Review of Goosebumps (2015) by Troy C — 19 Jan 2016

Rather than adapting a single entry from the enormously popular book series, this film cleverly pays tribute to the novels by embarking on a new adventure that employs a plethora of R.L. Stine's monsters.

New kid on the block Zach (Dylan Minnette) and geeky tag-along Champ (Ryan Lee) find their way into a kooky house with a mysterious bookshelf full of locked manuscripts, all of which belong to grumpy recluse R.

L. Stine (Jack Black). After Zach and Champ inadvertently unlock a couple of the books, despite the best efforts of Stine's daughter Hannah (Odeya Rush), all hell breaks loose when Stine's collection of written nasties come to life.

The plot itself is weak and the jokes are hit and miss, however this spooky yarn is more concerned about spending time with our quartet of heroes as they go into an urban battle against all manner of eerie enemies, à la Gremlins.

There's the odd fright here and there to keep the younger audience members on their toes, but it's relatively tame even by PG standards. The main antagonist Slappy, a malevolent ventriloquist dummy, is wonderfully creepy though.

The array of monsters on display - including a werewolf, giant ant, abominable snowman, evil clown, vampire poodle, devilish gnomes, ghouls and a haunted car - are predominantly realised in CGI, completed to a satisfactory standard without ever being amazing.

Squarely focussed on offering cheap thrills for pre-teens and post-toddlers, Goosebumps is an enjoyable in-the-moment escapade.