RIOTUS

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Undervale, we hope you enjoy your stay. Oh, don’t mind the bleeding mirror, it just does that sometimes. That screaming you can hear? Absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. And as for the other guests? Well, they’re a touch eccentric, but they can’t harm you—ehhhh, mostly. Because, you see, they’re ghosts who’ve decided it’s a top-notch establishment to haunt. 

Yes, the Undervale is not your typical hotel: The dearly departed Nathan Freeling (Will Forte) was once its owner. It was recently inherited by his sister Katherine (Eliza Coupe) and her two children, Ben (Skyler Gisondo) and Esther (Natalie Palamides). Nathan still hangs around, though, just as one of the aforementioned ghosts. Together, along with help (or hindrance) from Abbadon (Jimmi Simpson), a demon possessing the body of a young Victorian boy, they attempt to fix up the hotel and keep it running. Or, at least, keep disasters at bay.

Coming in hot from the creative brain of Rick & Morty’s Matt Roller, Haunted Hotel is a zany family/workplace comedy mashed up with the afterlife in all its monstrous mysteries. On any given day, the Freelings may need to resolve unfinished business, fight off the underworld, and check in cults. And that’s on top of the usual human problems like dating, homework, and making new friends. Yeah, it’s utterly chaotic—and that’s half the appeal.

The animation is vibrantly wacky and allows for boundless creative takes on the supernatural hotel visitors, all while playing on popular horror movie tropes to keep you chuckling. Those tropes are also reflected, remixed, and revisited in the hotel’s ghosts. They’re an eclectic bunch of personalities and eras, primed with plenty of century-spanning jokes and fresh B-plotlines. 

And having three living humans, a ghost, and a demon form the family unit provides unique challenges and opportunities for hijinks. Abbadon in particular is adorably evil, like a teeny overlord you wanna hug (not that he’d let you). And shoutout to Esther, who is destined to be a fan-fave (or rule the world, whatever comes first). You’ll soon find yourself becoming attached…especially seeing as their lives are constantly in danger with each new episode’s central threat. But don’t worry, y’all, this is a family show…well…sorta. 

The comedy has an irreverent bite to it, with the clash of personalities making for frightfully fun escapades and misunderstandings. The storylines and character developments aren’t anything groundbreaking, but the ghostly element keeps things from getting stale. If your attention wanders, this sitcom-style setup is easy to come back in and enjoy without missing important plot points. And the family themes make for surprisingly heartfelt moments of connection and understanding. 

Haunted Hotel is another entertaining addition to Netflix’s adult comedy animation roster and will put you in the mood for spooky season—just don’t forget to pack the salt.