Disney's Darkest Movie?! *THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME* 

Fun fact: Frollo's prayers in "Hellfire" are actually answered, and he is given a last chance to redeem himself. When the guard opens the door and tells him that Esmeralda is gone, he is surrounded by a blue peaceful light. It's an "angel" metaphorically trying to help Frollo to give up on his obsession for Esmeralda and come to the light of God. But then Frollo refuses salvation, embraces his lust and hatred and turns back to the fireplace, representing Hell and his damnation.

It’s crazy how they made Frollo so evil that we’re actually rooting for Quasi to straight up murder him in cold blood.

I'd like to point out that Frollo doesn't "love" Esmeralda: he lusts after her. He doesn't value her as a person or human being, he only desires her physically (hence the hair sniffing scene). Love is selfless while lust is selfish.

Quasimodo not getting Esmeralda and actually letting her go directly parallels Frollo's arc. While both of them wanted Esmeralda, Quasi loved her enough to let her go while Frollo viewed her as an object to posses and refused to let her go. Yet another way to show how Quasi is the man and that Frollo is the monster.

14:12 correction. He "lusts" her not loves her 😬 He's truly a creepy villain probably the most evil of all Disney villains

Now imagine Frollo and Mother Gothel, the most toxic "parents" in Disney's movies, hanging out together... Dammit.

it’s really refreshing imo that quasimodo doesnt “win” esmeralda’s romantic love at the end. like. the fact that they don’t switch her affections on a whim makes all of them feel more like real, believable people. and they all end up having important bonds with each other even if quasi’s ones are just friendship. i just think that aspect of this movie is nice. a lesser movie would’ve had esmeralda go “oh! i love you now instead!” which. nah it doesn’t work like that

"I'd like to go to Notre Dame." Alright, who's gonna tell him?

Frollo is by far the most evil and disgusting Disney villain ever, probably because he's not magic or anything, he's just a man with no heart who lusts after a girl that he wants to kill. I always found the villains without magic powers way more scary cause they're more real!

To answer your question about how the mother died: that many impacts along the spine and neck can kill.

And I’m his final moments: Frollo learned that stone can talk.

I think what makes Frollo so terrifying as opposed to other Disney villains is because he's realistic. There's no fantasy elements to his character and his motives and personality... there are people in real life who think an like Frollo

Fun fact: the scene of Quasimodo declaring sanctuary while holding esmerelda above his head was animated by James Baxter, aka an absolute legend of animation. Some of the best animated shots were done by him, he’s worked on beauty and the beast, spirit, this film, the lion king, and a whole host of others, I really recommend checking out his work, he’s really good.

That is true. He could become a toy maker or something.

SPOILERS for the book So, the book is even more dark and twisted than this is. Wish someone would have told me that when I read the abridged version as a 12 year old. Traumatized for life. In short, they're changing up the order of the way things are happening and a little bit of the motivations. Frollo found Quasimodo in an orphanage as a baby, so I have no idea what happened to his mother. Quasimodo in the Fools Festival is combining the Festival of Fools where he's paraded about, but also with a completely separate part where Quasimodo was found guilty of a crime and publicly punished, when Esmerelda came up to give him water. Quasimodo is also not an ugly duckling so to speak. He is foul tempered and mostly deaf, so he doesn't speak normally. They actually captured the original idea in a few scenes where I stood there thinking, "That's the Quasimodo from the book". My recollection of him is that he became protective of Esmerelda, not unlike how a dog might get possessive of their human. Either way, I don't remember him being well spoken, I don't remember his motivations being made very clear, and I don't recall him being too intelligent. Which are all completely understandable giving the conditions he grew up in. Esmerelda is also accused of trying to murder Phoebus, when this was actually done by Frollo, as well as witchcraft. They torture her until she confesses and then she's sentenced to death. Phoebus is mostly a side character. He and Esmerelda had a romance until Frollo tried to murder him to get Esmerelda, he survived by he believed it was Esmerelda who had tried to kill him. The book ends with Esmerelda being hanged after nearly getting away from the guards, her body being thrown into the graveyard to rot and then when the soldiers come back a year later they find her skeleton and next to it is another misshapen skeleton holding her hand. DISNEY! The original book was written by Hugo for multiple reasons. Notre Dame was in danger of being torn down, so Hugo wrote this story as a way to show that with all the cruelty, the darkness of humanity, Notre Dame still stands watching, that Notre Dame will continue beyond our fleeting lives; he wanted to make people appreciate to building to stop it from being destroyed. He also was throwing in messages about the corruption of the church and it's overuse of power, as Frollo was a priest in the original. This is the same guy who wrote Les Miserables, he was an opinionated political activist, painter, architect, and writer

Welchy: there's no way that the horse is evil in a Disney movie Me: what about the creepy horse with fangs in Mulan??

What's brilliant about Frollo as a character is not that he genuinely loves Esmeralda; he doesn't. He *lusts* after her, which is a completely different thing. And despite being a rigidly religious man, who has always prided himself on not falling to the same temptations most people do, the minute he gets his first taste of real lust, he's done. Just like most other people. Actually, he's ever WORSE at controlling his desire than most people, because he's kept himself shut away from the world for *so long,* he doesn't know how to healthily deal with lust or desire.

14:12 Loves her? No Lusts after her? Yes

welchy: see if i was gay, I would- Also welchy: we’re was I going with that sentence.

Frollo doesn't have a crush for anyone except himself. What he feels for Esmeralda is lust and obsession. He can't begin to understand what true love is.

This is one of those films you hate/are scared of when you're little, and then you rewatch them with new eyes years later and realise what a masterpiece they are

FROLLO: "And He shall smite the wicked, and plunge them into the fiery pit!" Be careful what you wish for, Frollo...

Interesting fact, Tony Jay the voice actor for Frollo had trouble reaching and holding the final few notes of Hellfire he was told he could work on it or if he was unable they could get someone else to voice over the song Tony Jay was so excited to be working on a Disney film that he wanted to commit and so he took singing lessons to hep him so he could nail that part of the song. RIP he was such a talented and committed performer and actor.

This reaction was enjoyable. I thought you’d get angrier at Frollo (Old Guy in dress with Mushroom Hat). He’s one of many villains who pissed me right off as a kid. I wanted to see Quasimodo kick his ass. But watching it as a grown up, I’m glad I didn’t because it shows how different the two are and how much better Quasimodo is as a man compared to Frollo.

The thing is Frollo didn’t love or have a crush on Esmeralda, he was just lusting immensely for her and blaming it on her “witchcraft” (classic patriarchy) because he views himself as a pure and holy man who wouldn’t sin, the hooded figures in “hellfire” are saying “mea culpa, mea maxima culpa” which is a praying for when you ask for forgiveness of sin, it means in latin “through my fault, through my most grievous fault”, he refuses to accept that he’s corrupt and sinful and the hooded figures around him are his obsession with trying to justify it and being holy accusing him of sinning, his own lunacy and madness (that is seen again during his death scene when he sees the devil roaring at him as he falls to his death, bringing him to hell), his own madness was his downfall Frollo is definitely one of my favorite villains Hellfire plays right after Heaven’s Light to contrast the different effect Esmeralda had on Quasimodo and Frollo Frollo looks tired the next day because it’s implied that he spent the last night... Well... Having some impure thoughts I also love Esmeralda’s God Help the Outcasts because she “isn’t supposed to be praying because she’s a gipsy” but she’s the most selfless of all the people praying there, while all the Christians at the church are praying for material and personal gain, all she asks for is help to all of the people who are also oppressed and doing even worse than her She is shown walking in the opposite direction of the other praying people to simbolize that contrast Also, the parts that make me cry the most are : “Yes I know I'm just an outcast I shouldn't speak to you Still I see your face and wonder Were you once an outcast too?” (Esmeralda, you have no idea...) “God help the outcasts Or nobody will” And also : “I thought we all were the Children of God” Esmeralda is incredible and should honestly be a Disney Princess because she’s an amazing model for young girls

“he’s actually getting more action than me. my life’s a tragedy.” don’t worry, buddy. you’re not the only one 😊😂

1:40 Disney doesn't show bloody injuries, or if they do it's SUPER rare and Very brief. But if you rewatch, her head hits the edge of the stairs pretty hard. In real life, that would definitely fracture the skull and be a life threatening injury and there would be LOTS of blood. And in those days, where they didn't have medicine and hospitals or EMTs, it was definitely a death sentence. Also, in the original novel this is based off of, Quasi dies along with Esmeralda. They're bricked up inside a room and decades later, their skeletons are discovered intertwined.

Frollo has got to be the most horrifying realistic disney villian in my book.

Like what you said, Frollo Does *NOT* take Rejection Well, while Quasimodo *DID* take Rejection Well.

“I have two different colored eyes” My stupid brain- Welchy is a Husky confirmed

The transition from Heavens Light to Hellfire is one of the best juxtaposition of songs I've ever seen and brings me chills everytime. Also you should see the sequel.

5:54 Wouldn’t it be hilarious if someone rewatched Beauty and the Beast and at that scene heard a single guy singing way off in the distance

1:27 *giggles* yeah I think the steps are made of solid rock or something and it was a snowing so it was probably frozen over. So yeah a slip and a hard fall equal death.

"Can Stone talk?" "Yes, because you're talking." I've never thought of that, props to you, my friend.

To answer your question on how Quasimodo's mother died, she broke her neck(if you look closely at her neck, you can probably see it looks a little broken)

From my perspective, it seems like though Quasi loved Esmeralda his love morphs later on towards maternal feelings. He falls in love with her beauty and wants to get to know her but once he finds out she loves Phoebus his feelings slowly seem to drift more toward viewing her as his mother. She takes such a maternal role toward the end imo.

14:26 it's even creepier knowing that the original Esmeralda is just a 14 years old girl😰 This is the creepiest and at the same time one of the most relatable to our world Disney movie I ever seen!

The fact you caught the belle cameo is honestly impressive

God I wish Disney would go back to these kinds of movies. They can be so dark and amazing when they want to be.

As a kid, I can confirm that Hellfire’s true meaning went right over my head lol

I don't know why we're having this fever that every reactor is watching The Hunchback of Notre Dame but i'm for sure not complaining! This movie deserves the hype, it's literally a masterpiece. Love this channel so much! 14:12 oh and by the way, he doesn't LOVE her, he LUSTS her! very important difference here :)

Honestly the best. movie. ever.

This move is an absolute MASTERPIECE and has one of the best villains to come out of Disney, not because he’s the most powerful, or the darkest, or the strongest, or the smartest, but he’s the most realistic and people like him actually exist in this dark world.

Welchy: If I was gay. Me: If I was gay I would date you... *me remembering I am gay* wait a minute...

yes... This IS disney's darkest and most realistic movie... And with the best soundtrack, in my opinion

“Are all statues alive or are they just his imagination” That is the question

Frollo and Mother Gothel belong together, because they are both master manipulators

14:18 "As a kid, I can imagine that this is just an evil song." I was 14 when I saw this in the theater-and let me tell you, I definitely understood that Frollo was lusting over Esmeralda. The face you made when you saw her dancing in the fire was the face I made when he produced and caressed her scarf. To this day I still remember thinking, "Am I old enough to be watching this...?" It totally felt like an adult movie.

For your reaction to Quasimodo’s mother’s death. Her head slammed against the stone steps pretty hard. The force of her pulling on Quasi + Frollo kicked her is enough to crack her skull on impact

Frollo is for sure the most evil villain ever - it's quite telling that he's the most human as well. Always loved this film as a kid but my appreciation for the sheer quality of the dialogue, songs and animation have only grown since the 90s. The whole message "what makes a monster and what makes a man?" I mean...bottled brilliance ;)

Ahh is this *Disney’s most criminally underrated movie of all time* I see? 👁😁 SING IT WITH ME *H* *E* *L* *L* *F* *I* *R* *E* 🔥🔥

“Can we have marshmallows? Marshmallows are great” that was wholesome

“See if I was gay, I would... 🤔🤨🤐” No, no, let’s hear the end of that sentence! 😂🤣

Frollo wasn’t in love with Esmerelda, he lusted for her to the point of obsession

"This is so dark! Is this even a Disney Movie?!" Me: *Laughs in Black Cauldron* You should watch Black Cauldron dude. You ain't seen anything yet. Honestly one of my favorite films.

Quasi's mom died because Frollo kicked her hard enough for her skull to fracture on the stairs and you can see some of the blood gathering in the snow. Still it's good that she ran to Norte Dame because if she handed Quasi over Frollo would've drowned him in the river and no one would've stopped him.

"I'm free! I'm free-" feel into a hole "Dang It!" The best running joke in this film

“This man could be a toy maker” that is just so sweet haha idk why but that’s what made me 🤗 And ya totally give growin ur hair a go

"Have a respect for the stache" Have respect for people 😂

A lot of the backlash against this movie was the PR department's completely misleading ad campaign. They showed the Feast of Fools, made it all look like some huge party with George from Seinfeld making occasional fart jokes (watch the Burger King commercial for a comparison). So, you'd be in the theater with your eight year old and in the first ten minutes of the movie a woman is murdered on the steps of the Cathedral and her stolen baby almost drown. Then Esmeralda...easily the most sexualized Disney character up to that point and arguably still the most sexualized when you ignore the purposefully sexual characters like Jessica Rabbit or The Bimbettes. Hell, some groups probably thought she'd asked for Frollo's abuse..."she showed her bare shoulders! What was Frollo supposed to do? NOT burn Paris to the ground?" I love the movie but when it released to was really panned.

This was my all time favorite Disney movie when I was a child, even tho now I don’t understand how could my mum let me watch it. It’s 100% one of the darkest Disney movies and one of the more unique, Frollo as the main villain is just perfect (easily one of the best Disney villains, he is not some magical creature or uses magic, he is a normal crazy person with too much power and the scary thing is there are many powerful and insane people like him in the real world). But I must say if you like more dark movies you should watch “The Black Couldron” the real darkest Disney movie ever made, it’s little bit older but still a very interesting movie.

Oooohhh-hohohoho, I'd been waiting for this one. YAS. Also have to point out, Frollo feels no love for Esmeralda. Lust, yes, tons of it, but no love. Or else he wouldn't want her dead if she refuses to be with him x)

One of the most beautifully animated films, and most incredible film scores, Disney has ever done. This film is a masterpiece and deals with some really dark stuff. Hellfire is an absolute masterpiece of music and animation.

In the book, everyone dies. Phoebus gets killed by Frollo, Esmeralda actually burns, Quasimodo kills Frollo and then commits suicide. So yeah. Disney.

Frollo: and he shall smite the wicked and plunge them into the fiery pit! God: don't mind if I do.

If you enjoyed the music in this movie check out the soundtrack to the musical version of it. Also yes they did change the end of the story for this movie, the musical ends that Esmarelda does die, then 2 years later 2 skeletons are discovered in the crypts (one wearing a woven band, the other with a crooked spine), and when they try to separate the two, his remains turn to dust. Whereas the actual novel ends with Quasimodo searching for Esmarelda's body/remains, once again 2 skeletons found and his turned to dust when they tried to separate them ... if my memory serves me correctly still.

Welchy: I'd love to go to Notre Dame. Me: Uuuuum...... Who.... Who's gonna tell him?

I think that this is EVERYONE'S WORST NIGHTMARE. A Crazy Man WITH *POWER* (by power I mean, political power or some other position of leadership, you ALL know what I mean)

Happy Father's day to all the fathers out there! .... except for FROLLO.

Esmerelda “Justice!” Scots “FUCK YEAH!”

1:20 Frollo: A monster 👿 Me: Are you sure that isn’t a mirror wrapped in a blanket?

Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame is celebrating it's 25th Anniversary

I went to see this movie alone as a teenager (I was 15). When Hellfire came up, I sat there stunned that Disney would ever put a song like that in their animated children's movie. It was such a risky choice but I think it has become one of the most iconic Disney songs.

Welchy- I understand how he feels, if he can’t have her he’ll kill her! 😃 Me- 😀… what….

Since a kid, Guasi is one of my favorite Disney characters. He suffers so much and still is a kind person. This movie is what made me want to study medieval theater lol Ps- That scene at the festival always breaks my heart

god i love the music in this movie 👌🏾

This is definitely one of my favorite underrated movies! If you’re taking suggestions, please consider The Emperor’s New Groove, Anastasia, or Atlantis the Lost Empire

The 90s especially 90s Disney was not afraid to be dark.i always enjoyed that about old school disney. Disney now attempts it sometimes but not where this one does it. I always enjoyed this movie. Is it my favorite Disney film no. That would be beauty and the beast but this is definitely up on my top five.definitely. great characters... great songs... great message.

This movie is just amazing and so dark. When I was younger I loved Lion King still do but this became my favourite Disney movie when I got older and understood it better. What makes the entire Frollo/Esmeralda thing more creepy is in the books she was 16 and he chose to 40 and in this movie she is 20 and he 56 (according to googel)!!

Spot on with the tone assessment - a film this dark would never get off the ground these days. Emotionally brutal from the first scene to last. Plays out almost like an opera...not that I've ever seen an opera; they look a bit shit. But this film was cool.

If you enjoyed the music in this, I highly recommend checking out the live off broadway recording (starring Michael Arden) because it is POWERFUL. Especially listen to the opening and Made of Stone! Also, fun fact: originally Frollo was a priest and not a judge, but Disney didn't want to depict the church in a negative light so they changed it.

I love your reactions and this was one of my favorite movie as a kid. Super dark but it still is one of my favorite to this day. The music is just on point.

In the book where Frollo starts off benevolent, he finds an abandoned deformed baby at the door of the church on a French holiday called Quasimodo Sunday. The word does essentially mean “half-formed”, but the film reinterpreted the reason that Frollo gave it as a name (effectively I might add).

Frollo is my favorite Disney villain. In five minutes he arrested innocents, killed a mother and almost drowns a baby. He came, declares himself as a villain and isn't in this movie to play to the charming villain. About the statues. They all had a reaction to the actions of Frollo, the apostles were disgusted, the demos was enjoying the moment while the angels were angry, the child in the virgin's arms was scared of Frollo and the virgin was dissapointed in Frollo. As a detail, before the lightning the statue of the virgin had the eyes closed, like processing what vile act was made in her pressence, after the lightning the statue has the eyes open with a look of dissapointment in Frollo.

Frolo for me is a scary villain because such men exist in real life. They believe that they are so good and religious, that the slightest sexual lust they feel is definitely the woman's fault aka a witch

What Frollo feels for esmerelda is NOT love. What he feels is lust, and in the eyes of the church, that is a sin. He is extremely sesually repressed and he feels little to no empathy for others. This combination is extremely dangerous. He recognizes that he's feeling lust, but instead of facing those feelings and dealing with them in a healthy way, he shifts the blame to esmerelda, and he turns his disgust for his own feelings into disgust at her existence. This is the language of hate, and far too many people in real life end up committing heinous acts due to this toxic cesspool of feelings and factors.

One of my favorite Disney movies to be sure, and not just for the visuals, but for the music as well. Stay in Here/Out There and Heaven's Light/Hellfire are pairs of songs that are meant to play against each other and the use of the Latin choir elevates this film to a new level. The darker theme turned people away from this film, but I found it to be quite powerful.

•It's the horse of the main villain; they must have wanted it to look as evil. •When he kicked her, her head hit the steps hard enough to crack her skull. You can see the blood behind the Archdeacon. •Christ, the Saints and Apostles are staring into Frollo's soul, reminding him that God knows all. •That is the question •So Frollo is not winning Guardian of the Year awards. •Carpet from Aladdin was also in that Easter Egg with Belle. •Yes, the Palace of Justice is a real place. During the French Revolution, it housed the new Parisian Parliament. •Ants are a general pest. •It's rotten fruit. It's the 15th Century, so the Columbian Exchange has not yet brought tomatoes to Europe. •Catholics are a superstitious lot. •And that is why Frollo is one of, if not, Disney's darkest villains. And unlike other Disney villains, who are evil for the fun or sake of being evil, Frollo actually believes himself to be a good guy. He believes that his actions, no matter how wicked or cruel or blasphemous, are in service of God's will. •The Archdeacon was actually refering to God. •Same, especially after the 2019 Fire. •Hellfire is one of Disney's top villain songs, if not the best. It's also the darkest, in that Frollo declares that either he will have Esmerelda or she and the city will burn. •The Gargoyles get mixed feelings and their song, when compared to The Bells of Notre Dame, God Help the Outcasts, and Hellfire, doesn't hold a candle. •Quasimodo - Patron Saint of the Friend Zone •I think Esmerelda made them up to cheer Quasimodo up and give him confidence. •That would be the catacombs, the mass grave of Medieval Paris, where the bodies of Plague victims were buried. •So Frollo was bluffing, knowing that if he convinced Quasimodo to go warn Esmerelda, he could follow him to the Court of Miracles. •In the original book, she did die and Quasimodo stayed by her side until he starved to death. •Frollo died as he declared; the Lord smites the wicked and plunges them into the fiery pit. •This is a film I have found a new appreciation for as an adult, especially after 5 semesters of Latin.

I too find Cloupin's voice enchanting, easliy my favorite character in this movie, reminds me alot of Sheogorath from Elder Scroll, I dare say they could even be related or the same person

“How was she dead?” My boy her head when wham on to the concrete. Skull smash.

“I did not mean to copy my bed my bed copied me” 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

Frollo isn’t in love with Esmeralda he’s in lust with her and there is a huge difference

This movie gives a strong representation of psychological abuse. Just remember there are tons of children that have a Frollo as a parent/ guardian

‘Quasi modo’ is Italian for ‘almost way’ or ‘half way’. It also is known as ‘Quasimodo Sunday’, which refers to the Sunday after Easter :)

Yeah you can cosplay as Phoebus if you grew out your hair. I think you may pull it off.

5:59 I'VE NEVER NOTICE THEY PUT BELL INTO THIS MOVIE. IM SHOOK

"He's in love" "He has a crush" "He's definitely in love" He is violently lustful and possessive. There is not one drop of love in his view of her. Also the friendzone doesn't exist.

13:34 This song is one of the biggest musical moments in disney history and as the biggest disney villain song.

Quasimodo in Latin/Italian means "Almost" (Quasi) and "Way" (Modo)

Literally my favorite Disney film. So dark and epic and Esmerelda is so beautiful. Frollo is crazy AF! He Literally was about to burn her at the stake. For real Disney?!?! Mother gothel aint got shit on Frollo