Haunted Hotel Review: A Perfect Horror Treat Right in Time for Spooky Season

Netflix’s prolific content strategy often means its original productions can be a hit-or-miss affair. Yet, one area where the streamer consistently excels is adult animation. From acclaimed adaptations like Arcane and Castlevania to original powerhouses such as BoJack Horseman and Big Mouth, Netflix’s animated slate is more often than not crafted with genuine love and care. This precedent sets a high bar for Haunted Hotel, the platform’s new horror-themed adult animated series. Moreover, the series comes from creator Matt Roller, a writer on the quintessential adult animation, Rick and Morty. Fortunately, Haunted Hotel not only meets these expectations but exceeds them, offering a hilarious and occasionally heartfelt deconstruction of horror tropes.

As its title suggests, Haunted Hotel unfolds within a cursed establishment, a paranormal nexus that attracts all manner of supernatural threats and traps the spirits of anyone who perishes on its grounds. When its former owner, Nathan (voiced by Will Forte), dies, his sister Katherine (voiced by Eliza Coupe) inherits the failing business, moving in with her two children, Ben (voiced by Skyler Gisondo) and Esther (voiced by Natalie Palamides). She soon discovers that Nathan is still a resident, now as an incorporeal apparition who attempts—and often fails—to help her run the hotel. Rounding out the core ensemble is Abbadon (voiced by Jimmi Simpson), a deposed lord of hell who has been trapped in the body of a young boy since the 1700s.

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The initial episodes of Haunted Hotel adopt a more deliberate pace, dedicating screen time to establishing the show’s dense mythology, introducing the core cast, and setting expectations for its unique brand of horror-comedy. While this introductory phase may feel slow, the investment pays off handsomely. The series soon accelerates, with each subsequent episode pushing the boundaries of its storytelling, underlining the concept’s remarkable flexibility for both dark comedy and emotional explorations of family ties and humanity’s complex relationship with death.

Rating: 4/5

Haunted Hotel Is a Clever and Affectionate Deconstruction of Horror

Given creator Roller’s background, comparisons to Rick and Morty are inevitable. Indeed, the series employs a similar structure, with each episode functioning as a self-contained story while advancing just enough character development to create a satisfying seasonal arc. However, instead of deconstructing sci-fi tropes, Haunted Hotel sets its sights on horror. Episodes revolve around classic antagonists like werewolves and serial killers, or mine comedy from the logistics of the supernatural, such as why ghosts can walk through walls but not fall through the floor.

Roller’s deep affection for horror is visible in every frame, translating into scripts that lovingly celebrate horror conventions while simultaneously poking fun at their inherent absurdities. This dual approach is supercharged by the fast-paced comedic sensibilities honed on Rick and Morty. The screen is frequently populated with running gags, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it visual jokes, and delightfully deranged background events that reward attentive viewing. As a result, while slower than Rick and Morty, Haunted Hotel is still a remarkably dense viewing experience. Plus, despite a 25-minute average runtime, each episode feels packed with story and humor.

Even if Haunted Hotel‘s witty horror deconstruction is the series’ greatest strength, it also reveals its most significant vulnerability. At times, the series can lean too heavily on established formulas, causing certain episodes to feel more like a well-executed homage than a wholly original story. Still, this is a minor complaint in what is otherwise a great adult animation. Furthermore, even the most familiar plots are elevated by sharp dialogue and, most importantly, an incredible cast of characters that grounds the supernatural chaos.

A Memorable Ensemble Brings Haunted Hotel to Life

A horror-comedy lives or dies by its characters, and Haunted Hotel excels by developing a genuinely memorable ensemble. Each character is thoughtfully rendered with a distinct personality, and the high-caliber voice cast adds wonderful texture and depth to their roles. The series also wisely rotates its focus, giving each member of the main cast episodes where they take center stage. This ensures that even if some characters possess more immediate potential, everyone is given their time to shine.

That said, Forte’s Nathan is a consistent standout. As the only ghost in the main cast, he offers the unique perspective of the recently deceased on all things supernatural. His attempts to adapt to a bodiless existence provide a constant source of comedy, and the animation team makes brilliant use of his incorporeal nature by frequently forcing him to pass through solid objects in creative ways. Meanwhile, Simpson’s Abbadon frequently steals the spotlight with his bad-tempered personality—a direct result of being a depowered demon—and his complete obliviousness to the customs of the modern world. Nearly every scene Abbadon is in is elevated by his presence, and he is at the center of arguably Haunted Hotel‘s best episode, the season finale.

Even though a slow start and an occasional over-reliance on familiar tropes hold Haunted House back from perfection, its whip-smart writing, imaginative animation, and stellar voice cast make it a must-watch for horror fans and lovers of dark comedy in general. It is a perfect blend of spooky and silly, offering a heartfelt exploration of family and the afterlife amidst a storm of demonic chaos and spectral shenanigans. With Spooky Season right around the corner, Haunted Hotel is Netflix’s perfect offering to kick off the morbid celebration.

Haunted Hotel is now available on Netflix.

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