Just in time for Halloween, this spook fest pulls back the curtains on RL Stine, the author of the popular kids’ horror series Goosebumps
Viewers beware — you’re in for a scare. Though, if you’re a grown up, you’ll probably be more entertained than scared.
Goosebumps, the movie, revives the series of horror novels of the same name, which many kids of the 1990s grew up reading.
The “Goosebumps” series of books was known to have kooky yet spooky covers that were sometimes borderline unsettling, such as a sinister-looking puppet, murderous garden gnomes and a shrunken human head in a child’s bedroom. Still, they possessed a strange magnetism that piqued the curiosity of many a young bookworm.
Now, this series is back in a retro film reboot that both adults and kids can enjoy.
CREATURE FEATURE
Jack Black plays children’s author RL Stine, who wrote spooky yet kooky kids’ horror stories in the ‘90s.
Interestingly, this new movie that’s directed by Rob Letterman (who was also behind Shark Tale and Monsters vs Aliens) takes a leaf from almost every book in the original series.
After moving to a small town, teenager Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) makes friends with his neighbour, Hannah Stine (Odeya Rush). Her father is none other than the author of the “Goosebumps” stories, RL Stine, portrayed by the live wire, Jack Black (star of School of Rock and Kung Fu Panda).
One day, Zach unintentionally opens one of Mr Stine’s manuscripts — a fateful act that unleashes a host of his monstrous and ghoulish creations including Slappy the Dummy, the Abominable Snowman, giant praying mantises and even living lawn gnomes.
Zach and Hannah must work together with him and use his knowledge of the creatures’ powers and weaknesses to recapture them before their town gets overrun by nasty demons.
THRILLS AND SPILLS FOR THE FAMILY
Zach (right, Dylan Minnette) must work with his new neighbours Mr RL Stine (left, Jack Black) and his daughter, Hannah (Odeya Rush), to recapture the monsters of Stine’s creation.
If you’re worried that these otherworldly creatures may be too terrifying for your kids, rest assured that Stine himself made sure that the young ones would not be scared silly.
Before filming started, Black and Letterman had lunch with Stine, who advised them to “make sure it’s scary but not too scary because, remember, in my audience there are a lot of kids”. And when Stine saw the script, he gave it a thumbs-up.
The end result is a fun movie that Black’s own kids — seven and nine years old — found “super-exciting but not terrifying”.
STRANGER DANGER?
Being a fan and collector of the original “Goosebumps” books, I can’t help but have a sneaking suspicion that the movie might follow in the footsteps of the novels.
Stine is known to lure his readers in with familiar places and people, before flooring you with a jaw-dropping revelation.
In this case, I’m sure we’re in for a bumpy ride beyond the threat of the monsters.
So, even if you’re an adult and Stine’s ghouls and freaks don’t scare you, you (probably) won’t be disappointed by the plot.
Don’t let your guard down for a minute. The titular “Goosebumps” may arrive not from the creepy creatures but from the hair-raising revelation at the end. I know I can’t wait.
By Pamela Chow
Goosebumps [PG]
Director: Rob Letterman
Starring: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Amy Ryan & Odeya Rush
Genre: Action, Comedy
Run length: 103 min
Release: 29 Oct
ALSO LURKING IN CINEMAS NEAR YOU
CRIMSON PEAK [NC16]
In this haunting Gothic horror film by legendary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, an aspiring author is trying to escape the trauma of a recent family tragedy but she is swept away into a mansion that breathes, bleeds
and remembers.
Torn between her old love and the temptation of a stranger, she slowly uncovers the horrors of Crimson Peak.
Release: 15 Oct
ARE YOU HERE? [TBA]
A group of game designers, on the verge of closing their business, receives a handsome offer from a lady: big money to complete and publish an online game by her son, who had suddenly died in a mysterious car accident.
But the game is a cursed Ouija Board and, as the hauntings begin, gory truths come to light.
Release: 15 Oct
THE LAST WITCH HUNTER [PG13]
500 years ago, witch hunter Kaulder (Vin Diesel) managed to kill the Queen Witch and capture the dangerously powerful Plague Box. In the process, Kaulder has been cursed with immortality, and now pursues surviving witches that endanger humanity.
However, a new enemy now rises and sets eyes on the Plague Box, and Kaulder must rally his forces to prevent the extinction of mankind.
Release: 22 Oct
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION [NC16]
Continuing its chilling use of surveillance camera footage, the sixth film in the Paranormal Activity series follows the Fleeges family — a couple and their young daughter — who moves into a new house and discovers a video camera in the garage.
Peering through the camera’s lens, they begin seeing supernatural activity in their home, exposing the disturbing history of characters from the previous films.
Release: 29 Oct
ADVERTISEMENTS