Goosebumps Premiere Early Review

The following is a spoiler-free review of the first 5 episodes of Goosebumps, premiering this Friday on Disney Plus and Hulu

The famous pre-teen horror books are back, this time taking viewers yet another form of onscreen adaptation as Disney+ (and Hulu in the US) stakes its claim. This time, however, is not your typical revamp as this product boasts a far darker and edgier tone, albeit, still complete with some of the key final act resolutions with classic cliffhangers throughout that have made the book series so famous.

The story focuses on a group of high schoolers who begin to experience strange occurrences in their lives after attending a party at a local house with a deeply seeded haunted history. As the group realizes their situations are connected and begin to rely on each other to solve their issues, a larger more sinister story begins to unfold involving not just themselves but also their parents centering around their teenage years. The series impressively focuses its episodic narratives on one group member at a time and matches them with an iconic piece of lore from the fabled book series that in turn builds into the larger narrative of the series. Fans will instantly recognize the callbacks from the book series and appreciate how they add to the its universe. From the camera from “Say Cheese and Die,” the mask from “The Haunted Mask,” worms from “Go Eat Worms” and much more, the elements all work in unison to serve an intriguing purpose for the series’ main antagonist, Harold Biddle (Ben Cockell) who is bent on revenge for his perceived murder.

A darker tone permeates throughout the series as some of the secondary storylines approach themes such as bullying, self-harm, suicide, and adultery. Of course, these are never deeply explored as Goosebumps maintains its preteen charm through well-executed cliffhangers and a cast that always feels as if they are in danger but never truly feels the full extent of it. And yet, the series never shies away from allowing viewers to feel that they have the power to change the stakes as they please which adds a welcomed excitement and builds a palpable tension within each episode.

Even more impressive than its intricate narrative, is the series’ cast with standouts such as Rachael Harris, Rob Huebel, Justin Long among a cast of young actors that each do a great job of shouldering the weight of carrying the majority of the series. Equally as notable is the production value and art direction that extended towards this series which not only makes the city of Port Lawrence feel nestled in reality but also the magical lore that features well-crafted VFX.

In the end, the new Goosebumps series is created with both new and existing fans in mind. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy throughout. Fans of books will instantly be transported back to the days when they first discovered R.L. Stine’s writings, now complete with an updated exterior while newcomers can discover a lore that can sustain their attention. Goosebumps provides a wonderful blend of mystery with pockets of genuine humor that will keep viewers immediately clamoring for the next episode as soon as the current episode’s credits roll. It still remains to be seen how the series will ultimately reach its conclusion, but here’s to hoping that it will do so successfully while also offering viewers hope for more in the near future.

still courtesy of Disney+

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Critics w/o Credentials

Trying my best to get all thoughts about TV and Film out of my head and onto the interweb.