The Disney+ Goosebumps show has to be one of this year's biggest surprises. As a reimagining of R.L. Stine's best-selling book series, it offers more than just modernized versions of old stories. Rather, Goosebumps leans into the darker aspects of its clever plot, with frights that are bolstered by its talented cast and decent special/practical effects in a manner that could potentially elicit the titular fear response from its target audience.
This variation of Goosebumps isn't like the horror anthology series that ran for four seasons back in 1995. It's actually more akin to the Jack Black films directed by Rob Letterman, in that it has a central plot that pulls in elements from some of the most popular books in the series. The difference here is that Letterman and Nicholas Stoller were allowed to produce a more mature showing--one that allows for swearing, body horror, and an unsettling new way of compiling the tales of cursed items and monstrous entities into one cohesive story. The result is a shockingly spooky experience for new and old Goosebumps fans alike, at least in the first five episodes of this 10-episode season that we were able to watch.
Goosebumps doesn't shy away from some of the weighty themes one might find in other horror based-media. The destructive nature of adultery, harrowing details of a murder, or the shocking implications of a potential suicide aren't typically featured in Stine's books. They live here though, mostly as a means of terrorizing the lives of five teens who accidentally stumble onto the remnants of a long-kept secret. Now haunted by a vengeful spirit--an effect of throwing a misguided Halloween party in a recently refurbished house filled with items one shouldn't touch, let alone take home--they'll need to work together if they hope to survive the coming days.
This, of course, is easier said than done given the already precarious nature of their adolescent lives. Having to combat evil as a unit while balancing everything else--assorted love triangles, absentee parents, and scholarships tied to approaching sporting events--proves difficult. As is to be expected given the reliance on certain high-school/small-town-setting tropes, their ensuing struggles are ripe with the typical teenage angst that occasionally places the importance of a romantic encounter over dealing with an impending threat. That said, the melodrama is made compelling in part thanks to the efforts of Goosebumps' talented cast, all of whom are convincing in their roles.
Zack Morris, for instance, is wonderfully charming as the star quarterback, Isaiah. Acting as a funny, brave, and all-around encouraging individual, his portrayal circumvents the stereotypical aspects of the classic self-centered "jock," the low-test scores notwithstanding. This refreshing take helps to endear Isaiah with viewers, making his initial "exposure" to a deadly object that much more meaningful. The same can be said of Isa Briones' depiction of the quick-witted, yet socially awkward Margot. Her display of bewilderment at the strange occurrences happening around town is comical. It's her passionate display of emotions, however, that provide the foundation for some of the most heartfelt scenes in Goosebumps.
Miles McKenna's portrayal of Isaiah's best friend, James, provides a positive representation of the LGBTQIA+ community. While his depiction can seem a little on the nose when it comes to how people think a gay character is supposed to behave, McKenna does a great job of embodying who James is as a person, creating a fully realized character that folks can root for during dire situations. Ana Yi Puig's strong portrayal of Isabella basically translates to a modern-day Daria with rage issues; her struggle to convince her peers that the recent acts of violence weren't necessarily of her own doing, while trying to keep calm in an effort to avoid providing fuel for their suspicions, is downright hilarious. Will Price also does a great job of playing the accident-prone, extreme-sport enthusiast Lucas. An oddball of sorts, his wicked wipeouts provide a bit of levity. It's the darker side of his journey that really resonates as Price's subtle mannerisms give meaning to the aloof nature of this troubled individual.
Nearly every member of Goosebumps' cast is likable to some degree. Even Justin Long--who gets by on his usual shtick of being an overly talkative, yet weirdly relatable everyman--is decent as Mr. Bratt, the new high-school English teacher/owner of the aforementioned haunted house.
However, none of the cast's impressive performances would matter if the plot weren't equally as grand. Thankfully, Goosebumps nails this aspect by not only leaning into the darker themes it introduces but by also finding clever ways to incorporate some of its popular books into the show.
Say Cheese and Die, The Cuckoo Clock of Doom, The Haunted Mask--all of these stories have been cleverly altered to fit into one overarching plot in a manner that still adheres to the core concepts presented in each book. And in most cases, what's seen in the show is leaps and bounds scarier than what's found in those old pages; the way it incorporates the spin-off Give Yourself Goosebumps: Reader Beware series is genius, to say the least. Visually, it excels as well, with only a few CGI-based scenes that dip in quality compared to the practical effects.
Goosebumps is an absolute blast to watch. Comical, spooky, and disturbingly unhinged at times, it'll act as a solid introduction to horror for younger viewers. It won't scare older fans given its PG-13 approach to violence--where a bloody mouth or exposed bone is only ever on screen for seconds at a time--and melodrama by way of teenage angst. That said, the fact that Goosebumps has anything resembling body horror is astounding in and of itself. And its delightfully clever plot and awesome cast should resonate with viewers. Essentially, if the remaining episodes are as great as the first five, Disney+ and Hulu subscribers will be in for a real treat come Halloween season.
