Goosebumps 2023 Review: Watch it or Skip it?

Source: Variety

If you also grew up reading the ‘90s, R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” books, then you know how brilliantly he portrayed the stories. The writer knew how to center horror and thrills in books aimed toward tweens.

With “Goosebumps” feature film directed by Rob Letterman, Disney+/Hulu is trying its hand at a new modern update “Goosebumps” series that promises some of the same unique characters and adventures for a new generation. 

It has 10 episodes that all interconnect the lives of a group of 5 teens who are now paying for a terrible secret harbored by their parents for 30 years. 

It is promised that this 10-episode first season are scarier than fans remember. 

And when it comes to Goosebumps (2023) Cast, the two core characters are Older and Justin Long. and it premieres with five episodes. Read our Goosebumps 2023 review here!

What is Goosebumps 2023 rated?

Overall, Goosebumps is Rated TV-14 and contains, intense violence,  strong language, references to extramarital affairs, and sexual innuendo which means some content is not suitable for kids under 14.

Language in Goosebumps

2023 Goosebumps introduces language throughout each episode. The language includes uses of “son of a b! tch,” “d@mn,” “d@mn it,” “H-E-double-hockey-sticks,” “crap,” and “sucks”. 

There are also some milder insults including phrases like “jackass,” “moron,’ “idiot,” “stupid,” “dumb,” “I’m screwed,” “freaking,” “freaked out,” “freaky,” “shoot,” “heck,” and “oh my g-d.” 

Is Goosebumps OK for Kids?

As Goosebumps (2023) is dark and has a supernatural theme, there are a few weird events that may be too scary for young kids. 

Source: Boom

A teen who was killed is ready to take revenge and wants to take it out on the kids of those responsible. 

There are a lot of jump scares and suspenseful scenes. You will see different monsters and zombies too. As in other horror movies, in this show the tense and scary music leads to creepy scenes.

Additionally, there are some teen romance and kissing scenes. But nothing too passionate. Some characters drink alcohol. 

Is Goosebumps 2023  worth checking out? 

Created and directed by Nicholas Stoller and Rob Latterman, who previously directed many films including the Jack Black-led Goosebumps film. 

But this new Goosebumps (2023) is filled with modern jokes and entertaining performances that seem directed not just at the teen audience the show seems to appeal to, but their parents, too. 

The fact that it begins in 1993 when many of us parents would have been in our high school just like Harold Biddle is the first hint that this show was made partially by and for Gen X, the first generation that also grew up reading R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books. 

Source: IMDb

Goosebumps (2023) cast like Long, Harris, and Rob Huebel help to add some humor and name recognition, especially for us oldies watching.

While this Disney+ and Hulu series is a bit like Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, in that the kids are paying for the sins of their parents. 

But it's also true to the original Goosebumps books, with updates of classic stories like The Haunted Mask and The Cuckoo Clock of Doom.

Each episode in this series is told from a different character’s point of view. There are plenty of fantasy anthology shows out there, but Goosebumps is unique because it has a continuous storyline throughout the season.

The episodes are not just standalone stories; they're all interconnected to the same mystery. This makes the show more interesting and suspenseful.

Final Thoughts 

If you're a fan of horror, mystery, and comedy, Goosebumps 2023 is definitely worth checking out. It's especially good for fans of the original books.

While the ’90s version of Goosebumps was more focused on pre-teens and had a spooky-but-still-sorta-cheesy vibe, this version is updated with interesting plots, clever dialogue, and lots of pop culture references. 

The show is a bit scary, but it's also a lot of fun. It's perfect for us older girls who like horror movies and books.  This Goosebumps 2023  is full of twists and turns, and you'll never know what's going to happen next.