R.L Stine and his book series Goosebumps cultivated my love for horror, but more importantly, it got me excited to read. This has been the case for many others who were positively impacted by Stine’s colorful world of monsters, misfits, and cheesy cliffhangers. The television show only cemented and deepened this love affair. While some episodes were questionable in quality, a handful were legit masterpieces. The prime example is the episode “The Haunted Mask” which is considered the best in the series. Not to mention that Goosebump’s theme song slaps, hard!
In 2015, the book series would get the live-action treatment once again, this time for a movie starring Jack Black. It would get a sequel in 2018 but failed to reach the box office heights of the first film. Both films are silly fun, and perfect as a starter horror movie for kids. Still, it lacked compelling characters and a story that was memorable and engaging. Flashforward to 2022 and The Fear Street trilogy proved that fans of Stine responded well to more mature adaptations of his work. After all, the kids who grew up on his books are now adults looking for nostalgia, and to pass on the series to the next generation.
Disney+ has retooled the classic horror franchise. The series sees a rag-tag group of five high school students who embark on a shadowy and twisted journey to investigate the tragic passing three decades earlier of a teen named Harold Biddle ― while also unearthing dark secrets from their parents’ past. A cursed camera, a time-altering clock, and a possessed mask are just a few sinister forces in this fresh retelling of the classic R.L Stine stories.
The cold open is a very dark, somber, and edgier affair, that not only hooks you with an engaging mystery but establishes itself as being totally different than both the original television series, as well as the very kid-friendly movies. Tonally, while things never get too dark, it’s not as campy as the ’90s outing and does weave some more mature subject matter into the story. Interestingly, instead of approaching things like the original series, which was one self-contained story in each episode, this takes an episodic route. Each haunted item, such as the cursed camera and the haunted mask, comes from Harold Biddle’s house and connects to a different teen affected by said item.
It’s a bit jarring at first, yet it’s a clever way of folding in the stories, whilst connecting them to a larger narrative – that being the spirit of Harold and the havoc he is reeking whilst searching for his best friend Slappy. Since the series is building to something much bigger, it might feel like books like “The Haunted Mask” aren’t getting their proper due. While yes, it’s fun seeing the cuckoo-clock, the newly redesigned haunted mask, and other Stine creations, they don’t serve much in terms of the bigger picture. Instead, it might have been interesting to focus on one book, for the entire series, but refreshed and updated for a new audience.
As it stands, it’s still enjoyable to see elements of Stine’s work recontextualized in an unexpected way. The writing is whip-smart, and we are introduced to characters that are likable and relatable. The addition of a Queer character is amazing and it’s refreshing to see it so normalized. They also get the balance of heart, humor, and PG-level horror just right. As far as scares go, the series offers plenty of creepy set-pieces, surprises, and effective jump-scares to keep any horror fan happy. Sure, the violence is very tame, yet the show does have a few kinder-trauma moments that make it feel like a very fun starter-level horror show.
The acting is also fantastic, with its young cast adding so much personality and it-factor. Will Price, Isa Briones, Ana Yi Puig, Miles McKenna, Zack Morris, and Ben Cockell all play off one another extremely well, yet have their own moments to really shine. Veteran actors such as Rob Huebel, Rachael Harris, and Justin Long all complement the young cast extremely well. Long is especially stellar here, as he not only has to play teacher Nathan Bratt, but an alter-ego, and he does both with the ease of a seasoned pro. Long also has a lot of physical work in the latter part of the season, and this again is pulled out in a way that reminds you of Bruce Campbell in Evil Dead 2. He also adds a level of dramatic pathos that really deserves praise.
Fresh, scary, and fun, Goosebumps is a rollercoaster ride of horror. For fans of the beloved series, this is the perfect addition to the franchise.
Goosebumps will debut on Disney+ and Hulu with five episodes on October 13, 2023, with additional episodes to debut weekly every Friday.
Fresh, scary, and fun, Goosebumps is a rollercoaster ride of horror. For fans of the beloved series, this is the perfect addition to the franchise.
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GVN Rating 9
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Big film nerd and TCM Obsessed. Author of The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema from Schiffer Publishing. Resume includes: AMC’s The Bite, Scream Magazine etc. Love all kinds of movies and television and have interviewed a wide range of actors, writers, producers and directors. I currently am a regular co-host on the podcast The Humanoids from the Deep Dive and have a second book in the works from Bear Manor.