The Sinister Demise of Harold Biddle: Unraveling the Dark Secrets in Goosebumps

WARNING! This article contains spoilers for Goosebumps episode 6!

Summary

Goosebumps 2023 adopts a grittier and morally grey perspective, distinguishing itself from past iterations of the series while catering to a more adult audience. Unveiling the truth behind Harold Biddle's demise, it becomes evident that his peers were, in fact, attempting to rescue him prior to the inadvertent ignition of the fire.

The plot of "Night of the Living Dummy" subverts the classic horror trope of a bullied child seeking revenge on their tormentors. Harold's actions were actually influenced by the evil ventriloquist dummy, Slappy.

In Goosebumps 2023, it is heavily implied that Harold Biddle was killed by teenage bullies, but the true story behind his tragedy is much more intricate. With multiple adaptations of the Goosebumps franchise, the 2023 reboot stands out as the darkest version to date. While the '90s anthology show and the previous live-action horror-comedies targeted a younger audience, Goosebumps 2023 caters to a more mature viewership. As a result, the series embraces a morally ambiguous storyline, departing from the simpler and more straightforward plots of its predecessors.

The Teen "Bullies" Were Trying To Save Harold Biddle, Not Kill Him In Goosebumps

In the reboot of Goosebumps in 2023, a group of teenagers from a small town find themselves tormented by supernatural occurrences when they stumble upon cursed objects in a haunted house. As the story unfolds, the teens gradually realize that they are being punished for a dark secret sin committed by their parents many years ago. Although Isaiah, Margot, Isabella, Lucas, and James become embroiled in increasingly intricate paranormal challenges, it is not until the fifth episode of Goosebumps that they finally uncover the truth behind the mystery. Their exploration indicates that their parents were responsible for the death of their classmate Harold Biddle years ago, but the subsequent episode reveals that the truth is far more complex.

In episodes 1—5 of Goosebumps, the spirit of Harold Biddle takes over the body of Mr. Bratt, a teacher at the teens' high school. He confronts the kids, causing them fear, but later hands Margot a scrapbook that reveals the truth about his death in 1993. According to the scrapbook, Harold's classmates, who happen to be the parents of these teens, unintentionally caused a fire that resulted in his death. This storyline follows a common trope seen in many horror films, such as Terror Train and Prom Night. However, the reality behind the story is morally complex, as the teens were actually attempting to rescue Harold when the fire accidentally sparked in his basement.

Goosebumps season 1, episode 6, titled “Night of the Living Dummy,” featured Biddle sitting down with the teenagers in order to share his story. He began by recounting the tale of Slappy, a sentient ventriloquist dummy that had belonged to his great-grandfather. When Harold discovered this dummy upon moving into his great-grandfather’s old house, Slappy became his ticket to popularity at school. However, as fans of the Goosebumps franchise’s most famous villain would expect, things took a dark turn. Predictably, Slappy started to manipulate Harold, convincing him that his friends and family were plotting against him. This resulted in Harold becoming isolated from his friends and had even more dire consequences for his parents.

Why Harold Biddle Killed His Parents

In an effort to blend in at school, Harold's parents were keen on him finding acceptance, especially after he had endured severe bullying at his previous school. However, Harold's desire to use Slappy as a means of gaining friends was met with his parents' concerns that he would become a subject of ridicule. This sparked a rift between Harold and his parents, eventually leading Slappy to manipulate Harold into considering a horrific act—killing them. The once family-friendly Goosebumps 2023 took a dark turn when Harold, under the influence of a spell bestowed upon him by Slappy, transformed his parents into lifeless dolls. Shockingly, the situation intensified further when Harold's friend Nora witnessed his interaction with the malevolent doll, causing Slappy to sow discord amongst Harold's classmates.

Harold’s Goosebumps Revenge Plot Changes A Horror Cliché

After taking over Mr. Bratt, Harold Biddle devised a plan to exact revenge on each of the children, driven by his bitter resentment towards their parents. This unique plot adds a layer of complexity and intrigue to the familiar horror trope, as Harold himself was a victim of bullying in his previous school, and the friends he now seeks revenge on were never directly involved in his torment. The teenagers at Harold's new school, unlike his parents, were kind-hearted and rightly concerned about the dangerous influence of Slappy. Amidst the web of deceit, one of the individuals involved in stealing Slappy sought vengeance against Harold, while another genuinely worried for his well-being, and a third recognized the true supernatural and perilous nature of Slappy.

While Goosebumps 2023 offers numerous horror Easter eggs, "Night of the Living Dummy" skillfully subverts the genre's familiar conventions. The tale of bullies facing the wrath of their victim's ghost has been explored in numerous films, such as Carrie, Tormented, and Slaughter High. However, Harold Biddle's interpretation of "bullying" adds a fascinating twist to this classic cliche, as Harold's tormentors were not his classmates, but rather, his distorted perception of them influenced by Slappy's malicious control. Thus, it was Slappy, not his peers, who ultimately caused Harold's demise in Goosebumps 2023, as the malevolent dummy gradually took over the teenager's life, turning him against his friends.