8/10
Not a faceless episode
23 October 2020
Part of me is quite fond still of "The No Faced Zombie Chase". It was one of my first 'The Scooby Doo Show' episodes, perhaps even my first along with "Watt a Shocking Ghost", and in primary school it was one of my favourite episodes of the show. Despite it being an episode that did frighten me when first getting into Scooby Doo because of the villain. If one sees him move and hear him, one may understand why he is the stuff of nightmares.

"The No Faced Zombie Chase" is not quite a favourite nowadays and has gone slightly down in my estimations. Don't get me wrong, it is a very well done episode and the titular villain still holds up and the impact he had as a child hasn't tired. Actually think that two thirds of "The No Faced Zombie Face Chase" is brilliant, and it was this close to being a show high point. The other third is not quite so much, it didn't bother me at all as a child/early teen but in my view nowadays it brings down the episode a bit.

So many good, great even, things here. The pluses far outweigh the minuses and even the minuses are not that disastrous. The animation is colourful and atmospheric, the highlight being the animation on the zombie. Doing such a great job at making the movements and the way of walking so freaky. The music fits stylistically and doesn't jar with the atmosphere. The theme song is one of the franchise's catchiest. Did like the writing here, especially the humour courtesy of Shaggy and Scooby. The story is great fun and agreed endearing, with a generally solid mystery and great use of the toy factory setting.

As said, the no faced zombie is terrifying, especially the dragging of the leg and the moan and one's heart skips a beat when Scooby encounters him for the first time. One of the show's villains that one doesn't forget for a long time after watching the episode. There are some great moments when in the toy factory, especially the duplicate Scoobies and when the gang pretend to be talking dolls escaping the zombie. Love Shaggy and Scooby as always and the voice acting is strong.

It is a shame though that the final third isn't as strong as what comes before. Actually didn't think that the gorilla was necessary and has nowhere near the same amount of creepiness that the zombie has. The mystery doesn't have the same amount of excitement and the action for my tastes got repetitive.

One never watches Scooby Doo for shocking reveals, there are few of them in this incarnation (though they do exist) and a lot of them are predictable. The perpetrator in "The No Faced Zombie Chase" is a little too on the obvious side, in a case with few suspects the person responsible was the only one pretty much to have the right height and physique to fit the costume convincingly. That is my view of course.

Concluding, very good and brilliant for most of the duration. 8/10
7 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed