Prolific author R.L. Stine scared a generation of children into loving the horror genre with his “Goosebumps” book series. In the years since he released his first young adult novel in the early 1990s and became a staple of Scholastic Book Fairs, that initial audience has grown to have kids of their own to share the spooky stories with. And not only has the franchise expanded to include an impressive collection of thrilling literary tales, but there are also films and TV shows that are bringing the brand to all-new audiences.
In late 2023, Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller brought their version of “Goosebumps” to life on Disney+ and Hulu. The series starring Justin Long and an excellent ensemble of young stars modernized fan-favorite stories like “Night of the Living Dummy,” “The Haunted Mask,” and “Welcome to Horrorland” by targeting a slightly older audience than the original books and not shying away from making things truly terrifying.
Now, after garnering much acclaim from fans and audiences alike, the anthology series has finally returned with a second installment titled “Goosebumps: The Vanishing.” Still showcasing an impressive collection of up-and-coming talent and Stine’s classic stories, the second season is headlined by TV veterans Ana Ortiz and David Schwimmer, who many will recognize from “Ugly Betty” and “Friends” respectively. Despite sounding great on paper, is this enough to bring viewers back for more? Well, if you’re a fan of shows like “Supernatural,” “American Horror Story,” “Scream Queens,” or “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” then the answer may just be yes.
“Goosebumps: The Vanishing” follows twins Cece and Devin as they head to Gravesend, Brooklyn to spend the summer with their father, Anthony. But when the tragic events of a familial loss resurface in the present day, they get entangled in a series of strange events that are seemingly connected to the mysterious disappearance of four teens in 1994. Though this doesn’t exactly jump out and scream “Goosebumps” based on that description alone, the second season will feature adaptations of “Stay Out of the Basement,” “The Haunted Car,” “Welcome to Camp Nightmare,” and other beloved “Goosebumps” stories.
First and foremost, it wasn’t made clear when the series first premiered that it would be an anthology. The cast and storyline established in season one were really exciting and engaging and could have continued. Plus, with the way the season finale left things, it seemed pretty obvious that there could be more to that story. Sure, R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” books didn’t always end with everything wrapped up nicely. And not every story needs closure after coming to its conclusion. But it really felt like we could have spent more time with the characters played by Isa Briones, Zack Morris, Miles McKenna, Anna Yi Puig, and Will Price.
With that being said, “Goosebumps: The Vanishing” goes just as hard (if not harder) in terms of spookiness. As previously mentioned, the original stories are reimagined for a slightly older demographic. From the teen drama to the dark undertones, that means that the dial is turned up on everything. For example, the season opens with a two-parter where a kid’s face melts off just like “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” And that’s just the start of the episode!
Things get even more gruesome from there, especially when it comes to the monsters. And we’re not just talking about the look of them either. The writing, the performance, and the special effects were all on point, but the real MVP of the process is the sound design. From the Venom-like black goo to the various “plant” beings, the horror elements of the series all came with their own gnarly choruses of squelches and gurgles that were masterfully crafted to make the viewer squirm.
Like the botany jokes of Schwimmer’s Anthony Brewer (which really is a vessel for the audience to see a new side of the fan-favorite actor), “Goosebumps: The Vanishing” will grow on you. The seeds the series plants in the first two episodes are enough to water your growing interest in the second season and see it grow to full maturation.
Score: 3/5
All eight episodes of “Goosebumps: The Vanishing” debuts on Disney+ and Hulu on January 10, 2025.