Story: Do you remember Creature Feature on Channel 20 on Saturday nights?  Or perhaps you have your another favorite horror host from back in the day (or right this very minute): American Scary is a look at those hosts and how the late-night horror shows started and what makes ’em so beloved.

Scares: Not so much.  This is more info on the loves of horror fan’s Saturday nights than spookytime.

Splat factor: Again, more info, less splat.

Closing scene “shocker”?: In a documentary?  Um, no.

Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: This documentary takes old snippets of horror hosts doing their thing, but it’s an original.

Trick or Treat?:  OMGOMGOMG — Count Gore De Vol from Channel 20!  I grew up with him!

You’ll always be my favorite creature, Count Gore De Vol.

From Vampira and Roland to Svengoolie and today’s Dr. Gangrene, American Scary checks out the fun fannishness of horror hosting.  Plus, fans of horror hosts tell you why they love ’em.  And you really want to listen, since these fans include Neil Gaiman, Tim Conway, Leonard Maltin and Tom Savini.

All you young whippersnappers, this is the reason the old gits love those creaky Black-N-White craptastic movies.  Because a horror host made you wanna watch even the stinkiest bomb of a Z-grade movie, because you wanted to know what he or she thought of what was going on onscreen.  Y’know, before Turner bought ’em all and cable tv sucked up local programming.  It’s not scary, sure.  But it’s a fun trip down memory lane for fans, and necessary bit of horror genre education for those who want to know what has gone on before.

Score:  out of 5 pumpkins.