Parents' Guide to

Los Espookys

By Marty Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Bilingual horror comedy is unique and delightful.

TV HBO Comedy 2019
Los Espookys Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Los Espookys Series: Team headquarters
  • Los Espookys Series: Tico (Fred Armison) lands Los Espookys their first gig
  • Los Espookys Series: Renaldo (Bernardo Velasco)

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Daniel W.
Daniel W. Parent of 16-year-old
January 7, 2024
age 13+

Brilliant, funny show for 13 year olds!

Brilliant, funny, and imaginative show about ghosts! It teaches Spanish in fun ways while making you laugh all the way through! I would definitely recommend to anyone 13 or older.
squareparent
squareparent Adult
September 2, 2019
age 11+

Good mostly clean fun

Smart quirky comedy to watch with the kids. Funny social commentary to generate discussion (multi-level marketing, clueless US ambassador, corruption, incompetent bosses). Heartwarming themes of teamwork, friendship, and following your passion. Co-created by Fred Armisen- made for adults, but most of it is perfectly appropriate. Some of the humor does have mature themes (like a neighbor offering sex and pretending to be a virgin)- but nothing explicit was shown and the dialogue passes quickly. My kids only had to close their eyes twice, when the characters watch their favorite horror show about a woman missing an eye. The actual effects of the Espookys are more simple and comical, and the messages are positive.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Renaldo (Bernardo Velasco) and his friends have a unique talent for creating horror special effects that work in real life. After receiving some encouragement from his uncle Tico (Fred Armisen), Renaldo decides to pursue his dreams and create horror effects for a living. His first professional gig involves faking an exorcism, and when it goes well, other jobs begin to roll in. Renaldo and his team, LOS ESPOOKYS, must figure out how to work together creatively and juggle their passion for horror with the other demands of their day-to-day lives.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

While mature, this is a light comedy, but the fact that it's bilingual, takes place primarily in Mexico, and features a predominantly Latinx cast is significant. HBO frequently uses its less-prominent time slots for boundary-pushing comedies, and often they focus on topics or subcultures that don't typically get a lot of run on TV -- they made the right choice taking a chance on this quirky, singular series. Each episode has a lot of fun with whatever horror effects the team happens to be working on, but even beyond that it provides a subtle glimpse into Mexican culture and how a group of artists contends with the day-to-day practical realities of young adulthood. There's nothing else like Los Espookys being made for American audiences right now.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Los Espookys' horror effects. Why does the team love horror? Why do they want to create effects for a living? How do they go about pursuing their dream?

  • How does the team work together? How to they come up with ideas? Collaborate? Problem solve?

  • What are some of the differences between Mexico and America that you see on Los Espookys? What are the similarities? Does anything surprise you about day-to-day life in Mexico?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate