Frankenstein (1931) with Dede Crimmins

Season 7
Written By Bart Simpson

Inspired by Guillermo del Toro’s new take on Mary Shelley’s classic creature, Adam and Nate invited film critic Dede Crimmins to help them reanimate Frankenstein (1931) and its multiple parodies in “Treehouse of Horror II” (S3E7). Together, we explore how this movie became one of the most referenced movies on The Simpsons, including the warnings and creepy credits at the beginning of almost every “Treehouse of Horror” episode.

Also in this episode:

  • The silent magic of Boris Karloff’s performance as the creature

  • When parodies set up false expectations for classic movies

  • That time Frankenstein inspired one of the most deep-cut references on The Simpsons ever

  • How the hell was this episode going to end with a Broadcast News parody?

Next time, Nate and Adam go crazy for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) at 50 and the forbidden episode…

For more of Dede’s movie reviews and more stay tuned to her profile on Bluesky.

For more Simpsons movie parody content, follow us at @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network. 

Every Simpsons Reference to Frankenstein

By our count, Frankenstein has been directly referenced 21 times in the first 13 seasons of The Simpsons, making it one of the top 10 most referenced movies on the show. The first reference appears in “Bart Gets an ‘F’” (S2E1) from 1990, 59 years after the release of the movie.

Scene & Plot References

Treehouse of Horror (S2E3), II (S3E7), III (New • S4E5) & V (S6E6): Ironically, the greatest influence this movie had on The Simpsons comes before the opening credits have even rolled. Concerned that parents would complain about the dark and scary tone of the first “Treehouse of Horror,” the Simpsons writers room decided to begin the episode with a warning from Marge, modeled after the opening warning from this movie.

Of course, both warnings are building upon a long tradition dating back to the techniques of carnival barkers, who knew all too well that when people are told to look away—especially kids—they only want to look more.

As the series went on, they often came back to this reference often with a twist, such as handing over the responsibilities to Homer who taunts the audience instead.

Treehouse of Horror II (S3E7): The plot of the third segment in this edition of Treehouse of Horror mimics multiple beats from the first half of this movie. This begins with Mr. Burns and Smithers looting a gothic graveyard, much like Dr. Frankenstein and Fritz.

This segment also parodies one of the most recognizable moments in the film, when Dr. Frankenstein first sees his Monster’s hand twitch and maniacally declares, “It’s alive!”

New • Treehouse of Horror XI (S12E1): While the opening credits of this edition of Treehouse of Horror is modeled after the opening credits of TV’s The Munsters, the torch-wielding mob mirrors the mob from the end of this movie. This is probably a reference to the fact that Herman Munster is himself “a Frankenstein” as Apu once put it.

Small References

New • Bart Gets an ‘F’ (S2E1): Beginning in season 2, Bart has a doll version of Frankenstein’s monster on the bookshelf behind his desk.

Treehouse of Horror III (S4E5): At the Simpson family’s Halloween Party, Lewis comes dressed as Frankenstein’s Monster.

New • Treehouse of Horror IV (S5E5), V (S6E6), VIII (S9E4), IX (S10E4), and X (S11E4): In the fourth Treehouse of Horror, multiple Simpsons staffers opted for a Frankenstein themed creepy credit, including “Greg ‘It’s Aliiive!’ Daniels,” “Dr. Frankenwelker,” and “Fran-Ken Tsumara-Stein.” The latter also returns in “Treehouse of Horror V.” Later, starting in “Treehouse of Horror VIII,” Bill Frankenfreesh revives the tradition for the next three installments.

New • Treehouse of Horror V (S6E6): In the couch gag, the Simpson family appears as mixed-up Frankenstein’s Monsters, swapping their body parts to try to get closer to normal. Notably, Marge appears with a white bolt in her hair as an homage to this movie’s sequel, Bride of Frankenstein (1935).

Bart After Dark (S8E5): When the boys are speculating about what happens at the Maison Derrière, Ralph says, “I heard a Frankenstein lives there.”

New • Bart Carny (S9E12): At the carnival, Bart and Lisa go on a crappy ride called “The Screamatorium of Dr. Frightmarestein,” a riff on the doctor’s name from this movie.

Lost Our Lisa (S9E24): When Bart attaches novelty prosthetics to his face with crazy glue, he attaches electrodes to his neck like Frankenstein’s Monster.

New • Eight Misbehavin’ (S11E7): When Apu meets Butch Patrick, who played Eddie on TV’s The Munsters, he asks, “If your mother was a vampire and your father was a Frankenstein, how come you are a werewolf?”

Worst Episode Ever (S12E11): In Comic Book Guy’s hidden basement full of lost media, he has a movie poster modeled after early promotional art for this movie, when Bela Lugosi had been cast in the role of the Monster instead of Boris Karloff.

However, The Simpsons also mocks the poster’s choice to make the Monster into a giant by changing the title to say “Attack of the 50 Foot Frankenstein,” a reference to Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958).

Extra Credit

Looking for more like this or an interesting double feature? Here are our recommendations.

Further Reading & Viewing

Bart Simpson
Next

Lobby Chat • Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and the Year in Horror So Far