Image Source: Don’t Hug me I’m Scared (episode 1)
“Don’t Hug Me I'm Scared,” often referred to as “DHMIS” is a surreal six-episode horror series that seemingly focuses on rudimentary topics typically taught in preschool, with a few twists. “DHMIS” was originally a web series on YouTube created by the channel “Don’t Hug Me .I'm Scared,” with the very first video being released on July 29th, 2011, and the last being released on June 19th, 2016. More recently, “DHMIS” has been adapted to a TV series premiering exclusively on Channel 4, a British television channel. While the original web series’ episodes were usually less than 10 minutes each, the show adaptation’s episodes are usually 23 to 24 minutes long. Unfortunately, Channel 4 is exclusive to the UK, with everywhere else being Geoblocked, meaning anyone outside of the UK is unable to watch the series. Therefore, The Powderhorn will exclusively review the original web series.
“Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” follows the three puppet friends, Red Guy, Yellow Guy, and Duck, as they learn about topics such as creativity and time, which are taught by either an object that has come to life, or some sort of animal. While beginning somewhat normally, just like old children’s shows like “Sesame Street,” the characters and their surroundings eventually become more and more twisted as time goes on. Throughout these episodes, disturbing and repulsive events occur that showcase the theatrical gem of “DHMIS” and illustrate the author’s mastery of horror aspects such as sound, shock, and suspense.
If you’ve watched a horror movie or show, you know how much sound matters to achieve an effective unsettling effect. With sound, both experienced and inexperienced producers can create suspense and shock, which help create tension, the pinnacle of horror. “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” nails the art of sound, creating sound profiles that immerse the viewer in the world they are experiencing. At the start of nearly every video, we can see Red Guy, Yellow Guy, and Duck sitting around a table in uncomfortable, near-absolute silence as the clock ticks on until something comes to life and starts singing about a topic. During the object’s song, there are momentary silences that create periods of uncomfortable suspense, a break from the wholesome atmosphere, before returning to the song without anyone batting an eye.
“Don’t Hug Me I'm Scared” isn’t necessarily a truly scary series and is more surreal than anything. While it doesn’t create suspense like most horror media, it has a charming way of creating suspense and tension. Utilizing silence as the main instrument of suspense, “DHMIS” makes the viewer tense and forces an expectation that something will happen, a jumpscare perhaps, and when it ultimately doesn’t happen, it leaves the audience confused. This sets the tone for the entire series where all sense of normality is thrown away, making it impossible to predict anything, setting it apart from recent horror media.
Instead of realistic monsters or supernatural beings of usual horror movies, “Don’t Hug Me I'm Scared” takes a more kid-like approach with the use of bright colors and puppets similar to old children’s shows in the past. These techniques bring about nostalgia for times when children watching puppet shows on TV was common. “DHMIS” takes these pure and carefree memories and twists them into something unrecognizable that triggers a sense of discomfort among viewers.
Overall, using sound techniques to create unusual suspense and tension, along with utilizing our memories and childhoods against us, “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” creates a memorable, albeit short, surreal horror experience that doesn’t need jump scares to frighten the audience. By creating discomfort and conflict between perceived reality and actual reality, “DHMIS” breaks away from the usual horror formula, instead creating a new and unique recipe for inspiring unease in viewers.
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