The Thrilling Impact: How Goosebumps & Are You Afraid Of The Dark Launched a Barbie Star's Career

Summary

Horror series like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark provide young actors with opportunities to showcase their talent and launch their careers in the film industry.

Ryan Gosling, famous for portraying Ken in Barbie, initially made his mark in the horror genre through appearances in Are You Afraid of the Dark and Goosebumps, showcasing his dedication to the content and chilling elements.

While Gosling gained widespread recognition through The Notebook, his versatility as an actor indicates that he ought to revisit his horror origins and embark on captivating horror ventures in the coming days.

Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark are two horror series that launched the career of a prominent Barbie star. The horror genre, in general, is a valuable starting point for young actors in the film industry. Despite limited budgets, horror series and movies often take a chance on unknown actors and harness their talent to propel them to success. Examples include Jamie Lee Curtis, who gained fame after starring in Halloween, Johnny Depp, who made his debut in Nightmare on Elm Street, and even Brad Pitt, who appeared in an episode of Tales from the Crypt before becoming a household name.

During the '90s, Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark were anthology series that featured a different terrifying tale in each episode. These tales often revolved around a compelling moral dilemma and sometimes resulted in a gruesome punishment for the protagonist. Both series allowed for significant creative freedom, showcasing a wide range of spooky stories and giving young actors the opportunity to portray diverse characters that differed greatly from their later career roles. While one particular star has moved away from their horror roots, perhaps it is time for them to reconsider, especially considering the success of both Barbie and the new Goosebumps series.

Ryan Gosling Got His Start In Children's Horror Like Goosebumps

Ryan Gosling, known for his role as Ken in Barbie, began his career as Jamie Leary in the 1995 episode "The Tale of Station 109.1" of Are You Afraid of the Dark and later portrayed Greg Banks in "Say Cheese and Die" in the 1996 original Goosebumps series. In the first episode, Jamie's morbid fascination with death leads a radio station manager to believe he is a lost soul in need of guidance. In the second episode, Greg and his friends trespass into an abandoned warehouse, stumble upon an ancient camera, and soon discover its eerie ability to foreshadow horrific events through the snapshots it captures.

While working alongside seasoned character actors like Gilbert Gottfried, Gosling's early performances demonstrate his unwavering commitment to the material, despite its cheesy nature, and his portrayal of Ken in Barbie. With utmost enthusiasm and a wide-eyed intensity, he effortlessly conveys the terror elements, even though the remastered episodes may accentuate the outdated effects. Viewing these episodes serves as a strong gauge of Gosling's capabilities as a mature actor, where he adeptly channels whimsy, vitality, and unwavering dedication to the humor, surrealism, and themes of mortality presented in Barbie.

Ryan Gosling Didn't Become A Household Name Until The Notebook

Gosling shot to fame less than a decade after his appearances in both Are You Afraid of the Dark and Goosebumps when he took on the lead role in the romantic drama The Notebook. The story unfolds in South Carolina during the 1940s, where Noah (Gosling), an attractive worker in a mill, defies the disapproval of Allie's (Rachel McAdams) parents and falls deeply in love with her. Despite being separated by World War II initially, Noah returns to their small town years later when he discovers that Allie is about to marry someone else (James Marsden), determined to win her back.

The portrayal of lovestruck Noah in The Notebook cemented Gosling's status as a leading man. Despite being separated for a long time, Noah remains faithful to Allie and wins the hearts of millions by fulfilling her wish of having a "white house with blue shutters" during their idyllic courtship days. Throughout the '00s and '10s, Gosling would navigate between romantic movies, thrillers, and independent films, gradually transitioning into action-packed projects such as Blade Runner 2049 and The Gray Man, as well as venturing into satirical musicals like La La Land and Barbie.

The Barbie Star Should Return To His Horror Roots

With Gosling's captivating portrayal of Ken, it's evident that he is prepared to broaden his filmography once again. Additionally, he possesses the versatility to tackle an intriguing horror project. Many renowned stars, like Kevin Bacon, have ventured back into the horror genre after their initial appearances, as seen with Bacon's roles in films such as Friday the 13th, Hollow Man, Stir of Echoes, and most recently, They/Them. Notably, he also makes a cameo appearance in The Conjuring, wherein his musical endeavor is played during a scene featuring Patrick Wilson, a contemporary Scream King, portraying the real-life paranormal expert Ed Warren discussing exorcism.

Gosling's personal musical endeavor with Zach Shields, known as Dead Man's Bones, falls under the gothic rock and darkwave genres. This suggests that the actor is particularly interested in more unconventional works such as Suspiria or Repo! The Genetic Opera. Whether portraying the last surviving character in a humorous horror comedy like Evil Dead or embodying a murderous psychopath like in The Black Phone, Gosling's talent for transitioning between lightheartedness and gloominess would be showcased. Hopefully, his fans won't have to wait too long for him to revisit his horror origins like Goosebumps and elicit racing hearts.