Goosebumps: Night Of The Living Dummy - Book Review

Summary

In this video, Michael reviews *Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy*, sharing his fond memories of the book from his childhood and his deep affection for the Slappy character. He reflects on the darker, creepier tone of the first book in the Slappy series, noting that it stands out as one of the scarier entries in *Goosebumps*. Despite Slappy's overexposure in recent media, Michael still enjoys the story's eerie vibe and nostalgia. He rates the book 4 out of 5 stars and recommends it to both long-time fans and newcomers, emphasizing the series' timeless appeal for younger readers and families.

Takeaways

• 😀 Michael is reviewing *Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy*, the first book in the 'Slappy' series, as part of his channel's focus on Goosebumps and similar books.
• 😀 He expresses a strong passion for Goosebumps, reminiscing about how he was introduced to the series through the TV show and his early memories of reading the books.
• 😀 The character of Slappy, a ventriloquist dummy, has become the mascot of the Goosebumps series, overshadowing other characters like Cuddles and Curly in later years.
• 😀 *Night of the Living Dummy* stands out as one of the darker, creepier Goosebumps books, with Michael considering it the scariest in the Slappy series.
• 😀 Michael compares the Slappy books to the *Child's Play* (Chucky) franchise, noting how Slappy's presence in the series has led to spoilers becoming more widely known over time.
• 😀 The general plot of the book involves two twins, one of whom finds a ventriloquist dummy named Slappy, while the other acquires a second dummy named Mr. Wood, leading to strange occurrences and escalating pranks in their household.
• 😀 Michael highlights how the book's eerie atmosphere and creepy events, like things coming out of closets or walking down hallways, make it an unsettling read for younger audiences.
• 😀 He acknowledges that while the series of Goosebumps books are not interconnected in a traditional sense, the recurring appearance of Slappy creates a sense of continuity in the franchise.
• 😀 Michael also notes that while his love for *Night of the Living Dummy* has aged somewhat, the nostalgic feeling and the spooky fun of the story still hold up.
• 😀 The original cover of the book, with its striking artwork, left a lasting impression on him as a child, and he expresses a dislike for the newer reissues of Goosebumps books, preferring the older, scarier designs.
• 😀 He ends the review with a personal recommendation, rating the book 4 out of 5 stars, and encourages others to check out the Slappy books and the broader Goosebumps series for their wild, imaginative stories.

Q & A

What is Michael's main focus for his channel?

Michael's main focus for his channel is to review Goosebumps books, especially the ones featuring Slappy, as well as potentially other young adult and teen books. However, he expresses uncertainty about how often he'll be able to post reviews.

Why does Michael enjoy reviewing Goosebumps books?

Michael enjoys reviewing Goosebumps books because they are nostalgic for him, and he has been a fan since childhood. He finds the books to be fun, family-friendly, and appealing to a wide audience.

How does Michael feel about Slappy's prominence in the Goosebumps franchise?

Michael is a huge fan of Slappy and has no issue with Slappy becoming the mascot of the Goosebumps franchise, even though Slappy has become more dominant compared to other characters like Cuddles and Curly.

What challenge does Michael face when discussing 'Night of the Living Dummy'?

Michael finds it difficult to talk about 'Night of the Living Dummy' without potentially spoiling key plot details, especially because the story has similarities to the 'Child's Play' franchise, where the doll comes to life and causes havoc.

What is the general plot of 'Night of the Living Dummy'?

The story centers around two twin sisters, one of whom rescues a ventriloquist dummy from a dumpster and names it Slappy. As the sister becomes more successful with the dummy, the other twin gets jealous and acquires her own dummy, Mr. Wood. Strange, sinister events begin to unfold as both dummies seem to be linked to the paranormal occurrences.

How does Michael describe the tone of 'Night of the Living Dummy' compared to other Goosebumps books?

Michael describes 'Night of the Living Dummy' as one of the darker and scarier books in the Goosebumps series, particularly when compared to other stories. He finds the storyline to be eerie and unsettling at times.

Why does Michael find 'Night of the Living Dummy' to be one of the scariest Goosebumps books?

Michael finds 'Night of the Living Dummy' to be particularly scary because of its eerie atmosphere and the way it taps into childhood fears, such as the idea of objects (like a ventriloquist dummy) coming to life and causing harm.

What is Michael's opinion on the updated covers for Goosebumps books?

Michael expresses a dislike for the new covers for Goosebumps books, particularly the new designs for 'Night of the Living Dummy,' which he feels are less effective and scary compared to the original artwork.

How does Michael feel about the Goosebumps TV show and movies?

Michael has a fondness for the Goosebumps TV show and movies, as they were a big part of his childhood. He appreciates how they helped introduce him to the books, and he continues to enjoy them today as part of the broader Goosebumps experience.

What rating does Michael give to 'Night of the Living Dummy,' and why?

Michael gives 'Night of the Living Dummy' a 4 out of 5 rating. He praises the book as a powerful, fun read with a strong and enjoyable finale. However, he notes that his enjoyment of the book has diminished slightly over time due to the overexposure of Slappy in the franchise.