Animation has by no means been afraid of getting bizarre, however Netflix’s Haunted Lodge would possibly simply be the boldest mix of horror and comedy since Rick and Morty broke into mainstream tradition. With an 83% Rotten Tomatoes rating and buzz that’s rising louder each week, the collection has confirmed that audiences are greater than prepared for humor that bites again—actually.
Created by Rick and Morty author Matt Curler and co-executive produced by Dan Harmon, Haunted Lodge dives headfirst into the absurd, giving audiences a macabre-yet-hilarious take a look at life, dying, and every little thing in between. Half haunted home (or on this case, resort) romp, half office sitcom, and half existential fever dream, it’s the type of present that feels immediately bingeable but additionally sticks with followers lengthy after the credit roll. Netflix could have gambled on Harmon’s signature model of “chaotic brilliance,” however the outcomes recommend they’ve stumbled onto their subsequent huge animated hit.
What Is Haunted Lodge About?
At its core, Haunted Lodge is precisely what the title guarantees: a collection set in a decrepit, otherworldly inn that hosts each the dwelling and the useless. Friends aren’t simply in search of room service; they’re carrying unfinished enterprise, grudges from past the grave, and loads of unresolved trauma. As a substitute of working away screaming, although, the present leans into the absurdity of all of it.
The protagonist, Katherine (a single and hardworking mom voiced by Eliza Coupe), inherits the very haunted Undervale Lodge (a really Shining-like title reminding followers of the mythic Overlook Hotel) from its earlier proprietor, Nathan (Will Forte). Nathan is just not solely Katherine’s older brother, but additionally one other one of many ghosts that haunts the resort. Katherine is now tasked with holding down the fort and caring for her two teenage youngsters, the cynical and witty Esther (Natalie Palamides), and the nerdy and hopeless romantic, Ben (Skyler Gisondo). And naturally, there’s Abaddon (Jimmi Simpson)—a demon trapped in a younger 1700s boy’s physique.
Every episode spins the haunted-house premise right into a intelligent, typically ridiculous storyline that mixes office situational comedy with a bigger, creepier universe mythology slowly explored all through (suppose Gravity Falls however loads cruder and absurd). It combines the most effective of all of the genres it takes on and elevates them by tackling its plot traces with a satirical, nihilistic, and daring tone that’s attribute of Dan Harmon’s work.
However the true magic lies in how Haunted Lodge balances its sharp humor with robust characterization. Every character faces their very own bodily and emotional ghosts and demons, reminding audiences that, on the finish of the day, they’re a household making an attempt to get by in a resort the place friends are uncommon and cash is scarce. These strange themes not solely hit near dwelling for a lot of viewers, however flip what might really feel like an in any other case flat addition to the grownup animation style into one thing extra significant and developed. And naturally, extremely entertaining and boldly hilarious.
What makes this premise so efficient is its elasticity. The haunted resort setting permits Harmon and his workforce to go anyplace narratively. It could actually host historic figures, surreal dreamscapes, and even literal journeys to Hell and again—all whereas sustaining the central conceit of “checking in” at a weird institution. Like The Simpsons’ Springfield or Rick and Morty’s multiverse, it’s a sandbox with limitless prospects.
Critics Are Calling It “Bob’s Burgers Meets The Shining”
Given its weird premise, Haunted Lodge might have simply flopped. As a substitute, it’s change into one in every of Netflix’s most stunning essential hits of 2025. With an 83% Rotten Tomatoes rating, the collection is incomes reward not just for its humor but additionally for its stunning emotional core and creative characterization and mythology.
Critics have highlighted how the present doesn’t simply accept shock laughs. Beneath the grotesque comedy is a narrative about loneliness, objective, and the unusual methods folks (and ghosts) discover group in unlikely locations. Episodes typically finish with characters—dwelling or useless—confronting truths about themselves, whether or not it’s letting go of grudges (or unfinished enterprise) or realizing that eternity is likely to be too lengthy to remain bitter.
A number of reviewers have in contrast the collection to Bob’s Burgers in its family-centered dynamic and wildly absurd tone, whereas others see shades of The Shining in its eerie hallways and setting. That distinctive cocktail of grounded character writing and comedic horror has made the present stand out in a crowded discipline of grownup animation. What’s extra, it’s managed to strike a steadiness between accessibility and weirdness: followers of sitcoms can benefit from the household banter, whereas horror die-hards admire the callbacks to traditional style tropes.
Audiences, too, have latched onto breakout characters. Abaddon, the eternally mischievous demon in a boy’s physique, has already spawned memes and fan artwork throughout social media. Esther’s cynical one-liners are endlessly quotable, whereas Ben’s awkward makes an attempt at teenage romance give the present a surprisingly heartfelt subplot. Katherine herself grounds the collection, balancing exhaustion, love, and exasperation as a mom making an attempt to maintain her household afloat in not possible circumstances.
Netflix’s gamble on giving Haunted Lodge a first-rate launch window has paid off. Phrase of mouth has been robust, and the collection shortly turned one of many platform’s most hyped animated debuts this 12 months. Whereas Harmon’s involvement inevitably drew consideration, critics and followers alike have praised Matt Curler’s inventive voice, which feels distinct sufficient to face aside whereas nonetheless carrying the DNA of Harmon’s “chaotic brilliance.”
Haunted Lodge Channels Rick and Morty’s Hilariously Chaotic DNA
After all, any animated undertaking tied to Harmon will invite comparisons to Rick and Morty. And whereas Haunted Lodge shares sure traits with its sci-fi predecessor—darkish comedy, meta-humor, and a willingness to dive into existential dread—it has a really totally different heartbeat. The place Rick and Morty thrives on its multiverse chaos and the damaging genius of Rick Sanchez, Haunted Lodge narrows its focus to at least one location and one household. This single setting isn’t a limitation however a energy, giving the present a stronger sense of cohesion and grounding. The Undervale Lodge turns into a personality in its personal proper, shaping each story and each scare, whereas the household dynamic gives an emotional throughline that Rick and Morty typically abandons in favor of nihilistic punchlines.
Tonally, the 2 exhibits additionally diverge. Rick and Morty has always leaned heavily into cynicism, questioning the worth of life in a universe the place nothing actually issues. Haunted Lodge, whereas nonetheless satirical and absurd, is extra concerned about perseverance. Katherine and her youngsters push ahead, even when surrounded by the undead, demonic contracts, and cursed mirrors. As a substitute of spiraling into nihilism, the collection finds humor and even hope within the absurdity of existence.
That doesn’t imply Haunted Lodge isn’t darkish. Every character’s life (and dying) tales can get darkly existential and ugly, and the humor typically veers into the grotesque. However in contrast to Rick and Morty, which regularly revels in its characters’ dysfunction, Haunted Lodge makes use of its supernatural setting to bolster the bonds of household. It asks: what if one’s baggage—literal or figurative—adopted them perpetually? Might they nonetheless discover a technique to snicker, to like, to reside?
It’s this thematic core that offers the collection its distinctive identification. Fans of Harmon’s earlier work will acknowledge the sharp wit and surreal humor, however Curler’s creation ensures Haunted Lodge feels much less like a clone and extra like an evolution; a present that may sit proudly alongside Rick and Morty with out dwelling in its shadow.
With Haunted Lodge, Netflix has discovered extra than simply one other grownup animated comedy. It’s tapped right into a recent mix of horror, satire, and heartfelt storytelling that has critics raving and followers binging. By centering on Katherine and her unconventional household, Curler and Harmon have created a collection that’s as emotionally resonant as it’s grotesquely humorous.
For Netflix, Haunted Lodge is proof that grownup animation nonetheless has loads of room to innovate. For followers, it’s proof that typically the scariest, funniest, and most relatable tales are discovered within the unlikeliest locations, like a decrepit inn run by a single mother, her youngsters, and a demon in somewhat boy’s physique.
- Launch Date
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September 19, 2025
- Community
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Netflix
- Administrators
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Erica Hayes
