‘Goosebumps’ (2023) Recap: ‘The Haunted Mask’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Key Art for ‘Goosebumps’ (2023) Courtesy of Disney.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Goosebumps’ (2023). To revisit the Series Premiere, click here. Also, 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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When we last settled in to discuss the creepy new Disney+ and Hulu series, Goosebumps, we talked at length about how this newest iteration of this classic franchise… was offering up a supremely unique structure for the show. For gone was the pure anthology format original fans of the show enjoyed back in the 1990s, replaced instead with a singular setting and characters that would continue week to week, and they would grapple with an underlying story that would connect everyone together. And this time around, artifacts and monsters-of-the-week… would become part of each respective episode, giving this story some anthology elements to explore while evil gathered steam behind the scenes and well, it’s important to revisit this new normal for the show… because it is not going to abandon it in the slightest, as evidenced by the next episode in this saga.
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For ‘The Haunted Mask’ featured all of those elements, in a refined manner no less, and that made for quite the entertaining and engaging tale. One that saw the underlying story gain some serious steam here. Since Mister Bratt finally came to after being infected by Harold Biddle’s evil and angry spirit, only to learn that he was no longer in control of himself. For Harold was taking over and he was beginning to poke about the town and greet those who apparently hurt him back in the day, and well… Biddle’s attempts to dig up the past through old acquaintances and everything that happened to poor Isaiah, prompted Nora Parker to push for everyone to band together and be vigilant against a resurgent evil. Which was met with skepticism, but what Isabella witnessed while they met, might change that.

All of which, really did speak to how this show is building toward something big by season’s end and it also showcased how strong that evil is since Biddle is indeed everywhere and scheming behind the mask of Mister Bratt. But while it was amazing to enjoy this new format and this new story, there was mention of the fact that the show clearly intends to integrate anthology elements into the overall story, and Isabella’s journey helped to hammer that wonderful reality home. For we came to learn in this story that she was the troll that was picking on Allison. Not because she was cruel, but because… she was a nobody. For no one paid her mind or paid her respect and that prompted her to resort to drastic acts to feel recognition and feel something, really.

But of course, the evil that emanated from the Biddle House, saw an opportunity to help her have what she wanted, while benefitting its needs of course, by giving her a powerful mask that offered her confidence and strength to stand up for herself and say what needed to be said or do what needed to be done. Which made her drunk with joy and the rush of being in charge and seen for a change, and the mask fed upon that and pushed her to dark limits to enjoy its spiritual meal. All by having her harm others violently and by having her nearly harm her family to get what it needed. But thankfully, her little brother kept her grounded and kept her away from that mask. Giving Isabella a reprieve and a better understanding of what she actually needs in this life, to find the meaning and recognition she so desires.

All of which added some intelligence and depth to this tale. For Isabella’s journey really did speak to the toxic things we resort to when we are desperate to be seen, and how self-worth is the only way out of that mess and how we cannot let our anger over how others perceive or don’t perceive us, control us. Since it can lead to all kinds of destructive behavior in this life, and it was wonderful to see this show offer up some top-grade commentary on the human condition, all while growing the Biddle threat in a wonderfully organic manner and it also offered a shoutout to the original series along the way. Since the Haunted Mask was featured in the original show, giving rise to a little love for what came before and well, all of these elements, were so wonderful that we are left eager for more. To see what Biddle’s plan is, and to see what other shout outs await us as this wonderful revival of a true horror classic continues to unleash all kinds of evil upon Port Lawrence. Until next time.

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