Set on the familiar location of Mustafar, LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales tells three spooky and fun stories built around Darth Vader’s former castle. I went into the Disney+ special with incredibly low expectations following 2020’s LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, but Terrifying Tales is a better story overall, even if it still does not quite do enough by the end.
Three ‘Star Wars’ Stories For Halloween
The three stories are presented through tales told by Darth Vader’s servant Vaneé after Poe Dameron and BB-8 make an emergency landing on Mustafar. There is an overarching plot involving Poe and Vaneé, although the special relies much more heavily on references and gags than its wider story.
My favourite short is The Lost Boy, which offers an alternative take on Ben Solo’s upbringing while training with Luke Skywalker. The story plays with Ben’s temptation to leave Luke and join the Knights of Ren, bringing in Ren from The Rise of Kylo Ren comics along the way.
Funny In Some Places
The special is genuinely funny in places, particularly when it leans into the absurdity of the LEGO format. One of the other shorts is heavily inspired by The Clone Wars, with the Nightsisters, Maul and Grievous appearing, while another imagines what might happen if all of Luke Skywalker’s wishes came true.
There is also a great The Shining reference thrown into the mix. These are the moments where Terrifying Tales works best: familiar Star Wars iconography being twisted into something silly, accessible and knowingly ridiculous.
‘LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales’ Review – Final Thoughts
Should Disney continue making these LEGO specials? Probably, but the formula could use some reinvention. The LEGO Star Wars franchise has been around for a long time and there is still plenty of material to parody, but something fresher would help future specials stand out.
There is something here for most Star Wars fans. LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales is fun and silly, should not be taken too seriously and provides an enjoyable Halloween watch, even if it never quite builds into anything exceptional.
LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales is streaming on Disney+.
