – complete with a Pierce Brosnan computer who takes a shining (shhh!) to Marge, and Wiz Kids doffs a pointy hat to some kid named Harry as Lisa and Bart battle the evil with big pointy teeth that is the dark Lord Montymort...

"Sob. UNGH! Sob, sob, sob! UNGH! Sob, sob, sob. UNGH!..." – Waylon Slithers.

Oh come on, you know what’s to be said next, surely? Yep... compiling four episodes from a period spanning eight years, some variance in visual quality is to be expected. All video is in its original 1:33 full frame lavishly hyper-coloured format, and whilst the last (and latest) episode is a tad sharper and better defined than the first, the difference isn’t overly marked – it’s all pretty good. The main problems that show their ugly little mugs are some examples of shimmering and aliasing, and the odd white flecks here and there – many of which appear to be remnants of the cel animation process used rather than transfer issues. Oh well, with The Simpsons going computerised we won’t have such things to complain about in future at least.

So, you want Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes like in the complete season box sets? Well tough luck sister, ‘cos stodgy old 2.0 is all that you get. Of course I’m just being a bit of a bitch here, after all this is how the episodes were aired originally and although no fabulous aural surprises are delivered, it’s all efficient enough. Dialogue is clear at all times, there’s a smattering (or should that perhaps be “splattering�?) of surround usage, there are no nasty unwelcome surprises and synch – well, it’s a cartoon, so put two and two together...

In the soundamatrack department, long-serving composer for The Simpsons Alf Clausen gets to have a little fun with his soundtrack duties, going all Theremin-y on us with fabulously spooked-up scores.

When you call a disc Treehouse of Horror I guess you’ve covered your arse when it comes to accusations of slackness in the menu department, for this truly is a horror – both in the obvious complete lack of effort put into its visual design, as well as its ever so clunky navigational “system�. For heaven’s sakes, Kodos’ and Kang’s spaceship would be easier to handle – and without inserting it wedge-like into the roof of the White House...

Oh - incidentally, speaking of they, our two favourite big, green and goopy galactic Presbyterians are the stars of the only thing vaguely resembling an extra on this disc, a fairly pointless 2:59 featurette-ette clip-show thingy that hastily cobbles together a couple of their appearances from over the years that aren’t featured on the episodes on this disc.

If Fox are going to dot cash-in releases like Froot Loops all along the road to that mythical Lollypop Lane-like complete collection of each and every season so many of us crave, we can only hope they’re as well chosen as this in future. Mind you, a quick trip to finishing school – or even Springwart’s – could be in order for the Cletus that’s doing the menus. Just one warning, though, some of what’s on offer may be a little bit gruesome for kids – then again the little buggers are so inured to the ickiness of the world nowadays that I’m probably just wasting my breath, erm, typing-ness-ousity sort of stuff.

Ooh, and just think - there’s not a single church or library to offend the eye!