Based on "The House of No Return", the first story in Tales to Give You Goosebumps (the first short-story collection from the Tales to Give You Goosebumps anthology series).
A trio of daredevil kids challenge the new boy in town to enter the local haunted house before he can join their club.
The episode provides examples of:
- Adaptation Expansion: The episode gives a tragic backstory to the ghosts haunting the titular house. They were a married couple whose infant child died when it fell through a weak spot in the floor. They were so stricken with grief that they turned into hermits, spending the rest of their days constantly arguing with each other inside the house before they die. They collect children because they're trying to replace the family they had when they were still alive.
- Armor-Piercing Response: Upon the kids noticing the front door has been boarded up again.Robbie: Chris probably did that, while we were in the other room.
Husband: [off-screen] I don't think so. - Batman Gambit: Chris decides to use his deal-making skills with the ghosts. If they let him go, then they'll get more children in return as the bullies will enter the house to question why he hadn't left after the hour was up.
- Chekhov's Hobby: Chris asks his mother to make a bacon cheeseburger in return for him cleaning his room, to which his mom replies "You and your deals". This is what he does with the ghosts: they let him go and in exchange they'll get three new adoptive children.
- Diegetic Soundtrack Usage: Before the spooky sights really start up, Chris whistles the theme song.
- Disappeared Dad: Chris's mother appears in a couple scenes, but no mention is made of his father.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Chris politely rejected the group's offer to try to join the club. They later force him to try on the grounds he was stuck-up for refusing their offer.
- Flashback: When the trio tell Chris the story of the couple and the Haunted House.
- Foreshadowing: In the first scene, Doug escapes the house and screams about something inside touching his face. While the trio write this off as frayed nerves, viewers will know it means there really is something in there.
- Haunted House: Everyone in town knows the story of the couple that lost their infant child, how the building was boarded up after the two were found dead, and how assorted children started disappearing soon afterwards.
- Hypocrite: None of Danger Inc. ever spent time in the house, saying being founding members exempt them from the required initiation.
- Oh, Crap!: Chris wasn't too happy about being locked in the house, but he's in complete shock when he sees the broom and dustpan starting to move.
- Outliving One's Offspring: The couple's infant child was killed in an accident, and their grief has lingered even in the afterlife.
- Real After All: When Chris starts seeing objects in the house moving on their own, he realizes how bad his situation is.
- Sanity Slippage: According to the backstory, the couple became consumed with grief over the loss of their child and never went outside for the rest of their lives. They're clearly not all there as ghosts.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: In the first scene, Nathan realizes he dropped some money on the porch and nervously tries to get it. When it gets swooped into the house, though, he runs away.
- Taught by Experience: Implied. Doug was able to get away when the front door was opened from the outside. When Chris is in the house, the ghosts proceed to board up the door from the inside.
- Tempting Fate: After talking to Robbie on the phone, Chris remarks this town isn't going to be as bad as he thought it would be.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Chris's mother encourages to go outside and make some new friends. Neither of them can begin to imagine what kind of ghostly trouble he narrowly escapes from, as a result of this suggestion.
- With Friends Like These...: Chris thought the trio was a bit odd and had no interest in joining their club, but he thought they were all right overall and people who he could befriend. He is most surprised when they literally force him into the house and lock him inside.
