If youâre unfamiliar with R. L. Stineâs The Haunting Hour, just imagine a modernized version of Goosebumps without the awful acting and lame twists. Unlike its fairly tame â90s predecessors, R.L. Stineâs The Haunting Hour regularly pushed the boundaries of kid-friendly horror. The series ran four seasons (2010 to 2014) and had 76 episodes. Some of the episodes were adapted from Stineâs anthologies Nightmare Hour and The Haunting Hour. Though some episodes were less effective, most ended on disconcerting notes with the implied doom or death of the lead.
So for anyone who grew up watching Goosebumps and came away was disappointed after revisiting the show as an adult, here are five genuinely creepy episodes of R.L. Stineâs The Haunting Hour that will revive your faith in the YA horror fare.Â
âCatching Coldâ (season 1, episode 17) Is one of the Scariest Episodes of The Haunting Hour
A haunted ice cream truck drives a boy insane in this chilling installment. âCatching Coldâ is the episode that introduced me to the show. And it got me hooked. Interestingly enough, the plotline doesnât come from Stine; it is adapted from a short story written by Neal Shusterman.
âDreamcatcherâ (season 2, episode 12) is a Chilling Installment in the Haunting Hour SeriesÂ
Summer camp may be a common setting for horror, but âDreamcatcherâ adds the element of a murderous human-spider invading your dreams. With similarities to A Nightmare on Elm Street, the episode stands out as one of the darkest of the series.
âThe Red Dressâ (season 1, episode 6) Is a Nightmarish Haunting Hour EpisodeÂ
After stealing an expensive red dress from a shopkeeper, a teenage girl must face the grim consequences of her actions. Many of the showâs episodes serve as morality tales, and in âThe Red Dress,â the girlâs comeuppance is quite shocking.
âPumpkinheadâ (season 2, episode 5) Is Another Harrowing InstallmentÂ
In this Halloween-themed episode, a deranged farmer kidnaps kids and switches their heads with pumpkins. Impressive and unsettling set designs and effects make this a stand-out episode. In the season-four sequel, âReturn of the Pumpkinheads,â a family moves into the recently deceased farmerâs house, unaware of its disturbing history.
âMascotâ (season 2, episode 8) Is a Haunting Hour Episode That Traumatized a Generation!
Though other fans may disagree, I believe âMascotâ is one of the scariest episodes of the series. The plot follows two students as they petition to change their school mascot, Â a large creature named âBig Yellow.â But the problem is, no one knows who Big Yellow really is.
Updated March 5, 2025