PopHorror Let's Get Scared
If you had to describe my childhood in one word, it would be “Goosebumps.” In school, I was labeled “The Goosebumps Kid,” which was nothing less than an honor to me (I mean, I could be called worse, right?). As an elementary school kid, I worked up an impressive collection of Goosebumps books. In my mind, R. L. Stine was a religious figure, dedicating my life to owning each and every page he wrote. The TV show was constantly playing in my house as well. I made a checklist to ensure I watched every episode at least once. And who could get sick of that iconic theme song? When the 2015 movie came out, I even took my very own Slappy the Dummy with me to see it. In short: no one was more prepared to see this new show than me.
With Goosebumps as near and dear to me as it is, I was really hoping this new show would not disappoint. If I am being honest, when the announcement came out that it wasn’t going to be an anthology series like the original show, I was a bit let down. As great as that original show was, some of the writing and practical effects are outdated and, quite frankly, a little cheesy. From what it seems, a lot of people were hoping it was going to be an anthology. So, the show is now upon us. As a lifelong fan, I am disappointed…
Disappointed that the show is the best thing to ever brand the Goosebumps name!
Episodes 1-5 are a great introduction to the series. While episode one sets up a lot really quickly and it can get confusing at times, episode two sets everything straight. The show follows a group of high schoolers who inadvertently begin the investigation of a tragic death that happened decades early; slowly discovering their connection to the town’s horrific history. All the kid actors are capable and bounce off each other really well. However, the show-stealers are definitely Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers, 2001) and Rachel Harris (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, 2010).
Similar to the 2015 movie, the monsters from the original books are all there at once, acting as old haunted antiques. These include the camera from Say Cheese and Die, the cuckoo clock of doom, and the haunted mask respectively. Something I appreciate the show for doing is making the substance matter more mature. Profanity, affairs, and even suicide are ingredients to the show. Not so much where a kid could not watch, but enough where even I was like “Woah, that was dark.”
It would be easy to describe the show as a slightly tamer Stranger Things. I think it was a great idea for the Goosebumps name to grow up a little, similar to the audience that was there at its initial birth. That darkness makes the show more rich, and the twists have me throwing on the next episode immediately.
As of now, the biggest critique I have about the show is the music choice. I have seen a lot of reviews where people shame the show for “appealing too much to Gen Z,” but that is completely absent to me… Except for the choice of songs that are played in the first few episodes. The soundtrack for the show makes it seem that the composer said “Yeah let’s just throw on whatever is popular among those young, hip kiddies.” Going with the music choice, the title sequence doesn’t even look like they tried. No catchy tune, no cool visuals, and no haunted dogs adding their barks to the background. The original 90s show had one of the best title sequences of all time, and this show didn’t even try. Definitely a letdown.
Overall, this show is off to a great start. If you wanted an anthology like I did, I think anyone will enjoy it if you go in with an open mind. Nostalgia as well as a thirst for something new easily steer my excitement to binge any future episodes put out. Disney, you didn’t disappoint this time.
You can catch Goosebumps (2023) streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
