A Review of ‘The Boulet Brothers’ Halfway to Halloween TV Special’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for ‘The Boulet Brothers’ Halfway to Halloween TV Special’.
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There was a time where network television put on quite the show. The kind that prompted families to huddle around the family television with drinks and snacks or maybe even a hot and fresh T.V. dinner in front of them… to be completely and utterly entertained by… the Variety Show. A special episode of television where a big-time celebrity host would guide the audience through an hour’s worth of carefully curated entertainment. Such as toe-tapping musical numbers, epic laughs courtesy of a hot-shot comedian, or sketches that would put a smile on faces by way of some big-time celebrity cameos, and this type of show dominated the television landscape for a very long time. In fact, they were commonly found on the airwaves from the 1940s through the 1980s. 
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But changing landscapes and changing tastes from television viewers, alongside the format being played out, basically put an end to them and they have in essence, been forgotten. Or rather… they were. Because last night, the Variety Show made a grand comeback in a very grandiose manner on Shudder, courtesy of two of the biggest entertainers and celebrities around… the Boulet Brothers. For as part of their development deal with Shudder, they opted to resurrect this type of show and update it to fit into the twenty-first century, and that makes The Boulet Brothers’ Halfway to Halloween TV Special an utterly brilliant and delightful experience for a variety of reasons. Such as the fact, that this special made this type of show fun once again.

For this writer grew up in the 1980s and can attest to the fact that those final Variety Hours were a touch stale to say the least. But not this particular special. Oh no, this one is a delight through and through. Largely because it embodies the spirit of the classic Variety Hour, courtesy of some slam bang celebrity cameos from across all genres of storytelling, including Dragula, and much like was the case back in the day, there’s a real joy that accompanies seeing them pop up in the various sketches, and the fact that the Boulet Brothers landed some massive icons in this… only adds to the majesty of this special. Plus, the material in and of itself adds to the fun factor, since everyone just revels in the writing and has a great time with it and you in turn, feed off of that energy. 

But while it is wonderful to sit back and enjoy a fun-filled vibe, another reason this special is so supremely amazing, is the sheer fact that the Boulet Brothers let loose when it comes to their tributes to horror. Something we’ve seen often in Dragula, but here… they take it to a whole new level. Since the sketches present here not only offer a wondrous history lesson in pop-culture, courtesy of a wild Seinfeld send-up, but they tip their cap to horror from every corner of the genre. From EC comics to the slashers of yore, and there are even some deep cuts present, via a delightful sketch involving Barbara Crampton that evokes echoes of the cult classic Parents, and there’s even a wonderful shout out to the magnificent Sleepaway Camp series, complete with Felissa Rose herself. Yet, the wonder of the writing doesn’t end there. Since there just so happens to be commentary present in these sketches, and beautiful twists and turns that genuinely take you by surprise.

Giving rise to some perfectly encapsulated horror stories, the kind that titillate and terrify and tickle your funny bone, and well, it is just wonderful to see horror receive such a tribute within the framework of a style of a show that was long regarded as pure, mindless entertainment. But clearly, the Queens of Darkness were eager to truly elevate this type of show and it is definitely mission accomplished when it comes to that, and if by chance you haven’t seen this special yet, you need to… right away. For this really is a ghoulish delight, one that truly informs us of Drac and Swan’s utter brilliance as writers and directors, and of course… you can never go wrong with enjoying a Halloween themed special in the middle of the year. One that properly pays tribute to the genre we so love, courtesy of some magnificent writing, some hearty laughs and all the guts and gore your pillowcase can handle.

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