Newhart (TV Series) The Stratford Horror Picture Show (1986) User Reviews

A fun, spooky twist

[OldMovieRob · 8/10 · 14 April 2023]

You could tell this had to be around the timeframe of Ghostbusters, with references to the film (including the stack of books at one point) and a genuine Scooby-Do style ending was was completely absurd, but this was still a lot of fun. There's a bunch of creepy things happening around the Stratford, including creepy noises, books falling off shelves, and even a phantom apparition. But is the place really haunted? I won't drop a spoiler, but it's a fun and goofy ending. I like the reference back to the first reason and the witch buried in the basement. I thought that was clever how they returned to that again to use for this spooky episode. It's one worth checking out.

Things go bump in the night at the Stratford.

[Jimmy_the_Gent4 · 17 April 2018]

Strange noises are heard at the inn, the prior owners tell Dick and Joanna that it is haunted.

A very funny episode with references to Poltergeist (Stephanie says "they're heerrre") and Amityville Horror (Officer Shifflet thinks there is a best seller and soundtrack sales behind this). This is also a sequel to the Season 1 episode "Mrs Newton's Body Lies A Mould'ring In The Grave" about a witch buried in the basement. That was Larry and the Darryls first appearance and they still want to investigate, Darryl #2 ends up disappearing.

Perhaps the Best

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 9 March 2023]

I loved this one from beginning to end. Strange things are happening at the Stratford. Doors are being knocked on in the middle of the night, there is hammering outside, books are flying off the shelves, threatening letters are being typed by someone, but no one seems to be there. The guests are fleeing in packs, believing the Stratford is haunted. Larry and the gang show up and suggest that the witch buried in the basement (from a previous episode) is exercising her curse. They didn't know if she was a witch, but they hanged her just to be on the safe side. Since the boys can't do that, they give Dick a pig's foot to wave around while he pats his stomach. Dick is adamant about there being no ghost but things pile up against him. At one point, one of the Darryl's disappears. When he returns he is charged with causing disorder. Once exonerated, Larry says of his brother, "Thank goodness your innocent. We wouldn't want people to think we were weirdos." Stephanie saves the day because of her fashion consciousness. The scene in the bedroom is absolutely amazing. I can't imagine a better episode employing every comedic element available.