Episodes 1-5 watched for review. This is a spoiler-free review.Goosebumps, the popular horror anthology created by author R.L. Stine, has now been around for over 20 years. In that time, along with the initial series of books, there have been multiple screen adaptions of the horror stories aimed at a younger audience. The first of these was the 1995 series (which featured a young Ryan Gosling), followed years later by two movie adaptations.
The latest television iteration ofGoosebumpsis, appropriately for the era, a streaming series on Disney Plus and Hulu. The latest series, Developed by the team of Nicholas Stoller and Rob Letterman, combines the DNA of both the original TV series and the movies into something else entirely. Unfortunately, the result is not quite a perfect specimen.
In this version ofGoosebumps, there is an overarching story that combines elements of R.L. Stine’s original books, weaving them into the plot centered around a group of teenagers, their parents, and a mysterious death that occurred in their sleepy waterfront town in the 90s. Classic stories from the series includingThe Cuckoo Clock of Doomand perennial favoriteThe Haunted Maskare included here,but even compared to the 1995 series, these stories feel watered down.
The main focus of the series is the younger characters, who begin to experience paranormal phenomena after a Halloween party held in the house where teenager Harold Biddle died 30 years ago. Unfortunately for them, this also happens to be the house their new English teacherNathan Bratt (played by Justin Long)has just moved into. Like the teens who must now deal with forces beyond their understanding, Bratt eventually finds himself embroiled in the supernatural.
While the younger cast do their best in the roles, what really holds this version ofGoosebumpsback is the fact that none of the characters are developed all that well, even within the first five episodes. While some, like Isaiah the star football player, are given clearer traits and motivations, others like Margot, Isaiah’s friend and neighbor, are less defined. The same goes for Isabella, whose main identifier is that she is an AV kidwho moonlights as an internet troll.James, the only gay character in the show, is given disappointingly little material (aside from his individual episode).
The adult characters don’t fare much better, with only Nora (played by Rachel Harris) given any sort of depth. Meanwhile, the rest of the parents are mostly just there, with no real arcs or personality. Even comedy superstar Rob Heubel feels totally wasted in the role of Margot’s dad and the high school guidance counselor. With so little given to the adult characters, the show ends up feeling half-empty.
The disparity between the teenagers' and the adults' storylines begs the question: who is this version ofGoosebumpsmade for? The teenagers' stories lack an appropriate edge, especially for a horror show.If younger viewers have access to shows likeEuphoriaandRiverdale, they may find this tale coming up short of their expectations. However, this version is decidedly more mature than its 90s counterpart and may be just a bit too much for very young audiences. Similarly, if the intended audience is nostalgic adults, then there just isn’t enough drama or intrigue to hold their attention. Ultimately, this version ofGoosebumpsends up having less appeal than any version before it.
Among other missteps is the fact that the show just barely acknowledges its roots with the stories in the first five episodes. There are some classics represented here that don’t stray too far from their original source like “Say Cheese and Die” or “The Haunted Mask.” However, the other two entries supposedly based on books, “The Cuckoo Clock of Doom” and “Go Eat Worms” mostly use their titular books more for a loose guideline on what stories to tell. That might not be much of a problem for those who are coming into the series with little knowledge of the original books, but for fans looking for retellings of their favorites,Goosebumpsmight only be delivering disappointment.
Stylistically, there is not much in thisGoosebumpsto sell it even to the most curious horror fan. There are a few sequences that show some promise, such as a fiery vision during Isaiah’s football game or a tense attack fueled by the evil Haunted Mask, but for the most part, the show ends up holding back on its horror elements. Obviously, for a show based on a horror series aimed at kids,no one should be expectingHereditary-style brutality or horror, but younger audiences who are seeking out scares surely can be given a little more credit for what they can handle. The series might not be quite as tame as the latest movie adaptations (there are some brief glimpses of blood and fiery spirits), butGoosebumpsstill feels like it could have done just a bit more to define itself as a solid Halloween watch.
As it is, this version ofGoosebumpsprobably isn’t really enough to keep any audience member engaged for very long. The story, lacking as it is, might have been saved by some more spooky horror elements, but everything from how the show looks to the production design just doesn’t go far enough. The characters, even by the standards ofGoosebumps, are not defined enough to be memorable, whether they are teenagers or adults. Even the most ardentGoosebumpsfans may be better off taking a tripback to the 90s to revisit the stories they love.
Goosebumpspremieres October 13th on Disney Plus and Hulu.
Goosebumps
The newest iteration of Goosebumps tries to capture the nostalgia of the books, but fails to deliver interesting characters, scares, or solid stories.
