Goosebumps, a popular series of horror books for children, has seen numerous adaptations, including games, spin-offs, movies, and series. I must preface that I haven't watched the 1995 series, nor did the Goosebumps books or games played a significant role in my childhood. Or, you know, none at all. I briefly read summaries of the first five books to familiarize myself with the series and provide some background. However, this proved to be a mistake, as the 2023 series is standalone and draws more inspiration from horror classics like A Nightmare on Elm Street, particularly in the main antagonist's backstory, than from the original Goosebumps series.
Although there are references to the original series, such as the "Say Cheese and Die" camera and the Haunted Mask, they feel more like free interpretations or homages rather than direct adaptations. Unlike the original series, the 2023 series attempts to unify the story, giving it a more serious tone, with moderate success – I'd say around 40%. While it's still somewhat teenage-oriented and reliant on slasher tropes, filled with cliffhangers that don't quite pay off, it's undoubtedly darker than some of the original stories, like "Monster Blood" or "The Girl Who Cried Monster."
The plot can be summarized as follows:
Harold Biddle, reminiscent of Freddy Krueger, obtains Slappy, the cursed doll, which was conveniently located in a marked loose brick spot in the basement. Slappy receives a vague backstory, implying he's bringing about the end of the world, but the reasons behind this are unclear. In fact, based on the evidence presented, Slappy spends thirty years simply cracking jokes in a theater, which doesn't seem particularly harmful. Biddle forms a bond with Slappy, enjoying the benefits of having a top-notch comedian by his side, which boosts his popularity. However, Slappy's antics eventually go too far, exposing the secrets of the "parents' group" in the story.
The parents, driven by pride, invade Biddle's home in an attempt to terrorize him and steal Slappy. However, their prank goes awry, and the house combusts in a demon-shaped fireball. The reason behind the demon-shaped flames remains unexplained, as Slappy was absent from the house at the time. While the parent group later attempts to justify their actions as a means to help Biddle, their true intentions are clear. As Biddle combusts into flames, he vows to exact revenge on the parent group's offspring, much like Freddy Krueger.
Biddle's appearance and abilities also draw inspiration from Freddy, including a sketchbook that allows him to trap people, similar to the Dreamworld. Throughout the series, the school-kid group discovers cursed items originating from Biddle's basement, which they conveniently destroy through the power of friendship. These cursed items are underwhelming, and the plot follows a repetitive pattern: romantic drama, rinse, and repeat.
From episode six onwards, the focus shifts to the group's pursuit of Slappy, who has limited screen time and proves to be a relatively weak foe. The group literally duct-tapes his mouth and disposes of him like common trash. The series concludes with a heartwarming reunion between Biddle and his parents, who forgive him for murdering them, and Biddle forgives the parent group for killing him. The final scene shows Slappy, still alive, at the end of the mountain, setting the stage for a potential sequel.
The first two episodes were dull, but the pace picks up later, particularly with the Grandfather Clock time-loop episode and the "Go Eat Worms" episode, before slowly declining. Visually, the series is refined, boasting a talented cast, especially Mr. Bratt. However, the plot is both basic and poorly executed.
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