Goosebumps Parent Guide
From start to finish, this movie runs like an amusement ride full of thrills, twists and turns.
Parent Movie Review
R. L. Stine (who makes a cameo appearance in this film) is a best-selling author, well known for his Goosebumps series. These juvenile horror novels are not your average bedtime stories. As one of the characters in the movie explains: “They don’t put children to sleep—they keep them up all night.”
This big screen production presents a fictional version of the writer, played by Jack Black as a man with a big ego hidden behind the thin façade of someone seeking a life of anonymity. Perhaps his reclusive behavior is also the result of a few secrets he has concealed in his library…
Stine, who goes by the fictitious name of Mr. Shivers, finds his privacy threatened when his beautiful daughter Hannah (Odeya Rush) attracts the attention of a boy who has just moved into the neighborhood. Despite ominously warning Zach (Dylan Minnette) to leave them both alone, the teen instead becomes convinced the girl is in danger. When a call to the police fails to satisfy his concerns, Zach decides to investigate the situation himself. Still, he is smart enough to know he should take some back up with him. The problem is the only person besides Hannah that he’s met in his new home is a rather cowardly boy named Champ (Ryan Lee).
Whatever it is Zach and Champ are expecting when they break into the creepy house next door, it is not what they find. After sidestepping bear traps in the basement and tracking down a thumping sound upstairs, they bump into an annoyed Hannah who has no desire to be rescued. The do however discover a bookcase full of locked manuscripts that gives away the true identity of her Dad. And when they crack the cover of one of the volumes, they also learn the actual reason why the pair is in hiding.
No sooner do the leaves flip open than the abominable snowman, the title character of the tale, arises from the typewritten words. Unfortunately, this proves to be just the beginning of the escape into the real world of various other monsters created in Stine’s imagination. Aided by Slappy (voice of Jack Black), a ventriloquist dummy featured in another of his stories, the alarming creatures run amuck, destroying property, terrorizing citizens, welding weapons and promising to do whatever it takes so that they will never have to return to the confines of the printed page.
From start to finish, this movie runs like an amusement ride full of thrills, twists and turns. And just as theme parks have signs indicating how tall passengers should be before boarding, parents would be well advised not to take along those too little for this adventure. Although the screenplay spoofs many of the clichés found in this genre, the script never takes itself too seriously and the violence is not overly graphic. Al the same, the constant peril faced by the characters and the oft-times gruesome depictions of the villainous foes will be enough to scare most youngsters.
Boasting big production budgets and believable special effects, the film also includes positive portrayals of parents, teamwork and a few literary terms that might come in handy on your teen’s next English test. With few profanities and little sexual content, those looking for some fright factor may find this escapade delivers that desired goose bump sensation.
Directed by Rob Letterman. Starring Odeya Rush, Jack Black, Halston Sage, Amy Ryan. Running time: 103 minutes. Theatrical release October 16, 2015. Updated July 17, 2017
Goosebumps
Rating & Content Info
Why is Goosebumps rated PG? Goosebumps is rated PG by the MPAA for scary and intense creature action and images, and for some rude humor
Violence: An over-protective parent shouts at his daughter and verbally threatens her friends. Inept police officers make threats about using force and arresting people. Teens trespass on private property, climb on rickety equipment, break-and-enter and impersonate law enforcement personnel. Characters face continuous perilous situations. Monsters, zombies, humongous bugs and other frightening creatures attack people – although both parties have murderous intents, no real deaths are implied. Characters are injured, knocked out and frozen (with an alien gun). Property damage, weapon use and explosions occur frequently – these depictions are usually non-graphic. Some scary and gruesome transformations are shown.
Sexual Content: Several characters hug and kiss, including teenaged couples. An adult who is trying to appear in touch with youth trends makes a reference to a sexual dance style. Girls wear strapless prom gowns. Brief potty humor and infrequent mild slang terms for body parts are used. A teen boy flirts with girls.
Language: The script includes frequent terms of deity used as expletives, along with infrequent mild profanity, name-calling and slurs.
Alcohol / Drug Use: None noted.
Page last updated July 17, 2017
Goosebumps Parents' Guide
This movie is based on the Goosebumps books by R. L. Stine.
What kind of bedtime stories do you enjoy? Do you what to be terrified or soothed? The character Champ says he has read most of the of Stine’s books. Do you think reading horror novels may be a contributing factor in the paranoia he displays? How might the things you read (or watch) affect you?
How does Zach try to deal with the losses in his life? How helpful is it to try to stuff painful issues out of sight? What childhood trauma is Stine dealing with? What do you think of his solution to his problems? What are some productive things people can do to improve their mental and emotional health?
Throughout the movie Stine tries to enlighten the boys about the elements that make up a good story. Some of the things he lists are plot twists and emotional development for the characters. Does the movie follow his literary advice?
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Goosebumps movie is January 26, 2016. Here are some details…
Home Video Notes: Goosebumps
Release Date: 26 January 2016 (Digital: 12 January 2016)
Goosebumps releases to home video (Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack or Blu-ray Combo Pack & DVD) - Beginners Guide to Surviving a Goosebumps Creature
- Strange Things are Happening…On-Set
- Alternate Opening
- Alternate Ending
- Deleted Scenes
- Cast Blooper Reel
- All About Slappy
- Creaturefied!
- Casting Gallery
Related home video titles:
A board game comes to life setting numerous scary creatures loose on an unsuspecting town in Jumanji. In Inkheart other storybook characters are sent into the real world. A wannabe reporter gets more fright than he bargains on when he spends a night in a haunted house in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken.