: The episode was directed by Greg Colton and written by Chris Sheridan.
: The writers use the characters to voice common criticisms of modern filmmaking, particularly the reliance on jump scares and recycled plots. Production and Reception
" Peternormal Activity " is the fourth episode of the fourteenth season of the animated series Family Guy , and the 253rd episode overall. Originally airing on October 25, 2015, the episode serves as a Halloween-themed installment featuring a blend of horror movie parodies and meta-commentary on the creative process. Plot Overview [S14E4] Peternormal Activity
: After watching a disappointing horror film, Peter, Quagmire, Joe, and Cleveland decide they can write a better one. They retreat to an abandoned asylum to find inspiration. While there, they accidentally "kill" a man they believe is a serial killer, only to discover he was actually a harmless veteran. This leads to a parody of I Know What You Did Last Summer as they try to cover up the deed, eventually realizing the "ghost" haunting them is just their own crushing guilt.
The story is divided into two primary arcs involving the guys' attempt to write a movie and Stewie’s obsession with Brian’s new accessory. : The episode was directed by Greg Colton
: In a lighter secondary story, Brian starts wearing glasses to look more intellectual. Stewie becomes increasingly annoyed by Brian’s pretentiousness and spends the episode trying to destroy them. Cultural References and Themes
: Reviews were generally mixed-to-positive; critics praised the "I Know What You Did Last Summer" parody but noted that the meta-humor about writing felt like the showrunners venting their own professional frustrations. Originally airing on October 25, 2015, the episode
The episode is notable for its heavy use of meta-humor regarding the tropes of the horror genre and the difficulty of writing.