A Preview of ‘Goosebumps’ (2023)

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Key Art for ‘Goosebumps’ Courtesy of Disney.

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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For the most part, the horror genre really isn’t all that accessible to children and pre-teens and teens, and understandably so. After all, this is a genre of storytelling that goes to some supremely dark places with its characters and its concepts, and it features moments and visuals that well… aren’t really appropriate for kids and young adults. Which is why so many horror stories feature ratings and warnings for parents, to help them decide when their young ones are ready for the horrors that horror harbors, but as mentioned before… there have been moments where the genre has made attempts to reach a younger audience and get them interested in the genre… with mixed results. Since some of those movies and shows just couldn’t find the balance or really a focus. But there were a few that impressed.

Take for instance, Goosebumps. For this 1995 series, based off of the work of author R.L. Stine, was lightning in a bottle. For it featured stories that were filled with relatable characters for kids and young adults, and stories that outright impressed by offering up the right number of scares and creepy moments to keep kids and teens engaged and never overtly traumatized, as some horror can do at that age, and it did such an amazing job… that this series became nothing short of iconic. For so many remember it fondly and remember it as their gateway to the genre and potentially what brought forth a love of horror for them, and well… truly what this series accomplished back in the day, has yet to be replicated and likely never will be again. For it truly was the right series, at the right time.

Yet what’s fascinating… is that Goosebumps is in fact, returning from the dead. For Friday will see the debut of a new series from the world of R.L. Stine debut on Disney+ and Hulu and well, that likely will raise red flags in everyone’s mind. As though a cash grab is taking place, and a subpar product will debut that is but a shell of what was once was. But we here at NTG had the distinct honor of seeing this new series early, and well… we are happy to tell you, this isn’t a cash grab or an attempt to capitalize on nostalgia. This is a new iteration of the franchise, one that is quite impressive in nature, and we’d like to take a moment today to explore what makes it so great, in a spoiler-free manner of course… starting with that structure.

Because the brain trust behind this new chapter in the Goosebumps saga really did understand that lightning in a bottle is impossible to replicate, so instead… this series is nothing short of a delightful updating of what once was. One that is designed to reflect the times and the audiences out there. After all, horror is now mainstream and audiences have tuned into prime time shows that feature real terrors, regardless of age or ratings, and that allows for this iteration of the show to be a touch edgier than its predecessor, so that new audiences don’t feel as though they’re being patronized or handled with care. But at the same time, the scares never overwhelm or go too far, giving the show the perfect creepy vibe that it is known for, a move that will perfectly introduce new horror fans to the genre with ease and prepare for them for the hard stuff if they choose to explore horror further, while pleasing the nostalgic viewers that loved this show dearly back in the day.

But where this show truly shines… is in its overall structure and plot. Because not only did the overall feel and look of the series get a remodel, so did how the stories are told. So, gone are the days of pure anthology storytelling here. Instead, this show is centered on a group of teens and their families and schoolmates, as they encounter the twisted elements of evil that lurk in the shadows of their town. Which allows for a wonderful hybrid to come to life, where the show offers anthology elements, but an overreaching story that ties everything together. So that the viewer is vested and quite frankly, eager to binge to see what awaits them next. Which adds new thrills to this series and compels one to continue to the journey for certain, and it also doesn’t hurt… that some big names are in this series as well.

Since Rachel Harris and Justin Long are a part of this show and use their acting talents to keep things light when necessary and serious when the spooky stuff rolls in and well, all of these elements combine to bring forth, a magnificent revival of a beloved series. Since it doesn’t tread upon what came before it, it respects it and grows the saga before our eyes in a dynamic new manner that you cannot get enough of, and the best news of all, is that we are indeed days away from enjoying a great deal of the first season of this show. For Goosebumps debuts on Disney+ and Hulu this Friday, October 13th, with five deliciously devilish episodes, with new ones to follow on both networks on Fridays following, and we here at NTG cannot wait to geek out with all of you over this magnificent revival of a true horror classic.

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