We have to warn you: If you get into the habit of tuning in to a new TV series on WB Kids!, nightmarish moments could become part of your regular Saturday routine.
In “The Nightmare Room,” based on the best-selling books by scaremeister R.L. Stine, regular kids find themselves in spooky situations. Usually the weirdness erupts when a kid makes a decision that at the time seems pretty humdrum. In the episode “Tangled Web,” which kicks off the series’ regular Sunday time slot at 12:00 p.m. Central Time Sept. 16, Josh lies to a creepy substitute teacher, Mr. Farber, to cover the fact he didn’t have his homework (this sentence as published has been corrected in this text). Oddly enough, the sub doesn’t lose his cool when Josh tells him a ridiculous story about escaped prisoners breaking into his home and making off with his math worksheet. Mr. Farber calmly assures the class, “I’m sure if Josh says it’s true, it must be true.” A delighted Josh thinks that Mr. Farber is hugely gullible, but the sub’s words turn into a prophecy. From then on, anything that Josh says–including a whopping lie about a psycho brother who has returned from military school and tall tale about an escaped mummy–becomes reality.
“The Nightmare Room’s” format will feel familiar, maybe even a bit predictable, to anyone who has read Stine’s books or has seen episodes of the old black-and-white TV show “Twilight Zone.” Still, “The Nightmare Room” is fun and frightening. Its chills and thrills come from spine-tingling surprises or suspense-building moments, not gory gross-outs. Also, the series contains fiendishly humorous moments. Sure, no one would want to live through any of these nightmare scenarios themselves, but somehow watching them seems super natural.