WELL.
I was not expecting to do a Retro Rundown! I was originally going to watch Poltergeist 2 and then do a review on it but the weather here in the midwest had other ideas in mind and for about 4 hours, I was without power. So I had to use my phone to entertain myself and found a YT channel that had full episodes of Goosebumps.
And since I’ve read a couple of Goosebumps books within the past few months (Welcome to Dead House and The Werewolf of Fever Swamp) and found the latter. I have seen this episode in the past yet never read the book.
I will use my notes from reading the book and as well as piece together what I thought of the episode overall.
Today we are going to talk about the 14th book in the Goosebumps series turned into the 18th aka last episode of S1 adaptation of the television series, The Werewolf of Fever Swamp (1997).
Okay.
Okay.
This episode with fresher book eyes was quite interesting. First off, it is treated like a two parter with RL Stine introducing the episode (similar to The Haunted Mask and A Night in Terror Tower) so you don’t get the cool intro with the music and the dog with the glowing eyes. 
The book I gave 3 out of 5 stars and I have to say, I think the adaptation is pretty good overall. There is a tone that’s missing from the episode that is in the book which is more creepier. And if you do not know the story of both the episode and book, it’s quite simple: our young male character, Grady, moves to Fever Swamp with his family (mom, dad, sister) and his parents are scientists and moved deer to the swamp to see how they would adapt. The downside is being uprooted, no friends, there’s a hermit that’s “dangerous” and you know, a werewolf… supposedly.
So this is what is played out in the episode: we meet the characters, there are some cute deer, a cute dog named Wolf, a new friendly character named Will and you know, the hermit. Oh yeah, and a werewolf. In the book, these were my favorite characters and dynamics. They limit the hermit’s role in the episode but in the book, we see more of him and the mystery around him and it’s bit more “graphic” with animals and atmosphere. I can see why they wouldn’t add that into the episode.
I didn’t realize this but the episode is very cool toned. And I guess because real swamps are in warmer places and looks “warmer”, the episode was looking dark at times. And maybe that’s the film or how it was filmed and post production but it is so dark at times, I’m asking what am I looking at? 
I will say that what the episode does great is the relationship between Will and Grady as well as some decent jumpscares. I was quite impressed by a couple of them. And I also enjoyed the look of the werewolf as well.
The biggest difference is the ending. I kind of prefer the episode ending a bit more, just because it felt appropriate with our two friends being werewolves together. The book ends a bit more somber and well, I was very much “ohhh, that is not how the episode ended”. But nonetheless, I enjoyed the episode better than I did originally and I think that if you hadn’t seen the episode before or in quite some time, please do so. I think it’s one of the better adaptations and as well as a good episode overall.
Shots of Horror 