Goosebumps (2023) – Series Review [Hulu/Disney+]

GOOSEBUMPS (2023) on Hulu and Disney+ is a new and darker series based on the famous books of the same name. The core characters are older and Justin Long plays a key character. Definitely worth checking out and it premieres with five episodes. Read our 2023 Goosebumps series review here!

GOOSEBUMPS (2023) is a new series on Hulu and Disney+ with ten episodes. Unlike earlier adaptions of the famous books, this one is quite a bit darker. While it’s still family-oriented, you should watch it with your younger teens. Maybe some even younger viewers can watch it, but it does get brutal at times.

The core characters are older, so we’re dealing with deeper and more serious subjects. Both for themselves and their families. Then comes the supernatural and paranormal elements and this is where the classic horror moments appear.

Continue reading our 2023 Goosebumps series review below. The first five episodes are on Hulu and Disney+ from October 13, 2023.

Less comedy, more darkness

In this 2023 adaption, Goosebumps yet again plays out in a small town haunted by its past. We follow a group of teens, who must band together to save their town. It’s no easy task as they need to investigate the tragic passing of a teenager three decades earlier. His name was Harold Biddle and we meet him in the opening scene.

While trying to solve the mystery, they are constantly battling paranormal challenges. Some leave physical scars while others are of a more psychological variety.

Oh yes, this Goosebumps in the 2023 version is a much darker series than when Jack Black was part of the cast.

Justin Long in Goosebumps 

I’ve always enjoyed previous adaptations of Goosebumps to some degree, but this is definitely the one that hits the hardest in terms of horror. It’s simply darker (the official rating is TV-14) and there are quite brutal moments. The comedy takes a backseat overall, but it’s not like there is no comedy at all. It’s just that this is also darker.

I mean, Justin Long plays a key role, and it would be a shame to not let him use his comedy talent as well. Be warned though, Justin Long plays a character that goes through a lot and goes very dark places as well.

Still, the fact that Justin Long is in this 2023 adaption will undoubtedly also be enough reason for many to check it out. As they should. He has done so many brilliant genre productions from the 2001 hit Jeepers Creepers (yeah, I know, the director is a creep) to Sam Raimi‘s Drag Me to Hell in 2009, Kevin Smith’s Tusk in 2014, and Barbarian in 2022. To name just a select few.

For me, if Justin Long is in it, I’ll always give it a shot.

Watch Goosebumps (2023) on Hulu and Disney+ now

The 2023 Goosebumps is still inspired by R.L. Stine’s worldwide bestselling book series, “Goosebumps”. The creators (or rather, developers) of this adaptation are Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller.

Along with Justin Long, the cast features Rachael Harris (Lucifer), Zack Morris, Isa Briones (Star Trek: Picard), Miles Mckenna (Nocturne), Ana Yi Puig, Will Price, and Ben Cockell.

The first five episodes of the 2023 Goosebumps series will premiere on Friday the 13th, which means you could easily celebrate the special horror day with the family by watching this. The official genres are comedy, fantasy, and horror. Again, the rating is TV-14, so be sure to watch this with your younger family members to introduce genre stories in the best way possible.

Goosebumps (2023) is on Hulu and Disney+ with 5 episodes on October 13, 2023. The remaining five will stream weekly with the season finale dropping on November 17, 2023.

Details

Creators: Rob Letterman, Nicholas Stoller
Cast: Justin Long, Rachael Harris, Zack Morris, Isa Briones, Miles Mckenna, Ana Yi Puig, Will Price