Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- campy
- goofy
- playful
- family movie night
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a poorly received, low-budget family comedy horror whose broad humor and formulaic execution limited its appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The plot turns on the escape of the evil troll Trantor, while Ernest's comic behavior drives the film's tone.
The PG rating, children's perspective, and non-graphic troll premise frame horror as accessible entertainment for younger viewers.
The story is identified with Briarville, Missouri, and uses a tree house, Halloween, and a buried troll to evoke local legend.
Ernest's impulsive attempt to help release the troll also places the world in danger, forcing him into the role of savior.
Films like Ernest Scared Stupid, and why
Hocus Pocus
family-friendly monster comedy with broad physical humor and supernatural peril
The Little Vampire
children's Halloween fantasy combining comic antics, folklore creatures, and light horror
The Monster Squad
campy horror comedy centered on an eccentric protagonist confronting a supernatural threat
Ernest Goes to Camp
Jim Varney vehicle with rural Americana, slapstick comedy, and an affably chaotic hero
Movie Details
- Director
- John Cherry
- Release Date
- 1991-10-11
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (218)
Cast
- Jim Varney
- Bill Byrge
- John Cadenhead
- Austin Nagler
- Shay Astar
- Jonas Moscartolo
- Daniel Butler
- Larry Black
- Alec Klapper
- Richard Woolf
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ernest Scared Stupid about?
- A bumbling small-town eccentric unleashes a buried troll and turns Halloween into a slapstick fight to save his community.
- What is Ernest Scared Stupid like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ernest Scared Stupid as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Ernest Scared Stupid violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Ernest Scared Stupid as mild.
- What did critics think of Ernest Scared Stupid?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a poorly received, low-budget family comedy horror whose broad humor and formulaic execution limited its appeal.
- Which films are like Ernest Scared Stupid?
- Films with a similar feel include Hocus Pocus, The Little Vampire, The Monster Squad, and Ernest Goes to Camp.
- How long is Ernest Scared Stupid?
- Ernest Scared Stupid runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ernest Scared Stupid?
- In United States, Ernest Scared Stupid streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
