Horror movies geared towards the younger generation are sometimes hard to come by, likely because a large portion of kids do not like to be scared. To make a horror movie for kids, then, you have to somehow tread the line between scary and lighthearted. Luckily, Goosebumps finds that balance, managing to capture not only the charm of Stine‘s work, but the scares as well, without straying too far in either direction.
A Clever Take on Stine’s Work
Goosebumps is set in the town of Madison, Delaware, where Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) has just recently moved along with his mother (Amy Ryan). Originally from New York City, the two likely needed a change of scenery after the loss of Zach’s father a year prior. Zach soon meets a girl named Hannah (Odeya Rush), who lives with her ominous father (Jack Black) in the house next door. After investigating a scream one night, a discovery is made: the father is long-forgotten author R.L. Stine, who likely stayed out of the public eye for one reason – whenever his original manuscripts are opened, the books come to life!
For those of you like me that grew up in the 90’s, you are probably all-too-familiar with R.L. Stine‘s work already. For a time, his books were strewn through the aisles of every bookstore and library (much like Harry Potter a decade later), and the anticipation of a new entry was something I sometimes counted down the days to. So, other than a relatively short-lived TV show, why has such a financially successful series never been brought to the big screen until now? The most likely reason was this lingering question: which of the many stories would you adapt? Goosebumps solves that dilemma in a simple, almost too-obvious way: adapt them all!
Once the Goosebumps books have been opened, every monster written within its pages comes to life. Among them, there is the Yeti from The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena, the werewolf from The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, the invisible boy from My Best Friend is Invisible, the crazy clown from The Horror at Chiller House, and, the ringleader of them all: Slappy the Dummy from Night of the Living Dummy. You have to hand it to both Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (the screenwriters): they really did their homework on this one.
Scary Fun
Directed by Rob Letterman, this adaptation of the Goosebumps stories easily retains its YA status. Though never excessively scary, the monsters aren’t wimpy creations either. Some highlights of the film include an all-out battle versus the abominable snowman on an ice rink, an aggressive fight with a werewolf in a supermarket, an attack by a horde of conniving garden gnomes, and a chase through the town by a giant praying mantis.
But the real scene stealer is Slappy the Dummy (who are you calling dummy?!). Wickedly menacing, yet also witty and sarcastic, the character (also voiced by Jack Black) could easily head his own film in the future. He was always my favorite creation by Stine in his books, and in this adaptation they have thankfully done him justice.
Thanks to an exuberant soundtrack done by none other than Danny Elfman, and some impressively wieldy special effects (though sometimes a little too heavy on the CGI), the story of Goosebumps soon increases tenfold in its overall wackiness. By the conclusion, when all the monsters have converged upon the remaining inhabitants of the town, there is an overwhelming abundance of creepy crawlies, supernatural beings, and various monstrosities from Stine’s novels.
Even being a long-time fan of the books, I often had difficulty pointing out who was who, and from which novel; which for some reason only added to the experience. And even if unaware of the books from which they are adapted, the scenes will likely be just as eye-poppingly fun. (Though I didn’t see it in 3D, I could see it being worth the extra cost).
Actors, New and Old
Young actor Dylan Minette leads the cast of Goosebumps, along with his less-than-capable sidekick Champ (Ryan Lee) and Hannah, played by Odeya Rush. The three, and especially Rush, who seems to have an almost Mila Kunis-sort of charm, hold the film together with their measured performances, even though with such a script (and some excessive CGI), it could get hokey or unbelievable.
In actuality, I found that it was more-experienced actor Jack Black that tended to overact in his role as R.L. Stine; perhaps forgetting that, although playing a real person, he was also starring in a kids movie. Thankfully, it is not enough to distract from the overall enjoyment of the film (plus he plays Slappy the Dummy much better than Stine himself).
Conclusion
As a longtime fan of R.L. Stine‘s work, I likely got more enjoyment out of Goosebumps than some other people my age. As I mentioned, it’s primarily for kids and young adults. But, like other YA-oriented work (The Hunger Games series, for example), I could see adults getting something from it as well, especially if you are in need of a break from the heavier, more frightening horror films that come around this time of year. Just try not to take it too seriously, as it’s meant to just be an hour and a half of relaxed, comfortable entertainment.
Do the Goosebumps books hold the same kind of nostalgic value for you?
(source: Columbia Pictures)
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