Another Halloween season can only mean one thing forThe Simpsons. “Treehouse of Horror” is as much of a tradition around the spooky season as trick or treating. The commitment to upholding the annual “Treehouse of Horror” is a testament to the show’s prolific run. On its 35th edition, themost recent “Treehouse of Horror” episodefeatured a timely reference to another pop culture icon that recently hit the big screen. Everyone’s favorite symbiotic anti-hero, Venom, starring in one last hurrah inVenom: The Last Dance, was the basis for the Season 35 episode’s final segment, titled “Denim.” Needless to say,Venom receiving aSimpsonstouch is more humorous than anything seen in the Tom Hardy movies, despite their best efforts to be unapologetically goofy.
“Treehouse of Horror” Returned on ‘The Simpsons’ With a Parody of ‘Venom’
The Simpsons' riff onThe Twilight Zoneis one of the most consistently enjoyable facets of theMatt Groeningseries since its inception in Season 2. “Treehouse of Horror"maintains thesharp cleverness and biting satireof the mainline series through a genre lens, as the anthology-based series infuses farcical horror, science-fiction, and fantasy/supernatural. Operating as a sandbox for writers to squeeze in darker material, “Treehouse of Horror"has amassed enough of a legacy and following to exist as its series, which is removed from the show’s continuity.
Airing on November 3, “Treehouse of Horror XXXV”,like its predecessors, contains three short stories. “The Information Rage,” keeping up with current events, sees Springfield terrorized by giant monsters powered by hot rage stemming from political discourse. In the second segment, “The Fall of the House of Monty,” Mr. Burns is haunted by the apparitions of his mistreated workers. Closing out the episode is “Denin,” aVenomparody following Homer (Dan Castellaneta) being possessed by a pair of denim jeans brought to life with mythical powers. The episode’s main event arrived with much anticipation,as a crossover withVenomwas announced by showrunner Matt Selman atSan Diego Comic-Con in July.Most inspiring of all relating to this announcement was the show’s team-up with animation production company Stoopid Buddy ofRobot Chickenfame to design stop-motion animation effects for the symbiotic jeans.
A Denim Pair of Jeans Gives Homer Simpson New Powers in “Denim”
Browsing the jean catalog at a department store, Homer is skeptical that he’ll find the right pair of jeans for him. Outside the store, a warp hole unzips and releases a stop-motion pair of fresh denim, and ends up in Homer’s possession. Homer, who previously embodied Eddie Brock’s down-on-his-luck attitude, develops a stroke of confidence thanks to a sudden second voice popping into his head. Like Venom,these jeans become Homer’s devilish alter ego.Possessing Venom’s deep and garbled voice, the entity tells Homer, “I am DENIM.” Loosely re-creating theclosing moment in the firstVenomfilm, Homer thwarts a robbery at a diner where Marge works. Instead of fighting street-level crime, these jeans inspire Homer to win Marge’s (Julie Kavner) affection with slick dance moves and romantic courting.
It’s no secret that current-daySimpsonswill be hit or miss, but the “Denim” segment of the latest “Treehouse of Horror"provides old-school laughs with a modern touch. As a show reliant on tradition, the stop-motion effect ofthe Denim monster is distinct enough toleave an indelible impactwithout staining the classic visual aesthetic ofThe Simpsons. While the CGI goop in theVenomseries leaves audiences wanting more, Denim provides a hilarious sight gag with the anthropomorphized jeans having expressing eyes and a mouth. In an ideal world, without the time constrictions of one segment of"Treehouse of Horror”, the Denim would have made its way through Springfield and infected all our favorite characters.
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Because the Tom Hardy-ledVenommovies are innately silly and in on the joke,satirizing it withSimpsons-levelsardonic humor might seem like a fool’s errand. In “Denim,” the titular parasite is nothing more than a supplemental force that allows Homer to perform flashy stunts and an alternate voice in his conscience. Scenes where Homer talks to Denim for support, like it’s an old friend when sitting in Moe’s Tavern or playing video games, alsoremind viewers of themost effective elements of theVenommovies.As an action blockbuster spectacle,Venomis egregiously nonsensical, and each movie loses steam anytime it needs to break for plot dynamics or an empty CGI battle. Whenever Tom Hardy is allowed to display hisnatural chemistry with the symbiote, the films shine as unexpected buddy comedies. The “Denim” segment of “Treehouse of Horror XXXV” crystalizes the silliness ofVenomand the level of seriousness we ought to grant it.
The SimpsonsSeason 36 is available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.
The Simpsons
The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.
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