Goosebumps Parent Guide

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.

About author

Donna Gustafson

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.