Growing up, I was a “Goosebumps” kid. I read the books, watched the original 90s Fox show and played the “HorrorLand” game on the Wii. In 2023, Disney+ released a contemporary reboot of “Goosebumps” with a unique take. The original series followed an anthology format of standalone stories, a “Twilight Zone” for kids; the 2023 show rather told a serialized story unfolding across the entire season and did not directly adapt one book, instead drawing ideas and plotlines from many. Made by older fans who grew up with the original series, the show was aimed towards a similar demographic. After the popularity of season one, Disney greenlit a follow-up: “Goosebumps: The Vanishing.” Disclaimer for spoilers! In the famous words of R.L. Stine, “Reader Beware — You’re in for a Scare!”
“Goosebumps: The Vanishing” premiered on Disney+ on January 10, 2025, featuring “Goosebumps” books “Stay Out of the Basement”, “The Haunted Car”, “Monster Blood”, “Welcome to Camp Nightmare”, “The Ghost Next Door”, “The Girl Who Cried Monster” and “Invasion of the Body Squeezers.” As noted above, “The Vanishing’s” older intended audience does not prohibit it from embracing the horror genre. There were moments in the show that genuinely gave me goosebumps. The original “Stay Out of the Basement” is notorious for its use of body-horror, a “Goosebumps” rarity. In one episode, David Schwimmer’s (“Friends”) character, Anthony the botanist, encounters a parasitoid alien that plants itself into his arm. Disturbingly, Anthony cuts open his arm with scissors and pulls the alien out. Other body-horror moments include eyes falling out and dangling from vines, a decapitated character forced to watch his remains be liquified and human transformations into monsters. While no blood is seen, it can be uncomfortable to watch and begs the question: how is this on Disney+?
“The Vanishing” tells one single narrative, abandoning the anthology format of the original 90s show. Consider the popularity of shows like “Stranger Things” or Nickelodeon’s recent reboot of another 90s kids horror series “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”; both shows tell one story per season. This shift proves the “Goosebumps” franchise is adapting to modern preferences. The previous season focused on the supernatural; “The Vanishing” features a science fiction plot which differentiates it from its predecessor. Additionally, Disney dropped all eight episodes at once, unlike the weekly release of season one. As a show made for streaming, I feel this works in its favor.
As an analog horror fan, I was delighted when one of the episodes took on a found footage medium. A series standout, it follows, via recovered camera footage, four teens who vanished in 1994 and their experiences in Camp Nightmare (a secret government laboratory). All analog horror staples are included: shaky cameras, monsters hiding in the shadows and first person POVs of intense moments. The series has another period episode set in the 1960s showing the alien’s origin. While not found footage, it does fully embrace the aesthetic of the decade, switching to a different aspect ratio with a slight film grain and on point set design, costumes and music.
The show’s soundtrack is fantastic, and the showrunners did a spectacular job matching the music to each time-period, featuring everything from the 60s sunshine pop of The Association to Beastie Boys hip hop. The contemporary songs encompass the 2024 summer hits, including selections from “BRAT”, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” and various Taylor Swift songs. I personally like the original score from the Newton Brothers (“Doctor Sleep”) and its creepy vibes. While nothing compares with the original 90s “Goosebumps” theme tune, the new intro sets the show’s darker tone.
Every piece of “Goosebumps” media concludes with a plot twist, regardless of how absurd it may be. My only major complaint with “The Vanishing” is that the twist is underwhelming. The show finishes with a character vomiting a piece of the supposedly defeated alien, implying that humanity is still in trouble. I personally feel there was a missed opportunity to use the iconic twist from “Welcome to Camp Nightmare” in which the characters are revealed to be aliens preparing to invade Earth, or “The Girl Who Cried Monster” twist in which the main character learns she and her family were monsters the whole time. “The Vanishing’s” ending works as a cliffhanger but lacks in “Goosebumps” zaniness.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Goosebumps: The Vanishing.” The story has a solid mystery with many twists and turns. The entire cast is fantastic, but Schwimmer steals the show, giving a performance that is both comedic and genuinely frightening. Despite being from kids’ books, the series is anything but childish, having disturbing and suspenseful moments. I highly recommend this incredible season and if you aren’t hooked after episode one, I encourage you to keep watching — it will grow on you, I promise.
