The Film
"I didn't know being an audiophile was a crime."
After author R. L. Stine launched the Goosebumps series in the early 90s, bedtime was never the same again -- at least, not without a good closet check. If you aren't familiar with Stine's work, you probably had a pretty sheltered childhood or just didn't appreciate having the pants scared off of you. The author has been called the "Stephen King of children's literature," and believe it not, that's pretty darn accurate.
It shouldn't be surprising that kids would gobble up the adventures of jack-o'-lanterns coming to life, kids turning into chickens, a haunted Halloween mask, a creepy ventriloquist dummy, and so many others. What is shocking is that it took Hollywood so long to bring Goosebumps to the big screen. Well, it was absolutely worth the wait.
The film's main character is Zach (Dylan Minnette), a New York-born teenager who moves to Madison, Delaware, along with his mom (Amy Ryan). Madison is quiet, pretty, and kind of like hell on Earth -- literally. That's because there's a lot of weirdness going down next door to Zach's new digs. He seems particularly interested in whatever is going on over there, mainly because one of his new neighbors is cute girl Hannah (Odeya Rush). However, her father is a little less welcoming. He's author R.L. Stine (Jack Black), who is weird and alienating, but for good reason. It's because he's created a series of literary monsters, who are very real and very interested in wreaking havoc, so the books must be kept locked up at all times.
As you can imagine, the books are cracked and all hell breaks loose. It's here that Goosebumps introduces (or reminds) audiences of Stine's classic characters. It's a roller-coaster ride with tons of surprises, mayhem, and of course, monsters. It's also very reminiscent of another classic family-friendly adventure, Jumanji. And it's awesome.
The Picture
Sony has given Goosebumps a frightfully good 2.40:1 transfer. Sadly, I wasn't able to get the 3D version for review, which is a shame. I'm guessing every single time audiences see a book get opened, it's probably a pretty trippy 3D experience. However, the 2D Blu-ray is a lot of fun. Colors pop in a lot of scenes, from the greens of Delaware to the coral wallpaper in Zach's house to Slappy's bow tie/flower combo. This is not an easy feat, seeing how the film can be pretty dark (in more ways than one). Speaking of which, the black levels are also a standout. It's one big bowl of eye candy, with impressive details to match. The shine on the gym floor and the strands of hair in the student body all stand out, as does the texture on Zach's sweatshirt and the peach fuzz on his throat. The CGI is obvious and everywhere, but it blends nicely into the film. I have absolutely no complaints about this one.
The Sound
Goosebumps is another example of how Dolby Atmos can give a film a little bump -- and a screech, a scratch, and even a few screams. This is a fun track, with tons of overhead sound effects, especially when monsters are afoot. When those storybook characters come and go is when you'll experience the best audio moments. However, the presence of that Yeti, Slappy the creepy puppet, the Invisible Boy, a giant praying mantis, and so much more all come with awesome overhead sound. Even the falling candy and typing from above sound cool here. If I have one gripe, it's that the music at the high school dance could have packed a little more punch. It doesn't last for long though and soon enough, the overhead thuds make up for that fleeting moment. For the most part though, the surrounds are pretty darn active as well, with chattering gnomes, a barking werewolf, zombies, and even a runaway Ferris wheel. Between all of the eerie silence and complete mayhem, the dialogue always sounds great. This is a really fun, engaging track.
The Extras
At the end of the feature film, the disc launches into almost five minutes about Slappy, that creepy puppet from the film and R.L. Stine's Night of the Living Dummy. Both Slappy and his creator talk a little about Slappy the big-screen star, before the short launches into how the puppet came to life (literally) for the movie. (Good luck sleeping after that one.) That same featurette and several others are available through the disc's main menu. That lineup includes a blooper reel, deleted scenes, an alternate opening, and screen tests. There's also a trio of super-short featurettes about the creatures and some of the "weirdness" that was present during the production process.
Final Thoughts
Shoving an entire book series into one 103-minute movie sounds like an impossible task, but Goosebumps delivers. It's frantic but fun, with an AV experience to match. That Dolby Atmos track really adds to the experience, making this a wonderfully immersive, awesome viewing experience for all ages. Enjoy.
Product Details
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