For fans of “Rick and Morty’s” signature wit, “Haunted Hotel” will feel right at home. Crafted by alumnus Matt Roller, this new animated series on Netflix—debuting Friday—shares a similar comedic DNA, though it veers from interdimensional chaos into the realm of the supernatural with delightful and chilling results.
The premise is pure sitcom gold with a ghoulish twist. We meet Kathy Freeling, voiced by Eliza Coupe, a recently divorced mother of two who uproots her family to manage a dilapidated hotel with her estranged brother, Nathan (Will Forte). The catch? Nathan is a ghost, and the hotel, appropriately named the Undervale, is teeming with spectral residents. Adding to the family’s eccentric dynamic is Abaddon (Jimmi Simpson), an ancient demon stuck in the body of an 18th-century boy, whose tastes now lean towards Beach Boys tunes and a hearty bowl of Froot Loops. It’s a truly unique blend of domestic dramedy and “The Shining” vibes.
While the inaugural episode might feel a tad crowded with necessary world-building—explaining that ghosts can’t touch objects but don’t fall through floors, or that spirits of those who die on the property are permanently tied to it (until they’re not), and that demons can indeed harm humans—the series quickly finds its rhythm.
Subsequent episodes hit their stride, propelled by the characters’ surprisingly relatable struggles despite their paranormal surroundings. Kathy’s awkward 13-year-old son, Ben (Skyler Gisondo), grapples with school bullies and longs to introduce his ’20s flapper ghost girlfriend, Annabelle. His younger sister, Esther (Natalie Palamides), misses their dad and conjures a zombie stand-in with a magical amulet. And Kathy? She just wants a normal first date without encountering a wannabe Jason Voorhees.
The Undervale itself is a fantastic playground for classic haunted house tropes. Expect everything from bleeding mirrors and unsettling, flesh-covered hallways to a mysterious evil lurking within a forbidden wing. Curiously, for a hotel constantly teetering on the edge of financial ruin (human guests are, predictably, scarce), the budget for repairing ghoul-induced damage seems surprisingly robust.
Ultimately, “Haunted Hotel” manages to be both unsettlingly freaky and genuinely heartwarming. It expertly grounds its fantastical narratives in very human issues and relationships. The evolving sibling dynamic between Kathy and Nathan, in particular, resonates with anyone who has ever wished for a second chance to reconnect with a loved one, whether they’re of this world or the next.