Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost

Movie review by Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media
Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 7+

Teen sleuths confront lots of cartoon ghosts and mayhem.

NR 2019 81 minutes
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Parents say

age 7+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 5+

Based on 3 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost is a feature-length Scooby-Doo! adventure that has lots of cartoon scares, spooky images, and slapstick action. The gang faces raging, fanged-and-clawed ghosts who cackle, menace, and attack. They also must contend with a creepy mansion, a series of avalanches, chases, falls, and danger at every turn. Incredible though it may seem, this movie wraps up the story from The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo!, a 13-episode television series first shown in 1985. It works as a stand-alone movie, but will likely be more resonant for those devoted fans who have seen the earlier episodes (still available for purchase or streaming at the time of this movie's release). With frequent frights and the Mystery, Inc. heroes in near constant danger, this movie isn't for the youngest kids.

Community Reviews

EmmiKatJohnson
EmmiKatJohnson Adult
February 27, 2020
age 7+

Maybe the real demons were the friends we made along the way.

Ignoring the fact that it ignored a lot of key elements of the show it's based on (the 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo), the movie started out strong and quickly went downhill*. There are displays of butt hurted-ness and jealousy from Fred when Daphne tries to show that she is capable of leading the team (and in this situation she is more suited than he is due to her past experience with the 13 Ghosts). Despite the build up to Fred learning that he can share the role of leader, Daphne is still made to give up the position to him in the end (even giving the keys to HER car to him?) Velma was very mean to her friends in the name of "logic" and "science". She dismissed their claims and belittled them but was never proven wrong or reprimanded for this. Teaches kids to be disrespectful to others beliefs because they "know" they're right. Additionally, there was a scene in which Shaggy and Scooby impersonate Tibetan monks that felt disrespectful to the culture. I felt like it was a shallow attempt at showing "girl power" only to turn around teach kids not to challenge the status quo and that being upset over sharing/not being the leader is justifiable even when you are not best suited for the role. I don't recommend children watch this due to the lessons of the poor interactions between the kids. I also don't recommend watching if you were a fan of the series that it set out to conclude. Don't worry, it didn't even wrap up the show. You're not missing anything.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

After making a rather big mistake, the team of Mystery, Incorporated considers retirement in SCOOBY-DOO! AND THE CURSE OF THE 13TH GHOST. First step -- they reluctantly sell the Mystery Van! Then the gang is drawn right back into a new adventure when an old friend summons them. Vincent Van Ghoul (voiced by Maurice LeMarche), a renowned magician with eerie powers, is desperate for their help. Years earlier, they worked together to catch 12 of the world's most terrifying ghosts and trap them in a Demon Chest. Now, the ghost that got away -- the 13th and scariest of all -- has come back to threaten the world. How can the gang refuse? With Daphne (Grey Griffin) taking the lead, Fred (Frank Welker) acting as their #1 Cheerleader, along with Shaggy (Matthew Lillard), Scooby (Welker), and the always-skeptical Velma (Kate Micucci) in tow, they depart for the Himalayan Mountains, a spooky mansion, and a series of mishaps to capture that last remaining ghost.

Is It Any Good?

Daphne, who at one time was the franchise's dim, pretty girl, uses all her smarts and determination to lead the Scooby gang on another traditionally ghostly, direct-to-DVD adventure (their 32nd). In cartoon world, it's never too late for a sequel, and Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost arrives more than three decades after the original concept was the basis for a 13-episode TV series to resolve all the burning questions left unanswered in 1985. Viewers can expect lots of twists and turns, mistaken identities, multiple villains, and a dizzying plot (literally dizzying, as the mountain roads are ever-treacherous in the Himalayas). There's plenty of animated scares, even more than the usual amount, but everyone -- even those who might appear to have perished -- is restored by the story's end. Typical Scooby fare. Too many scares for little kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the cartoon violence in Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost. How does your family determine which animated movies are appropriate for the kids? Why is it important that they are old enough or mature enough to understand the difference between real and pretend violence when watching a movie like this one?

  • In this movie, what does Fred mean when he says, "If you want a situation to change, you have to take action." Do you agree with him? Think of some instances when the concept was true for you. What action(s) did you take to change the situation?

  • The creators of Scooby-Doo! adventures often parody famous people and incidents in their movies. Vincent Van Ghoul is a character based on the celebrated performer Vincent Price. Price actually voiced the role in the 1985 TV series. Find out more about the actor, and why the filmmakers "honored" him with this character.

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