Are you really a 90s kid if you didn’t grow up with “Goosebumps”? RL Stine’s wildly popular book series became a cultural phenomenon, causing Scholastic book fairs around the world to descend into brawls as children clamored for the latest spooky tale. The “Goosebumps” novels were also adapted into a ’90s TV series, although true diehards may remember that one of Stine’s lesser-known creations, “The Nightmare Room,” received the same treatment shortly after. However, if you haven’t yet encountered this underseen gem, fear not: Tubi, which is quickly becoming one of the best streaming services, is currently streaming the show for free.
The original Fox Kids TV show “Goosebumps” ran for four seasons between 1995 and 1998, and it was a largely successful adaptation of Stine’s book series. “The Nightmare Room” was very similar in that it was a children’s horror anthology based on one of Stine’s literary creations, albeit short-lived. But the show itself proved just as short-lived, originally airing on Kids’ WB and lasting only one season, from August 31, 2001 to March 16, 2002.
The “Goosebumps” series came at the right time, capitalizing on the success of the books and offering a gateway to horror for an entire generation. Unfortunately, “The Nightmare Room” just didn’t benefit from anything like that. The books were nowhere near as popular, and the appetite for middle grade horror just didn’t seem to be what it once was when they came out. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stream the “Nightmare Room” adaptation, especially since it features what is surely one of the best casts of a children’s show ever made and is downright scary at times.
The Nightmare Room features all your favorite 90s kid stars
In addition to being one of the most popular children’s novelists of the ’90s, RL Stine was also prolific in a rather shocking way. PBS claims it has produced more than 350 novels, but you can find other sources that put that number at more than 500. (It’s no wonder publisher Scholastic filed a lawsuit in 1999 accusing it of using ghostwriters.) Regardless, Stine has churned out books at a rate that would have Stephen King atomized into the ether of his own macroverse. As such, you’ve probably never heard of “The Nightmare Room,” which the author produced after parting ways with Scholastic. But this is your chance to acquaint yourself with this lesser-known corner of Stine’s verse via the equally neglected television adaptation.
“The Nightmare Room” is only 13 episodes long, so it’s a quick watch. However, those of you who miss your youth might just want more. Indeed, this series is as fun and nostalgic as the 2020s TV show “Goosebumps” and is chock-full of children’s TV legends from the late ’90s and early 2000s. First, it’s narrated by James Avery. Yes, Uncle Phil himself provided the “Twilight Zone” style narration that ends each episode, and what makes things a lot cooler is that the producers just lied and claimed it was Stine.
If that’s not enough to pique your interest, how about Amanda Bynes or a young Shia LaBeouf haunted by the ghost of a little boy played alternately by Dylan and Cole Sprouse? Drake Bell also appears as a boy who discovers a newspaper that predicts his death, and there’s even a “Malcom in the Middle” reunion (or pre-union, since that show had just started airing) with Frankie Muniz, Justin Berfield and Tania Raymonde.
The Hall of Nightmares Features Real Scares and Horror Royalty
Produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions, the same company responsible for the impeccable classics “All That,” “Kenan & Kel” and “The Amanda Show,” “The Nightmare Room” was one of the first two live-action shows to air on Kids’ WB. Like so much ’90s media (including the scariest episodes of “Goosebumps”), “The Nightmare Room” pushed the boundaries of what could be shown on children’s television, especially compared to today’s scary offerings for youngsters. Episodes included the story of child ghosts who lure new victims by forgetting their families, as well as the story of lying Josh Ryan (played by Justin Berfield of “Malcom in the Middle), whose surprisingly elaborate lies begin to come true.
Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund, who appears in the third episode as Mr. Bell, a teacher who thankfully remains non-murderous during the nighttime hours, gives the series an extra dose of horror gravitas. If that’s still not enough for you, how about Tippi Hedren! Yes, the starlet of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Marnie” and “The Birds,” as well as a screen legend on every level, is in this series that no one has ever seen, playing a twisted witch who presides over a cruel children’s reality game show. How can you say no?
Well, you can’t really, since “The Nightmare Room” is streaming for free after becoming partially lost media in the years since its initial broadcast. Eight of the 13 episodes were made available via two DVDs, but five of the installments were never released on physical media. Now it’s all on Tubi, which also has some really good horror movies. So if you’re the type who likes a strong dose of nostalgia with your Halloween scares, this one is not to be missed.
