Whatever It Takes: Degrassi Horror Episodes

There have been hundreds of shows that have to tried to give viewers a closer look into the lives of teenagers but none of them gave a truer depiction than Degrassi. The show wasn’t just about the trends, it really wanted to discuss the serious topics that teens were going through. Whether it be drugs, sex, suicide, etc… the show covered it all. It did it in such a way that it didn’t feel like it was exploiting or romanticizing these subjects like some of the other shows of that time did. Their actions had real consequences.

The longevity of the show spoke to how it meant to the people watching as it went through various permutations from the ‘80s to the 2010s. There were many likable characters and very memorable episodes which is what I’m gonna discuss here. “Though not exactly the episodes that they’re most known for”. One thing as a broom head (that’s slang for a Degrassi fan) and a horror maniac is that the two crossed paths many times in the show’s history. As much as Degrassi was a drama series it didn’t shy away from having fun too and I think that’s one of the many things that fans really admired about it.

Let’s get to the list before Heather St. Clair tries to put a curse on us.

“It Creeps!!” (Degrassi High: Season 1, Episode 14)

This was the one that started it all! Degrassi class president Lucy Fernandez wants to make her own feminist slasher film and she turns to her classmates to make that project happen. This episode basically shows the process of what making a movie looks like “especially shot on video style which makes my heart so very happy.” Most Degrassi episodes have their lesson of the day and what Lucy learns in this one is that making a movie doesn’t always have to be exactly good for an audience to have fun watching it.

“Degrassi of the Dead” (Degrassi Halloween Special 2007)

It took this installment of Degrassi a long time to finally take a bite into the horror genre. All we ever heard or saw was the kids catching the latest release at the movie theaters. This was more of their parody of all the George A. Romero zombie films, like NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and DAWN OF THE DEAD—hence the episode title. It basically involves some of the students like the promiscuous Manny Santos and queen bee Paige Michalchuk trying to survive a zombie apocalypse at the school after the all the students ate genetically modified foods. To top it all off, the end credits feature Jimmy Brooks (aka Drake) doing a dance homage to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

“The Curse of Degrassi” (Degrassi Halloween Special 2008)

This one really had a darker tone compared to the previous special because it dealt with the death of a character from a few seasons prior. The always snooty Holly J. Sinclair is getting ready for the dance but becomes possessed by the spirit of school shooter Rick Murray. Rick was the one who shot Jimmy Brooks (aka Drake) in season 4 and left him paralyzed. The ghost of Rick is wanting to get revenge on Jimmy’s best friend Spinner Mason since he was the one who set up the prank that led Rick to do what he did.

This episode heavily draws inspiration from Stephen King’s Carrie as the lead has supernatural powers and is even about to have a bucket of pig’s blood dumped on her.

“Monster Moon” (Degrassi: The Next Generation, 2010 Halloween Webisode)

These were basically short episodes that show the characters dressed as different monsters during a Halloween dance. Sav transforms into a werewolf and attacks his fairy girlfriend Anya, Wesley is a mummy that transforms into Holly J., Claire is a zombie that wants to eat Eli who is a vampire, Zeke and Riley as a gladiator and maniac killer fighting over their costumes, Fiona as a mime stabbing Drew as Edward from TWILIGHT.

“Nowhere to Run” (Degrassi: The Next Generation: Season 11, Episodes 30 and 31)

Here’s when the show took a stab at the slasher genre. Well, sort of. No one gets killed or anything, but it definitely drops a bunch of horror references and makes sure to follow the traditional slasher tropes. It basically follows two different love triangles while a supposed killer is on the loose at a cabin in the woods during summer.

Goody two shoes Claire Edwards is upset she had to end her relationship with her laidback boyfriend Jake because he’s going to be her stepbrother soon (yikes!). To make it even worse she catches him making out with her best friend Alli. The other love triangle focuses on bad girl Bianca wishing she could be with her popular ex Drew Torres but he’s now with the stuck-up Katie.

Again, nothing major happens in this episode but it does set itself up like a horror movie. Lots of tension and paranoia happens among the characters and even references notable horror films like THE EVIL DEAD and FRIDAY THE 13TH.

“Summer Girls” aka “Don’t Look Back” (Degrassi: The Next Generation: Season 14, Episodes 25-28)

Yet another episode that sets itself up like something horror related but not much happens. This was actually the last episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation because it was getting ready to start a new installment called Degrassi: Next Class. It follows too many plots to describe but it centers around someone getting kidnapped and all the characters somehow being connected to them. It’s the one that feels the least horror but what makes it memorable is that Scott Thompson from The Kids in the Hall appears in it as a teacher and assumed kidnapper.