On the Disney+ streaming platform, there’s a reputation that’s been likened to the foie gras of streaming services. Not because it’s particularly refined, but because it seems to enjoy overwhelming us with content. It’s what happened with Star Wars, taking a beloved trilogy from 45 years ago and expanding the franchise beyond comprehension. Marvel, too, where an endless stream of mediocre television diluted the dominant entertainment form of the century.
Now, Disney+ has set its sights on another property: Goosebumps, the spine-tingling R.L. Stine books that kept kids up at night for decades. The news comes with both good and bad tidings. Let’s tackle the bad news first: Disney has fumbled this one. When the series made its debut, only two out of the promised five episodes were available, and to make matters worse, it was episodes three and four that were released. The first two were conspicuously absent, and judging by the state of Twitter, Goosebumps fans are far from pleased.
However, there’s a silver lining. Disney couldn’t have chosen a sturdier franchise to adapt. Goosebumps, ever since the first of Stine’s books hit the shelves, has been adapted into various forms of media. It’s been on TV as a 74-episode anthology series in the 1990s, a movie franchise, and has even spawned games, comics, and musicals. Each adaptation had its unique tone, with the TV show being genuinely scary and the films bordering on parody, yet all managed to preserve the core essence of Goosebumps.
The new series takes another tonal shift, aiming to channel the vibe of “Stranger Things.” It features a group of school kids who notice a growing weirdness around them, possibly linked to the death of a student, and band together to investigate the mysteries.
But it’s not “Stranger Things,” as there’s no nostalgia here; it’s set in the present day. The characters are different, too, looking more like they’re 32 instead of high school-aged. While that isn’t inherently problematic, it can become confusing when a 45-year-old actor like Justin Long plays a teacher who looks 12.
This “Stranger Things” approach slows down the episodes. They include moments of jumps and scares but are padded with long, soap opera-like scenes where characters discuss their feelings. One subplot even feels like it was ripped from a disastrous 1990s BBC soap opera.
However, when Goosebumps focuses on Stine’s essence, it shines. The launch episodes provide moments of giddy delight. One features a character who bangs his head on a cuckoo clock, leading to multiple versions of himself appearing, revealing themselves as clones in a Goosebumps-worthy twist. The second episode centers on a thrill-seeking character who gains new powers after eating worms, and it culminates with masterful character design.
The cast is well-chosen, with Justin Long delivering a standout performance. His character’s rapid shifts between goofy and menacing are handled with aplomb, making it clear that he’s having a blast.
So, Goosebumps has found its home on Disney+.