What really makes this movie stand out among so many other Scooby-Doo! movies is the sense of pure atmosphere. The circus is a perfect environment for a Scooby-Doo! mystery, as it is a place that is fun of lighthearted fun while having an inherent creepiness about it. Like the best Scooby-Doo! stories this film perfectly mixes those two elements. There are some moments which are pretty creepy here. While none of them are that scary of course, they did give an uneasy feeling that gives the movie some well earned suspense. The look of the circus at night itself gives some genuinely creepy vibes. At the same time this is a Scooby-Doo! movie and there is a lot of fun to be had with the circus theme here and quite a few funny moments. This movie probably captured the vibe of the first TV show better than any of the other direct to video movies thanks to the darker atmosphere and light hearted family comedy.
While this film strictly follows the Scooby-Doo! formula, it never feels like it is going through the motions, like some other Scooby-Doo! mysteries have. While most of my favorite Scooby-Doo! movies are the ones that break the formula, this is a clear exception. That is because it is done so well and with a lot of affection for what made the first TV show work. This movie took everything that worked in the TV show and somehow stretched it to feature length without it ever feeling padded or overlong. This is something few movies based off TV shows can do, yet this film does it excellently.
This is simply a must for Scooby-Doo! fans, especially those who hold the first TV show in a high regard.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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