Movies - TV
The Classic Horror Movies That Inspired Courage The Cowardly Dog
By RAFAEL MOTAMAYOR
Like many cartoons of the ‘90s, "Courage the Cowardly Dog" often referenced classic horror films such as "The Exorcist," which inspired fan-favorite episodes of the cartoon.
In an episode appropriately titled "The Demon in the Mattress," Courage's owner Muriel essentially plays Regan MacNeill and there's a Pazuzu-style demonically-possessed mattress.
"Courage" directly parodies some scenes by having Muriel vomit, levitating from her bed, rotating her head 360 degrees, and having the titular demon say "She's in here, with us."
This show for kids also included a "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" reference in the form of Muriel's nephew Fred, a barber who constantly rhymes.
This is also the only Cartoon Network series that dared to make a major "Godzilla" villain, Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster, a recurring guest star.