Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gory visuals, bloody deaths in witty animated sitcom.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Haunted Hotel
What's the Story?
Single mother Katherine (Eliza Coupe) just wants a stable home for her kids Ben (Skyler Gisondo) and Esther (Natalie Palamides). She hopes she's found it at the Undervale Hotel, the inn her late brother Nathan (Will Forte) left her when he died. There's just one complication: Nathan and a host of other ghosts, spirits, demons, and other supernatural creatures are trapped at the Undervale, one of the most deeply haunted places in the world. Now the family, with the reluctant help of Abbadon (Jimmi Simpson), a demon trapped in the body of an 18th century child, have to make this HAUNTED HOTEL a success to keep the family afloat.
Is It Any Good?
Witty and weird, this highly anticipated animated series is charmingly absurd and not at all scary, despite the spooky premise and trappings. Of course, Haunted Hotel is scripted and created by a Rick and Morty writer, and Rick and Morty is one of the most celebrated animated series of all time. Rick and Morty fans likely want to know if Haunted Hotel is any kind of a chip off the block. And it is! Haunted Hotel is surreal and wacky, with blink-and-you've-missed-them sight gags, and humor rooted in strong characterizations. Of course, Haunted Hotel takes place in a horror milieu instead of a world informed by science fiction, so that spins the dial a little – and also provides the gory visuals and spooky storylines that are played for laughs, but nonetheless are likely too intense for young viewers.
Like what? Well, in the show's first season, the Undervale Hotel's caretakers deal with an inefficient electric system and a giant snake who suddenly bursts from the walls, a weird smell in the hallways and a set of cursed paintings that allow travel through time and space, a lack of foot traffic and a serial killer who's stalking the grounds with a slashing tool. In other words, Haunted Hotel's blend of the ordinary (there are storylines about Katherine's dating life, and Ben's decided lack of popularity of school) and the otherworldly (ghosts, demons, werewolves, and so on) makes this show a standout. Creator Matt Roller's sharp writing and lovable cast of voice actors does the rest, making Undervale a place viewers, and especially Rick and Morty fans, will be happy to check into.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
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Families can talk about Haunted Hotel's connection to Rick and Morty. Since Rick and Morty is one of the most popular animated series of all time, do you think creator Matt Roller's connection helped Haunted Hotel get made? How does Haunted Hotel stack up to Rick and Morty? How is it alike? Different?
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Animated series allow lots of visuals and jokes that won't work on live action shows. What types of things does Haunted Hotel show that shows with real actors don't?
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Is Haunted Hotel supposed to be scary? How can you tell? Is it typical to blend horror and comedy in this show's style? What horror-comedy shows or movies can you name?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 19, 2025
- Cast : Skyler Gisondo , Jimmi Simpson , Will Forte
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy ( Ghosts , Monsters ) , Holidays ( Halloween )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : March 5, 2026
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