Unveiling the Hidden Secrets: Unearthing 10 Mind-Blowing Easter Eggs & References in Episodes 1-5 of Goosebumps

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Goosebumps episodes 1-5!

Summary

In episode 1 of the Goosebumps reboot series, there are references to classic horror movies and TV shows like Kill Bill, Batman, and Thor. In episode 3, there is a nod to Back to the Future when Isaiah playfully mentions time travel, and later, James' clone imitates Michael Myers from the Halloween franchise.

In episode 4 of Goosebumps, Lucas's consumption of worms is reminiscent of a scene in Drag Me To Hell. Additionally, the worm monster bears resemblance to the Mind Flayer from Stranger Things. While the 2023 reboot of Goosebumps pays homage to RL Stine's well-known horror novel series, it also takes time to reference several other classic movies and shows in its first five episodes. Throughout the years, the Goosebumps franchise has undergone numerous transformations. Originating as RL Stine's popular children's horror book series, it later evolved into a '90s anthology series. In 2015, a live-action Goosebumps film was released, which humorously parodied the series and its author RL Stine. The success of the film led to a sequel titled Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween in 2018.

Content must be written in English with placeholder:

10 Popular Franchise Costumes At The Halloween Party

In 2023, Hulu presents a new version of Goosebumps, transforming the beloved book series into a horror-comedy series targeted towards young adults. The story revolves around Isaiah, Margot, James, Isabella, and Lucas, a group of teenagers with different personalities who find themselves encountering strange supernatural events after attending a Halloween party in a seemingly abandoned house. To their surprise, they realize that the cursed objects they stumbled upon at the party have a connection to a troubled individual from their parents' past. As the plot unfolds, the 2023's Goosebumps pays homage to various iconic horror movies and TV shows.

In the first episode of Goosebumps titled "Say Cheese and Die," the show delivers a barrage of pop culture references. Astute viewers will immediately recognize that the episode's title and overall concept are borrowed from the well-known Goosebumps episode featuring Ryan Gosling prior to his rise to fame. However, the hidden nods don't stop there. During the Halloween party in the episode, Angela, James, and Isaiah dress up as Kill Bill's iconic protagonist, the Bride, Batman's enchanting love interest, Catwoman, and the formidable MCU hero, Thor, respectively. Margot opts for a more generic "Spy" costume, while Isabella transforms into a vampire until she eventually dons a haunted mask.

9 Back To The Future's Time Travel Reference

In episode 3 of Goosebumps titled "The Cuckoo Clock of Doom," James finds himself in a predicament after hitting his head on the famous cuckoo clock. As a result, he becomes trapped in a time loop, experiencing the same events repeatedly. Initially, James confides in his friends about his ordeal, but to his dismay, they all brush it off as a joke. In response, Isaiah playfully makes a reference to Back to the Future when responding to James's claims of time travel. Although there are no further references to the Back to the Future franchise, James later expresses frustration that his multiple versions do not align with his knowledge of typical time travel stories.

8 James' Duplicates Copied Michael Myers

Regarding James's numerous replicas, Isabella inadvertently incurs their wrath when she unintentionally obliterates one of the doubles with a wayward pool ball. In a later episode titled "The Cuckoo Clock of Doom," one of James's duplicates ominously lingers in Isabella's yard, attempting to intimidate her into concealing his true identity. During this encounter, the clone emulates the iconic presence of horror movie antagonist Michael Myers from the Halloween franchise as he briefly materializes outside Laurie's window, only to vanish when the protagonist investigates moments later.

7 Isaiah Copied A Terminator 2: Judgment Day Move

Near the conclusion of "The Cuckoo Clock of Doom," Isaiah endeavors to discern the genuine James from the imposter. This instance bears a resemblance to the climactic scene of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the renowned blockbuster directed by James Cameron, where the T-800 must ascertain the true Sarah Connor amidst her disguised counterpart, the T-1000. Despite the substitution of an abandoned mine for a forge, this particular moment aligns closely with the scene in Terminator 2: Judgment Day until James's doppelgänger maliciously discloses their shared malevolence.

6 Lucas' Worms Link To Drag Me To Hell

In the fourth episode of Goosebumps 2023 titled "Go Eat Worms," Lucas, an irresponsible slacker, decides to impress Margot, his love interest, by consuming a worm in her presence. However, during his slumber, a peculiar incident takes place, reminiscent of the unforgettable scene from the 2009 horror-comedy Drag Me To Hell. In this particular moment, Lucas's remaining pet worms mysteriously enter his nasal passage. Interestingly, while the protagonist in the aforementioned film wakes up disturbed by this repulsive occurrence, Lucas remains undisturbed, inexplicably sleeping soundly through the entire ordeal.

5 Crawling Worms Was A Nod To A 2006 Horror Movie

After consuming the worms both consciously and unconsciously, Lucas subjects the viewer to the repulsive spectacle of them wriggling beneath the surface of his skin. This concept draws inspiration from the isolated setting of the 2006 horror film Bug, a highly underrated masterpiece directed by William Friedkin. Unlike Bug, which maintained an air of uncertainty regarding the bugs' existence and insinuated they may solely reside within the disturbed protagonist's imagination, "Go Eat Worms" unequivocally confirms the reality of these creatures.

4 The Worm Monster Mirrored Stranger Things' Mind Flayer

The worm monster created by the multitude of worms in "Go Eat Worms" bears a strong resemblance in appearance and movement to the Mind Flayer featured in Stranger Things season 3. While glimpses of the Mind Flayer's physical form were shown throughout the third season, the monster truly took center stage in the finale. In that climactic moment, the Mind Flayer chased after the heroes up a hill outside of Hawkins, paralleling the Worm Monster's pursuit of Lucas as it rushes down a hill.

3 Margot Needed Help From A Weekend At Bernie's Move

In Goosebumps episode 5, titled "Reader Beware," the gang manipulates Margot's unconscious body, reminiscent of the popular ‘80s comedy Weekend at Bernie's. In this cult comedy, the protagonists attempted to conceal their deceased boss, while in this episode, the gang endeavors to conceal Margot's state of unconsciousness from the rest of the student body. However, their methods are strikingly similar.

2 Harold Biddle Had Nightmare On Elm Street Motivations

Referencing A Nightmare On Elm Street's Freddy Krueger is a smart move for Goosebumps as fans of fantasy horror have a perpetual love for that slasher series. In “Reader Beware,” Harold's revelation of using supernatural methods to seek revenge on the children of those who burned him alive echoes the backstory of Freddy Krueger in the classic slasher. While it is true that Freddy is a considerably more unequivocally sinister villain, the destinies of both characters and their plots for vengeance exhibit surprising similarities.

1 Slappy's Original Inspirations

Slappy the Dummy drew inspiration from a sentient dummy in the 1945 horror anthology film Dead of Night. The character reemerges in "Reader Beware". Slappy has consistently been a prominent figure in various adaptations of the novels, notably with Jack Black portraying both RL Stine and Slappy in the 2018 film Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween. In this installment, Slappy's appearance was altered to closely resemble the famously eerie ventriloquist dummy from Dead of Night, more so than in previous on-screen portrayals.