Eli Roth, the maestro of splatter horror, has flipped the script with Fright Krewe-an all-ages animated horror TV show that’s as chilling as his signature films. When a group of misfit teens accidentally unleash an ancient evil during detention, the scares are real, proving that Roth’s brand of terror knows no age limits.
In a new exclusive clip, we see just how this group of eclectic high school students end up awakening said ancient evil: true to the high school experience, it’s detention gone wrong. Very wrong. This is the sort of show where detention, naturally, involves cleaning up a graveyard. After this supernatural mishap, the group finds themselves meeting the spirit guardians of the Voodoo pantheon and getting some pretty funky superpowers.
Fright Krewe comes from director Eli Roth (Hostel) and YA science fiction author James Frey (I Am Number Four). The voice cast includes Sydney Mikayla as Soleil, Tim Johnson Jr. as Maybe, Grace Lu as Missy, Chester Rushing as Stanley, Terrence Little Gardenhigh as Pat, and Jacques Colimon as Belial.
How did Eli Roth create an all-ages horror show that still terrifies
Eli Roth created an all-ages horror show, Fright Krewe, that still terrifies by blending his deep love for supernatural cartoons with a thoughtful approach to storytelling that respects children’s intelligence and emotional resilience. He and co-creator James Frey aimed to craft a show where kids solve supernatural mysteries, set in the richly haunted and visually striking city of New Orleans, incorporating themes like bravery, friendship, and confronting fears through monsters as metaphors for personal challenges. Roth emphasized that children can handle scary ideas if presented in a healthy, fun way, drawing inspiration from classic Grimm’s Fairy Tales, which are inherently dark yet enduring. His experience in horror allowed him to push the boundaries of scares within reason, while balancing heart and humor to keep the tone accessible and engaging for younger audiences. This careful calibration of scares, story, and setting is what makes Fright Krewe genuinely scary yet suitable for all ages.
How does Eli Roth incorporate humor into his all-ages horror shows without losing scares
Eli Roth incorporates humor into his all-ages horror shows as a “release valve” that lightens tension without undermining the scares, ensuring the humor feels natural and character-driven rather than turning the show into a comedy. He believes that humor works best when it arises from lively, fun characters who bring levity to scary situations, much like in Scream, where the characters’ wit coexists with genuine terror. In Fright Krewe, Roth balances scares with humor and a meaningful message, pushing the boundaries of what kids can handle by using clever writing, inventive monsters, and fun visuals to keep the tone engaging and accessible. This approach allows the show to be scary yet safe and entertaining for younger audiences, with humor enhancing rather than diluting the horror experience.
