Netflix series have broken records more than once. Most of the time, however, they were aimed at ratings. Now a new horror series from the streaming provider stands out, which even made it into the Guinness World Records with its shocking moments.
We’re talking about “Goosebumps at Midnight”, which has been available on Netflix since October 7th. According to Guinness World Records, the first episode of the scary series broke the world record with 21 jump scares.
Jumpscares give Netflix series a world record
The so-called jump scares are classic moments of shock that suddenly appear in a film or series. They are often accompanied by a loud noise or a suddenly changing image sequence. The creators often deliberately plan jumpscares into their stories to scare the viewers.
It’s no coincidence, however, that the Netflix series Midnight Goosebumps broke the world record. Because maker Mike Flanagan planned the record from the start. He joked that while he wasn’t really a fan of jumpscares, he included them in frequency to reassure producers who have repeatedly requested these effects over the years. Mike Flanagan brings a wealth of experience in horror productions to the table. He was also behind series like “The Haunting of Hill House” and “Midnight Mass”.
In the future, Flanagan says, he could more easily turn down requests for jumpscares with reference to the world record within the Netflix series. At a press conference he said: “This is especially important to me because I hate jumpscares and think they are the worst. Throughout my career people have been telling me to put more jumpscares and make them faster!”
The world record was announced during a question and answer session after the Netflix pilot episode of “Midnight Goosebumps” first aired. Andy Glass, juror at Guinness World Records, announced the planned record attempt and its successful result in front of the audience. In general, the series aims to scare viewers.
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That’s what “Goosebumps at Midnight” is about
Based on the writing of writer Christopher Pike, Goosebumps at Midnight follows the 10-episode story of high school grad Ilonka Pawluk (played by Iman Benson) as she awaits admission to Stanford University. But then she was suddenly diagnosed with cancer. Her cancer is so advanced that she ends up in Brightcliffe, a mysterious hospice run by an enigmatic doctor. There Ilonka meets other terminally ill young people who meet every night at midnight to tell scary stories. One night they make a pact: whoever dies first must send a sign from beyond the grave. That’s what actually happens when a member of the group dies.