The Scariest Episode 33 Years Later

Are You Afraid of the Dark? is one of the best horror TV shows of all time, and despite being aimed at children, it still has one of the scariest TV episodes. In 1992, the world met the Midnight Society in the anthology horror series Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Created by D. J. MacHale and Ned Kandel, Are You Afraid of the Dark? follows the Midnight Society, a group of teens who meet at a secret spot in the woods at midnight to tell scary stories. Every night, one member of the group tells a story, and these mix horror with sci-fi, fantasy, and/or drama.

Are You Afraid of the Dark? has many great and scary episodes, but one, in particular, continues to be one of the scariest TV episodes ever, even after all these years.

Why “The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner” Is Are You Afraid of the Dark’s Scariest Episode

Are You Afraid of the Dark? has a bit of everything: aliens walking among humans, vampires, talking dolls, ghosts, and a lot more. In its fourth season, the show brought its scariest episode in “The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner.”

This episode follows Ethan Wood (Amos Crawley), a teenager and aspiring comic book artist. One day, Ethan receives an exclusive invitation to a new comic shop, where he’s given the only copy left of a cursed and unfinished comic book of the Ghastly Grinner.

This character is a yellow and blue court jester, but he’s not just a villain, but also a real, evil and powerful entity. After Ethan’s teacher throws the comic book into a fish tank, Ethan microwaves it at home with horrifying results, as an electrical overload causes a minor explosion that releases the Ghastly Grinner.

Every victim of the Ghastly Grinner becomes an uncontrollable, laughing idiot who drools blue goo, beginning with Ethan’s parents. The Ghastly Grinner himself is terrifying, with his evil, laughing face, pointy teeth, yellow skin, and blue goo coming out of his mouth. On top of that, the Ghastly Grinner appeals to common fears among children.

It’s not just the fear of characters like mimes, clowns, and jesters, but also the fear of adults not protecting kids from threats and dangers. Ethan and Hooper (Heidi Burbela) are left on their own against an evil, supernatural entity, as all the adults they could trust fell victim to the Ghastly Grinner.

“The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner” Proves Why Are You Afraid Of The Dark Is One Of The Scariest TV Shows Ever

The Ghastly Grinner in The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner Are You Afraid of the Dark? — The Ghastly Grinner smiling in a creepy way in The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner Are You Afraid of the Dark?

There are many Are You Afraid of the Dark? episodes that are scary for both children and adults, but “The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner” perfectly proves why the show is one of the scariest ever. “The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner” has all the elements of a great Are You Afraid of the Dark? episode: horror, fantasy, relatable fears, drama, and main characters to root for.

A large part of the greatness of Are You Afraid of the Dark? is that it can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages, as its episodes cover fears that both kids and adults can relate to. Although specific elements of the episodes are now outdated, the stories and scares still hold up, and it’s a highly rewatchable show.

Release Date: 1992 – 2000-00-00
Network: YTV, Nickelodeon, Family Channel
Directors: Ron Oliver, David Winning, Lorette Leblanc, Adam Weissman, Michael Keusch
Writers: Scott Peters, Alison Lea Bingeman, Cassandra Schafhausen, Naomi Janzen, Stephen Zoller