Growing up in the 90's meant watching "Goosebumps" on Halloween and at slumber parties. They were the perfect occasions to watch this show because certain episodes contained enough creepiness to scare us, which made walking around in the dark a non-viable option. From ghosts to werewolves, the monsters became all too real for us kids when we sat down and became consumed by the show. I still enjoy watching "Goosebumps," even though they're more cheesy than scary. There are still a few episodes that get me, like the ones listed below. The credits introduce the horrors that await the viewers that are brave enough.
1. "Stay Out of the Basement"
This was one of my favorite episodes as a kid. Mysterious sounds rising from the basement, creeping through the cracks, and sparking an interest in the kids residing in the house. What is that noise and why is it coming from the basement? It was a question that needed answering and Margaret was determined to find out, especially when her dad begins acting strange and refusing to let them go into the basement. He padlocks the door and forces Margaret and Casey to stay in their rooms while he is out, but even strict rules and locks cannot keep them from discovering the truth of what their dad is creating in the depths of the basement.
2. "The Haunted Mask I"
This particular episode was an hour chock-full of frightening moments that made young kids hide under the covers at night. Carly Beth is always being teased and picked on because of her fear of being scared. This Halloween she's had enough and plans to take revenge against the boys who relentlessly frighten her every chance they get. She steals a mask that becomes her faces, using the powers of Halloween to fuel its abilities to take over her body. She must discover a symbol of love to defeat the mask that has laid claim to her face.
3. "The Werewolf of Fever Swamp"
Grady and his family have moved into Fever Swamp so that his parents can observe how deer adapt to their surroundings. The neighbor kid feeds Grady a tale about how a werewolf stalks the swamp and how it killed the woman who owned the house that they just moved into. Grady soon finds out that werewolves are too real when the moon rises and it finds its way into his house. He attempts to save his family by luring the beast into the woods, discovering who is under the fur and claws. This was one episode that would leave me shaking, afraid to walk around the house at night unless I turned on every light.
4. "The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight"
Two siblings visit their grandparents to discover that things have changed drastically since their last visit. Grandma forgets to buy pancake ingredients and grandpa refuses to tell his scary stories because their farmhand gets scared listening to them. When the scarecrows begin to come to life, walking around the farm at night, the kids must find a way to make them stop. This was one episode that I didn't view until I was in high school, but I still found the concept of scarecrows creeping around at night scary.
5. "Night of the Living Dummy II"
Ventriloquist dolls take on a whole new meaning in this frightening episode of a young girl who receives Slappy as a new present. He begins terrorizing her family, who refuse to believe her excuses about the dummy until they see him come to life for themselves. Ventriloquist dolls are creppy enough on their own. If strange stuff started happening right when I got one as a present, it would be gone. I wouldn't take any chances. Also, if the doll came with a card that had funky words on it, I wouldn't read it out loud either. Everyone knows that those kinds of things always bring things to life.
6. "Welcome to Camp Nightmare"
Kids are getting injured and dying, but the camp counselors refuse to admit that anything is wrong at the camp. Billy seeks the truth about the forbidden bunk and the beast that roams the woods, needing to discover what is really going on at camp. This episode has a really interesting twist at the end that I never saw coming.
7. "One Day at Horrorland"
Why go to Zoo Gardens when you can go to Horrorland? Oh, I know. You won't die at Zoo Gardens. The Morris family finds their way into a theme park with rides that could cost them their lives. The kids wander off on their own, exploring rides that truly terrify them as they question the motives behind the creatures at the park. There is a particular musical number at the beginning of the episode when the Morris family enters the park, which I found a little disturbing. It makes you feel uneasy about the episode.
8. "The Headless Ghost"
Don't mock the ghosts...especially when the ghosts are leading the tour of the haunted house. They don't appreciate the joking tone in a young girl's voice when she pretends to be frightened only to scare her friend. She learns her lesson soon. My advice for the girl making jokes would have been to not investigate the haunted house that she was making fun of because being curious, but reckless is not a good combination. She should've listened to her friend.
9. "Night of the Living Dummy III"
Slappy is back and creating mischief in the home of his new family. Zane comes to visit and seeks revenges against his prankster cousins. They're all in for a scare when Slappy comes back to life, along with some of the other dummies in the house.
10. "The Haunted Mask II"
Steve is tired of being a pirate for Halloween and longs to be something much more frightening. He loots an abandoned party shop, finding a mask that will ultimately be his demise. He becomes the slave to the original haunted mask and must demonstrate love to save his friends as well as himself.
