The Nightmare Room

The Nightmare Room is an American children's anthology horror series that aired on Kids' WB.[1] The series was based on the short-lived children's book series that went by the same title created by Goosebumps author, R. L. Stine. The Nightmare Room originally aired from August 31, 2001, to March 16, 2002, in the United States, and was rated TV-Y7 for fantasy violence (FV) and scenes that may be too scary for younger viewers under the TV Parental Guidelines system.

The Nightmare Room
GenreAnthology
Horror
Fantasy
Adventure
Science fiction
Supernatural
Created byR. L. Stine
Narrated byJames Avery
Composer(s)Kristopher Carter
Josh Kramon
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)Paul Bernbaum
Brian Robbins
Jane Stine
Michael Tollin
Producer(s)Chris Castallo
Billy Crawford
Joe Davola
Dan Kaplow
Shelley Zimmerman
CinematographyMichael B. Negrin
Running time20 minutes
Production company(s)Parachute Entertainment
Tollin/Robbins Productions
Warner Bros. Television
DistributorWarner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original networkKids' WB
Original releaseAugust 31, 2001 
March 16, 2002
Chronology
Preceded byGoosebumps (TV series) (1995–1998)
Followed byR. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series (2010–2014)

Reruns of the series aired on Chiller on January 7, 2013.

Premise

The Nightmare Room is based on fears that children have, such as ghosts and monsters, which normally ended with comments by the narrator whose final words always were "the nightmare room", then a door with The Nightmare Room logo appeared, closing. In many instances, the series resembled the television series The Twilight Zone with teens taking the role as the main characters, many of whom portrayed the characters were popular child actors at the time, including Amanda Bynes, Frankie Muniz, Justin Berfield, Drake Bell, Brenda Song, Shia LaBeouf, and Dylan and Cole Sprouse.[2] In addition, Robert Englund (famously known as Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street films) played as various roles. Actress Kaley Cuoco (later known for her roles in the shows 8 Simple Rules and The Big Bang Theory) also had a part in one of the episodes.

The Nightmare Room is Kids' WB's only live-action show and aired on the short-lived Kids' WB variant of Toonami, making it the only live-action show to air on the brand. The show was produced by Parachute Entertainment, Tollin/Robbins Productions, and Warner Bros. Television.[3]

Book titles and summaries

  1. Don't Forget Me: Danielle Warner and her brother, Peter, move into a house where the basement is haunted by the ghosts of children who have been forgotten by their friends and families. They lure living children in by making their friends and families forget about them.
  2. Locker 13: Superstitious Luke Green gets assigned Locker #13 on his first day of school and tries to quell the bad luck that goes along with it by finding a good-luck charm. But the good-luck charm has a twisted secret of its own.
  3. My Name is Evil: A carnival fortune teller accuses Maggie of being evil. Maggie brushes it off as a joke — until accidents occur in school and all signs point to Maggie as a suspect.
  4. Liar, Liar: Years of lying suddenly catch up with Ross when he finds himself in a parallel world where an evil twin tells him that he will die in two days.
  5. Dear Diary, I'm Dead: Alex Smith discovers a diary in his room that predicts the future, including his death.
  6. They Call Me Creature: Laura must find out why the animals she cares for are attacking her and what her father is doing in the backyard shed.
  7. The Howler: Self-proclaimed electronics geek Spencer Turner buys a machine called "The Howler" that lets humans communicate with the dead... and summons a ghost family who want to kill his friends and family.
  8. Shadow Girl: A bored girl named Selena discovers that she is really a superheroine named Shadow Girl, and, like all superheroes, has an arch-enemy who wants her dead.
  9. Camp Nowhere: At summer camp, Russell rows over Forbidden Falls — and finds himself in a summer camp haunted by the ghost of an evil Native American spirit.
  10. Full Moon Halloween: It's a frightful Halloween night as a teacher gets four of his students and tries to discover that one of them may be a werewolf.
  11. Scare School: Sam is haunted by an imp at his new school who preys on new students.
  12. Visitors: UFO enthusiast Ben Shipley discovers that aliens are covertly invading Earth.

The Nightmare Room Thrillogy

  • Fear Games: Twelve kids with special abilities have been selected to take part in a reality show called Life Games, set on an island haunted by a psychotic witch.
  • What Scares You the Most?: April (one of the contestants) is stranded on the island and must fight her biggest fears in order to escape.
  • No Survivors: After her escape in What Scares You the Most?, April must return to the haunted island in order to rid it of the witch's spirits.

Opening narration

At the beginning of each episode, R. L. Stine gives an opening monologue of sorts — in a manner very similar to Rod Serling's iconic opening narration for The Twilight Zone — that acts somewhat like a theme song for the series.

When the lights fade and the moon rises, anything can happen. The world becomes a carnival of shocks and chills. A whirling merry-go-round that never stops, spinning faster and faster, taking you on a frightening ride. I'm R. L. Stine, don't fall asleep... or you might find yourself in The Nightmare Room.

R. L. Stine

Despite the claim of being R. L. Stine, the narration was provided by James Avery of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fame. Avery also did the closing narration for each episode.

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code
1"Don't Forget Me"David JacksonTeleplay by: Paul BernbaumAugust 31, 2001 (2001-08-31)003
Danielle Warner (Amanda Bynes) along with her brother, Peter, and the rest of her family, have just moved into a new house where the basement is haunted by the ghosts of children who have been forgotten by their friends and families — and lure living children in by making their friends and families forget about them. Also starring Jim Meskimen.
2"Scareful What You Wish For"Anson WilliamsNaomi JanzenAugust 31, 2001 (2001-08-31)008
While packing away all of the toys from his childhood days before his 14th birthday, Dylan Pierce (Shia LaBeouf) is haunted by a strange little boy (played alternately by Dylan and Cole Sprouse) who turns out to be Dylan's favorite childhood doll come to life thanks to a birthday entertainer's seemingly fake spell — and not willing to let his human friend go. Also starring Tania Raymonde, Marcus T. Paulk and Betsy Randle.
3"The Howler"Steve DubinTeleplay by: Scott MurphySeptember 29, 2001 (2001-09-29)006
Three kids Vanessa (Cara DeLizia), Spencer (Jeremy Ray Valdez) and Charlie (Jermaine Williams) find a strange machine called "The Howler" that lets them communicate with ghosts, but the ghosts that come out need three human bodies to possess. Also starring Robert Englund.
4"Tangled Web"Ron OliverPaul BernbaumOctober 6, 2001 (2001-10-06)005
An incorrigible liar named Josh (Justin Berfield) suddenly finds all his tall tales are coming true after his substitute teacher tells him he believes everything he says. Also starring David Carradine and Steve "Sting" Borden.
5"Fear Games"Ron OliverTelevision Story by: Paul Bernbaum
Teleplay by: Richard Rossner
October 13, 2001 (2001-10-13)009

Five teenagers on a Survivor-esque reality game show must compete in island challenges — and fight a psychotic witch who haunts the island. Starring Lindsay Felton, Lena Cardwell, Eric "Ty" Hodges II, Roger Lodge and Tippi Hedren.


Note: Based on the first book of The Nightmare Room Thrillogy called "Fear Games".
6"School Spirit"Rich CorrellScott MurphyOctober 20, 2001 (2001-10-20)011
A group of students Janet (Keiko Agena), Todd (Michael Galeota), Freddy (George O. Gore II), Dex (Jeffrey Licon) and Alexis (Madeline Zima) serving detention must help the ghost of a teacher whose contributions are being buried and forgotten. Also starring Jenny Gago and James Karen.
7"Full Moon Halloween"Rich CorrellTeleplay by: Naomi JanzenOctober 27, 2001 (2001-10-27)010
Janet, Todd, Freddy, Dex and Alexis grow suspicious of one another when a werewolf is heard to be on the loose in their town.
8"Four Eyes"Brian Robbins & Michael B. NegrinScott MurphyDecember 1, 2001 (2001-12-01)001
In this homage to the cult horror satire, They Live, Jeremy Clark's (Josh Zuckerman) new glasses gives him the power to see aliens secretly living among humans and ready to take over the world. Also starring Lynsey Bartilson and John C. McGinley.
9"Locker 13"Ron OliverTeleplay by: Richard RossnerDecember 8, 2001 (2001-12-08)007
Luke Greene (Brandon Gilberstadt), a superstitious boy is terrified of the consequences when his school assigns him Locker #13, a locker rumored to give the owner eternal bad luck. Also starring E.J. De La Pena, Boris Cabrera, Mary Stein, Ken Foree and Angus Scrimm.
10"Dear Diary, I'm Dead"Steve DubinTeleplay by: Paul BernbaumFebruary 2, 2002 (2002-02-02)004
Alex Sanders (Drake Bell) discovers a diary that predicts the future — including his death. Also starring A. J. Trauth, Brenda Song, Percy Daggs III, Kerrie Keane and Sam Lloyd.
11"My Name is Evil"Anson WilliamsTeleplay by: Lee Goldberg & Bill RabkinFebruary 23, 2002 (2002-02-23)002
Morgan Gray's (Marco Gould) encounter with a carnival fortune teller leads to a chain of disasters that may or may not be turning him evil. Also starring Kaley Cuoco, Audrey Wasilewski and Beth Broderick.
12"Camp Nowhere" (Part 1)James MarshallTeleplay by: Paul BernbaumMarch 9, 2002 (2002-03-09)012
Russell (Sam Jones III), Charlotte (Allison Mack), Dave (Kyle Gibson) and Erin (Kathy Wagner) are at summer camp and find themselves in another camp that's been suspended in time thanks to a Native American spirit. Also starring Brandon Quinn and Danielle Fishel.
13"Camp Nowhere" (Part 2)James MarshallTeleplay by: Paul BernbaumMarch 16, 2002 (2002-03-16)013
Russell, Charlotte, Dave and Erin must contend with Native American spirits that have captured the kids of Camp Hawkwood. Also starring Dan Byrd, Kevin Meaney and Frankie Muniz.

Releases

On August 20, 2002, 8 episodes were released on 2 DVD volumes. 5 episodes remain unreleased.

NameRelease DateEpisodesRegionAdditional Information
Camp NowhereAugust 20, 200241

Episodes include:

  • "Camp Nowhere, Parts 1 & 2", "Don't Forget Me", "Full Moon Halloween"

Bonus Features include:

  • The Nightmare Is Yours: Shrink or Swim, Do You Dare?, The Nightmare Files, Trailers.
Scareful What You Wish ForAugust 20, 200241

Episodes include:

  • "My Name Is Evil", "Scareful What You Wish For", "Tangled Web", "Fear Games".

Bonus Features include:

  • The Nightmare Is Yours: Haunted Cave, Do You Dare?, The Nightmare Files, Trailers.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Result Category Recipient
2002 Emmy Award Nominated Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing Michael C. Gutierrez, James L. Pearson, Tony Torretto, Susan Welsh, and Debby Ruby-Winsberg

References

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