The Haunted Mask (Goosebumps episode)

Last updated

"The Haunted Mask"
Goosebumps episodes
The Haunted Mask VHS.jpg
Cover of the VHS released in 1996
Episode nos.Season 1
Episodes 1 & 2
Directed by Timothy Bond
Teleplay by José Rivera
Based on The Haunted Mask
by R. L. Stine
Presented byR. L. Stine
Produced bySteve Levitan
Patrick Doyle (co-producer)
Featured music Jack Lenz
Cinematography byBrian R. R. Hebb
Editing byRobert K. Sprogis
Original air datesOctober 27, 1995 (U.S.)
October 28, 1995 (Canada)
Episode chronology
← Previous
—		Next →
"The Cuckoo Clock of Doom"
List of episodes

"The Haunted Mask" is the feature-length series premiere of the television series Goosebumps . The episode is based on the book of the same name by R. L. Stine and is about Carly Beth, a timid girl who buys a Halloween mask that soon begins merging with her face. It first aired on October 27, 1995, in the United States on the Fox network, where it was viewed by 7.9 million households. In Canada, where the episode was filmed, it aired one day later on the YTV network. At the time, it had almost 3 million viewers and was YTV's highest-rated episode. Kathryn Long, who played Carly Beth, obtained a Gemini Award nomination for "Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series".

Contents

"The Haunted Mask" was released on VHS on March 12, 1996. Billboard ranked the VHS as the 75th bestselling home video of 1996. More than 2.5 million units of the VHS had been sold by August 1996.

Plot

Carly Beth Caldwell (Kathryn Long) is repeatedly scared by two classmates, Chuck Greene (Amos Crawley) and Steve Boswell (George Davis). On Halloween, they fool her into eating a sandwich that contains a worm. In anger, Carly Beth runs home and rips the duck costume her mother (Brenda Bazinet) made for her. She decides to go to a mask shop hoping to find something that will scare Chuck and Steve. In the store, she finds a back room filled with some hideous masks. The store's owner (Colin Fox) refuses to sell any of the masks, so Carly Beth steals one and tosses money to him before leaving. At home, she uses the mask to frighten her brother, Noah (Cody Jones). She has trouble taking the mask off, and when it finally comes off, she and Noah are unsure about how she unintentionally changed her voice. After putting on the mask again, Carly Beth takes a mold of her head that her mother made for her and leaves the house to meet her best friend, Sabrina Mason (Kathryn Short).

Carly Beth starts to act differently: she frightens other children, throws candy onto the ground, and destroys Halloween decorations. After scaring Chuck and Steve, she buries the mold of her head. While at Sabrina's house, Carly Beth is shocked to find she is unable to remove the mask as it seems to have become part of her skin. She goes back to the mask shop to find the owner waiting for her. The shop owner tells Carly Beth that the mask is a real face and the only way to remove it is with a "symbol of love." Carly Beth begins to cry out in horror, awakening the other masks who begin to pursue her. Chased by the other masks, she runs to the cemetery and digs up the mold her mother gave her. Carly Beth uses the mold to deter the other masks and is able to remove the mask from her face. She returns home to her mother, tossing the mask near the door. Carly Beth is horrified to see Noah wearing the mask upon his return.

Production

The episode is based on The Haunted Mask , the 11th book in the original Goosebumps series written by R. L. Stine and published by Scholastic. When Stine appeared at the top of the USA Today bestseller list in 1994, Margaret Loesch, the CEO of Fox Kids at the time, took notice. She bought her son a copy of the Goosebumps book Say Cheese and Die! and his positive response to it led her to offer Scholastic a TV deal for the series. [1] [2]

Filming for the Goosebumps TV series, including "The Haunted Mask", began in 1995 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. [3] Producer Steve Levitan said the horror elements of the episode were toned down because of concerns about "the broad demographic appeal" and the "much younger kids" who would be part of the audience. [4] When they filmed the scene in which Carly Beth bites into the sandwich with a worm in it, they originally planned on using a rubber worm. However, they used a real worm at the insistence of actress Kathryn Long, who played Carly Beth. The scene had to be shot 12 times. [5]

Release

"The Haunted Mask" first aired during primetime on October 27, 1995, in the United States on the Fox network, and one day later in Canada on the YTV network as the series premiere of the Goosebumps TV series. [6] [7] The episode is hosted by R. L. Stine, who is featured in the mask shop that appears in the episode. [8]

"The Haunted Mask" was released on VHS on March 12, 1996, by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; [9] [10] this VHS contained a preview of the production for the Goosebumps episode "A Night in Terror Tower" and a bookmark. [9] Billboard listed the VHS as the 75th bestselling home video of 1996, the only Goosebumps video on the list. [11] It was also listed as the 12th bestselling children's video for the same year. [12] The VHS had sold 500 thousand copies one week after its release, and 2.5 million copies by August 10, 1996. [3] [13]

A sequel to the episode, titled "Haunted Mask II", first aired on October 29, 1996. It was based on the similarly titled 36th installment of the Goosebumps series that was released in October 1995. In this story, Steve, not interested in wearing his mother's homemade pirate costume, finds and puts on a mask with the visage of an old man with spiders in his hair. John White replaced George Davis as Steve in "Haunted Mask II". [14]

Themes

"The Haunted Mask" has themes of peer taunting and family frustrations. The desire to fit in and peer pressure causes Carly Beth to behave in a disturbing manner because, according to Michelle Erica Green from FamilyWonder.com, she does not appreciate her positive qualities. [15] Children's Video Report wrote that at its conclusion, Carly Beth has to "learn to love and accept herself if she is to find happiness." [8] The Chicago Tribune 's Scott Blakey stated that the episode reveals "the dark side of childhood cruelty toward those who find themselves out of step with their peers or the in-group." [16]

Reception

In the United States, "The Haunted Mask" received a Nielsen rating of 8.2, which means it was viewed in 8.2 percent of all households with a TV or about 7.9 million households in total. [17] The episode was ranked 62nd in ratings for the week of October 23–29. [17] In Canada, "The Haunted Mask" was YTV's highest-rated episode up to that point, with nearly three million viewers. It had more viewers than its competition on CBC, CTV, and Global during its time slot. [4]

In 2012, R. L. Stine said "The Haunted Mask" was his favorite Goosebumps episode. [18] Scott Blakey from the Chicago Tribune stated that, properly presented, "The Haunted Mask" is "a cautionary tale that will thrill viewers 10 and older", but "it has the power to spook younger children." [16] Frazier Tharpe, Brendan Klinkenberg, and Khal from Complex.com named it the 10th best Halloween themed TV episode and called it one of the scariest Goosebumps episodes. They stated that the "sight of conflicted Carly Beth burying a mold of her real face in the cemetery while the Haunted Mask becomes snarlingly real was, and still is, shockingly unsettling for a kids horror series." [19] FamilyWonder.com's Michelle Erica Green, who gave the episode a C rating, thought that "The Haunted Mask" had genuinely scary and exciting scenes, but felt it had stereotypical characters and a corny feel-good message which weakened its impact. She stated that some of the special effects were hokey as well. [15] In 1997, Kathryn Long received a Gemini Award nomination for "Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series" for her work on the episode. [20]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Haunted Mask</i> 11th novel by R. L. Stine

The Haunted Mask is the eleventh book in the original Goosebumps, the series of children's horror fiction novels created and written by R. L. Stine. The book follows Carly Beth, a girl who buys a Halloween mask from a store. After putting on the mask, she starts acting differently and discovers that the mask has become her face; she is unable to pull the mask off. R. L. Stine says he got the idea for the book from his son who had put on a Frankenstein mask he had trouble getting off.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. L. Stine</span> American writer and producer (born 1943)

Robert Lawrence Stine, sometimes known as Jovial Bob Stine and Eric Affabee, is an American novelist, short story writer, television producer, screenwriter, and executive editor.

<i>Goosebumps</i> Series of childrens novels by R. L. Stine

Goosebumps is a series of horror novels written by American author R. L. Stine. The protagonists in these stories are teens or pre-teens who find themselves in frightening circumstances, often involving the supernatural, the paranormal, or the occult. Between 1992 and 1997, 62 books were published under the Goosebumps umbrella title. R. L. Stine also wrote various spin-off series, including, Goosebumps Series 2000, Give Yourself Goosebumps, Tales to Give You Goosebumps, Goosebumps Triple Header, Goosebumps HorrorLand, Goosebumps Most Wanted and Goosebumps SlappyWorld. Additionally there was a series called Goosebumps Gold that was never released.

<i>Welcome to Dead House</i> 1992 book by R.L. Stine

Welcome to Dead House is the first book in the original Goosebumps book series. It was first published in July 1992 along with Stay Out of the Basement and Monster Blood, the second and third books. Additionally, it was re-released in 2010 as the thirteenth book under the Classic Goosebumps title, featuring new artwork by Brandon Dorman.

<i>The Nightmare Room</i> American horror anthology television series (2001–2002)

The Nightmare Room is an American children's anthology horror series that aired on Kids' WB. The series was based on the short-lived children's book series that went by the same title created by Goosebumps author, R. L. Stine. The Nightmare Room originally aired from August 31, 2001, to March 16, 2002, in the United States.

<i>Goosebumps</i> (1995 TV series) Horror anthology television series

Goosebumps is a children's anthology horror television series based on R. L. Stine's best-selling book series of the same name. It is an anthology of stories involving children and young adults in strange situations. The series is centered around the same supernatural or occult elements featured in the novels with most episodes being direct adaptions of the novels.

<i>The Werewolf of Fever Swamp</i> 14th Goosebumps novella

The Werewolf of Fever Swamp is the fourteenth book in the original Goosebumps, the series of children's horror fiction novellas created and authored by R. L. Stine. The story follows Grady Tucker, who moves into a new house next to the Fever Swamp with his family. After a swamp deer is killed, his father believes Grady's dog is responsible, but Grady is convinced a werewolf is the culprit.

<i>A Night in Terror Tower</i> Novel by R. L. Stine

A Night in Terror Tower is the twenty-seventh book in the original Goosebumps, the series of children's horror fiction novels created and authored by R. L. Stine. It was adapted into a two-part episode, an audiobook, and a board game. The plot is loosely based on the historical Princes in the Tower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slappy the Dummy</span> Villain in the Goosebumps book series

Slappy the Dummy is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the Goosebumps children's series by R. L. Stine. He is one of the series' most popular villains, the main antagonist of the Night of the Living Dummy saga and the mascot of the franchise. He is also the main antagonist of the Goosebumps film and its Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween sequel, where Stine describes him as a "ventriloquist's dummy with a serious Napoleonic complex". He comes alive by these words: "Karru Marri Odonna Loma Molanu Karrano", and they can be found on a sheet of paper in Slappy's jacket pocket. After coming to life, Slappy will try to make the person who brought him to life serve him as a slave, to the point that he will frame that person for bad things that he does.

<i>The Haunting Hour: Dont Think About It</i> 2007 American film

R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It is a 2007 American children's horror film based on the children's book of the same name by R. L. Stine. The film was directed by Alex Zamm, written by Dan Angel and Billy Brown, and stars Emily Osment, Cody Linley, Brittany Curran, and Tobin Bell. It was released direct-to-DVD. The plot follows a goth girl named Cassie moving into a new town and fascinated by the occult. At a mysterious Halloween store, the store owner insists on selling her an old book. Stuck with her brother Max on Halloween night, she reads the book to him, despite the book's warnings not to read it out loud or think about its monster. After the monster comes to life and captures Max, Cassie, with help from her friend, must save Max and defeat the monster before their parents return from a Halloween party.

Goosebumps HorrorLand is a horror novella series by R.L. Stine, a spin-off of his popular Goosebumps books. There was an almost ten-year gap between the publication of the initial installment in the Goosebumps Horrorland.

<i>One Day at HorrorLand</i> 1994 book by R.L. Stine

One Day at HorrorLand was originally published in February 1994 and is the sixteenth children's horror novel in R. L. Stine's Goosebumps series. It was adapted into a two-part episode for the television series, which was later released on VHS and DVD. A comic adaptation of the book was included in the graphic novel compilation Terror Trips, part of the Goosebumps Graphix series. There were two video games, an audiobook, and an adult-aimed interactive show based on the book. A sequel in the spin-off series Goosebumps Series 2000 titled Return to HorrorLand was published in 1999. The HorrorLand theme park was expanded upon in the book series Goosebumps HorrorLand. The two-part episode was released on VHS and DVD. The book and episodes received positive reception.

<i>Goosebumps</i> (film) 2015 American film by Rob Letterman

Goosebumps is a 2015 American horror comedy film directed by Rob Letterman and written by Darren Lemke, based on R. L. Stine's children's horror book series of the same name. The film stars Jack Black as a fictionalized version of Stine, who teams up with his neighbor and his teenage daughter, to save their hometown after all the monsters from the Goosebumps franchise escape from his works, wreaking havoc in the real world. It also stars Amy Ryan, Ryan Lee, and Jillian Bell in supporting roles.

<i>Elviras Movie Macabre</i> American hosted horror movie television program

Elvira's Movie Macabre, or simply Movie Macabre, is an American hosted horror movie television program that originally aired locally from 1981 to 1986. The show features B movies, particularly those in the horror and science fiction genres, and is hosted by Elvira, a character with a black dress and heaven bump hairstyle, played by Cassandra Peterson. Elvira occasionally interrupts the films with comments and jokes, and in some episodes receives phone calls from a character called "the Breather".

Goosebumps is a series of children's horror fiction novellas by R. L. Stine. 62 books were published under the Goosebumps umbrella title from 1992 to 1997; the first was Welcome to Dead House; the last was Monster Blood IV. The cover illustrations for this series was done primarily by Tim Jacobus.

Goosebumps video games are a series of action-adventure games based on Goosebumps book series.

<i>Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween</i> 2018 film by Ari Sandel

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is a 2018 American horror comedy film directed by Ari Sandel and written by Rob Lieber from a story by Lieber and Darren Lemke. A stand-alone sequel to 2015's Goosebumps, it is based on the children's horror book series of the same name by R. L. Stine. The new cast consists of Wendi McLendon-Covey, Madison Iseman, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Caleel Harris, Chris Parnell, and Ken Jeong. The plot follows two young boys who accidentally release the monsters from the Goosebumps franchise in their town after opening an unpublished Goosebumps manuscript titled Haunted Halloween, causing a wave of destruction on Halloween night.

<i>Goosebumps</i> (2023 TV series) 2023 American TV series or program

Goosebumps is an American supernatural horror television series developed by Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller for Disney+ and Hulu. It is based on the book series by R. L. Stine. The series abandons the anthology format of the 1995 original TV series to focus on a serialized style of storytelling instead, while still featuring some of the existing Goosebumps monsters and items.

References

  1. ↑ Jones, Patrick (1998). What's so Scary about R.L. Stine?. Scarecrow Press, Inc. p.  165. ISBN   0-8108-3468-5.
  2. ↑ Jeanne Dugan, I. (November 4, 1996). "Goosebumps: The Thing That Ate The Kids' Market" . Bloomberg News . Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Gittins, Susan (September 1996). "Bronfman in prime time". Report on Business Magazine. 13 (3): 86–92 – via ProQuest.
  4. 1 2 McKay, John (January 26, 1996). "Slime TV Kids horror series gives them Goosebumps". The Canadian Press . Winnipeg Free Press. p. D1 – via Factiva.
  5. ↑ Stine, R. L.; Arthur, Joe (April 1997). It Came from Ohio! My Life as a Writer. Scholastic. p.  122. ISBN   0-590-36674-2.
  6. ↑ D. Pierce, Scott (October 27, 1995). "Now TV Will Also Give You 'Goosebumps'". Deseret News . Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ Mietkiewicz, Henry (September 23, 1995). "Stine's scary stories have kids turning pages Critics scoff at formula writer's one-a-month bestsellers". Toronto Star – via Factiva.
  8. 1 2 "Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask". Children's Video Report. 11 (3): 5. 1997.
  9. 1 2 McCormick, Moira (March 2, 1996). "Video Bow of 'Goosebumps' Anything But Scary". Billboard . Vol. 108, no. 9. p. 60. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  10. ↑ Heffley, Lynne (March 22, 1996). "Youthful Performers Get 'Lesson' in Drama". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Top Video Sales". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 2. January 11, 1997. p. 39. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Top Kid Videos". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 2. January 11, 1997. p. 54. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  13. ↑ McCormick, Moira (August 10, 1996). "Paramount Nick Vids Debut". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 32. p. 63. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  14. ↑ Roush, Matt (October 29, 1996). "Kids 'Goosebumps' delivers a good scare". USA Today . p. 03D – via Factiva.
  15. 1 2 Erica Green, Michelle. "Goosebumps - The Haunted Mask". FamilyWonder.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2000. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  16. 1 2 Blakey, Scott (April 4, 1996). "'Haunted Mask' Is Back To Thrill Young Viewers". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  17. 1 2 Marguiles, Lee (November 1, 1995). "World Series Viewership Slips Despite Big Week". Los Angeles Times . p. F12. Retrieved April 8, 2020– via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Stine, R. L.; van Straaten, Tracy (2012). "Goosebumps 20th Anniversary: A Conversation with R.L. Stine". Scholastic. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  19. ↑ Tharpe, Frazier; Klinkenberg, Brendan; Khal (October 27, 2017). "The 25 Best Halloween Themed TV Episodes". Complex.com . Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Gemini Nominees: And the 1997 nominees are". PlayBack . January 27, 1997. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.