When director Rob Letterman set about turning “Goosebumps” into a live-action movie, is must have seemed an impossible task. R.L. Stine had been consistently putting out child-friendly scares for over two decades, resulting in nearly 200 books in the “Goosebumps” series. That”s a lot of monsters and lot of good memories. How could one film possibly encompass a legacy like that?
Easy! You just make the movie about the books! Instead of choosing one story to adapt, “Goosebumps” takes the “Jumanji” approach. The books contain actual monsters that break free of their chains and must be put back before they destroy the town.
[Check out my visit to the set of “Goosebumps”.]
If you grew up in the 90s, chances are you were dragging an adult to the bookstore on the first of every month to pick up the latest from Mr. Stine. The trailers have showcased fan favorites such as Slappy and the Werewolf of Fever Swamp. But that”s only scratching the surface. As a handy guide, I collected EVERY SINGLE “Goosebumps” creature appearing in the film this weekend and the book they first appeared in.
[Read Drew McWeeny's review of the film!]
After the jump, strap in and get ready to fall down the nostalgia rabbit hole!