Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)

Ernest accidentally unleashes an ugly troll that plots to transform children into wooden dolls in the town of Briarville, Missouri.

Director:

John R. Cherry III (as John Cherry)

Writers:

John R. Cherry III (story) (as John Cherry), Coke Sams (story)

Stars:

Jim Varney, Eartha Kitt, Austin Nagler

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jim Varney	...	Ernest / Phineas Worrell
Eartha Kitt	...	Old Lady Hackmore
Austin Nagler	...	Kenny
Shay Astar	...	Elizabeth
Jonas Moscartolo	...	Trantor
John Cadenhead	...	Tom Tulip
Bill Byrge	...	Bobby Tulip
Richard Woolf	...	Matt
Nick Victory	...	Mike
Alec Klapper	...	Joey
Steven Moriyon	...	Gregg
Daniel Butler	...	Cliff
Esther Huston	...	Amanda
Larry Black	...	Mayor Murdock
Denice Hicks	...	Elizabeth's Mother

Storyline

Life could be pretty if there wasn't someone like Ernest P. Worrell on this planet. In this movie he helps to escape an evil troll out of his grave. That's the start of the end for the world. But... Ernest wouldn't be Ernest if he wasn't planning on saving all the people. This action doesn't make it any better. It's getting worse.

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Plot Keywords:

treehouse | troll | evil | missouri | briarville missouri | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 October 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ernest Scared Stiff

Filming Locations:

Shelby Park, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,453,132, 14 October 1991, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$14,143,280

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It bares a few similarities with another live action Disney Halloween-themed family film, Hocus Pocus (1993). For example, the creepy historical introductions are followed by classroom scenes either a teacher or student narrating about the unpleasant events and its curses against the villagers. In addition, Kenny and Max both meet up against bullies from their school before they face paranormal foes (trolls and witches).

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Goofs

The citizens of modern-day Briarville don't believe in the legend of Trantor the troll except for Old Lady Hackmore, Ernest, and Elizabeth. If he really did kidnap kids and terrorized the town it would have been in the newspaper archives and as a missing persons cold case.

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Quotes

Old Lady Hackmore: [to Ernest] They will have to load you and the rest of this backward town onto a meat wagon with a pitch fork!

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Tyler Perry's Boo! A Madea Halloween (2017)

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Soundtracks

Hallelujah Chorus
from "The Messiah"
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Arranged by Louis Knatchbull
Courtesy of Associated Production Music

User Reviews

Woa! Woa! Keep it real!!

I saw this movie on TV a couple years ago, but I didn't get to see the whole thing because I had to go to that one place in the world that is most pointless and very stupid----yes, school. But, when I saw it at the video store a few days ago, I bought it. And this movie is seriously one of the best comedies that are "so stupid, they're funny".

The late Jim Varney stars as Ernest as he tries to stop an evil Troll from killing all of town's children. The movie begins with a montage of classic horror film clips, some of which I recognized to be FRANKENSTEIN and the 1922 classic NOSFERATU. There are some scenes that might not be suitable for children, but otherwise this hilariously funny romp is surely a movie that everyone should watch. This film is a must-see for anyone who loves stupidly funny comedies!

Sleep tight....ERNEST SCARED STUPID gets 4/5.