Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays
Christmas mystery has scary snowman and a grumpy Santa.
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Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays
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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! Haunted Holidays is a Scooby-Doo mystery set at Christmas with scary monsters, moments of peril, and slapstick action. The central villain is a sharp-toothed, shapeshifting snowman (voiced by Fred Tatasciore) that could be scary for some younger viewers. A car explodes and some characters are frozen in ice. But no one comes to any serious harm. The first "Santa" in the movie is a grumpy actor who says he hates Christmas and that the parade he's in makes him "sick." This is balanced by the real Santa turning up later to merrily help the gang. The fact that there is both a real and fake Santa in the movie has the potential to confuse or provoke awkward questions.
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What's the Story?
In SCOOBY-DOO! HAUNTED HOLIDAYS, a struggling toy store is plagued by a spooky shape-shifting snowman. Trapped inside the store, Scooby-Doo (voiced by Frank Welker) and the gang face a frosty reception when they take on the mystery of who's behind the snowman (Fred Tatasciore).
Is It Any Good?
Seasonal Scooby-Doo movies give the creative team behind the cartoons the chance to throw Scoob and the gang headfirst into the theme. Not holding back on the monster for Christmas, Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays features a fanged snowman that ranks among the most visually interesting of villains. The shapeshifting monster is grotesque in its distorted forms and delectably creepy as a giant spider. It's easy to appreciate artistically but young viewers might not appreciate its presence.
Less easy to appreciate is the first Santa we meet. He hates Christmas and the parade makes him sick. It's not made quite clear enough that he's an actor, so some explaining might be required for younger viewers, especially when the real Santa then turns up. All comes good in the end as the gang unmask the snowman and reveal who's behind it, in a plausible and satisfying way. Ending with Scooby-Doo as Santa in the actor's place in the toy store is a jolly way to end a short, solid holiday special for kids interested in mild scares.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the scares in Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays. Did you find any parts of the movie scary? Which scenes in particular? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How did Scooby and the gang show teamwork and courage? Why are these such good character strengths to have? Can you think of any examples in real life when you've shown these traits?
The movie is set at Christmas. Do you celebrate Christmas? Do you celebrate any other holidays? What's the best thing about the holidays?
How did this Scooby-Doo adventure compare to others you might have seen? Why do you think Scooby-Doo adventures remain popular today?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: October 16, 2012
- Cast: Frank Welker, Mindy Cohn, Grey Griffin
- Director: Victor Cook
- Studios: Warner Home Video, HBO Max
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Courage, Teamwork
- Run time: 22 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: May 24, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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The Muppet Christmas Carol
A gentle, fuzzy version of the Dickens classic.
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Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman
A smart interactive adventure for kids.
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Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Scarecrow
Halloween-themed mystery has scythe-wielding monster.
For kids who love the holidays
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