R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead – Review | Tubi (3/5)

R.L. STINE’S PUMPKINHEAD on Tubi is a new YA Horror Movie for the whole family. Or rather, most of it, as it’s rated TV-14. Released just in time for Halloween, this comes from director Jem Garrard. Read our full review of the R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead movie here!

R.L. STINE’S PUMPKINHEAD is a new Tubi horror movie made for a younger audience. It could be a solid choice for Halloween for the entire family. However, this also means any hardcore horror fan shouldn’t expect anything too wild or intense.

The official rating is TV-14, and it is based on an R.L. Stine story, which should give you an idea of what to expect. For this Young-Adult horror movie about a pumpkin-creature, the runtime is at an efficient 90 minutes. Of course, with commercial breaks, it’s a lot longer.

WANT IT DARKER?

There’s the new V/H/S/Halloween out on Shudder now >

Continue reading our R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead movie review below. Find it on Tubi now.

Welcome to harvest season

A family moves from the big city, New York, to the small town of Redhaven, just as harvest season hits. The 13-year-old Sam may have thought that moving to this small town was as bad as it could get, but it’s about to get much worse as his older brother Finn disappears.

He doesn’t go missing, but simply vanishes, and then no one else can remember that he ever existed. Even their mom has no memory of her oldest son, and pictures of the family now only show Sam and his mom, while Finn has disappeared in every way possible.

With Halloween quickly approaching, Sam and his new friend, Becka (the daughter of the town’s Sheriff), must solve this mystery. They get help from Redhaven’s eccentric outcast, Rusty, who speaks of a strange and sinister harvest curse.

Can they save Finn before it’s too late? Or is he lost forever?!

Fun, scares, and pumpkin adventure

This latest Tubi genre addition is a young-adult horror movie that could just as easily (and more accurately) be called a YA horror-comedy. There is a lot of humor and comedy throughout, which results in a nice blend of chills, thrills, and fun.

With both fun moments and efficient jump scares, R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is an adventurous genre-mix perfect for the whole family.

The new Tubi YA horror story stars Bean Reid, Adeline Lo (Sorry For Your Cost), Kevin McNulty (Snakes on a Plane, Lowlifes), Bob Frazer (Motherland: Fort Salem), Matty Finochio (Night of the Reaper), and Seth Isaac Johnson (My Old Ass, iZombie).

Watch R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead on Tubi now

Jem Garrard is the writer and director of this Tubi movie, which is of course based on a short story by R.L. Stine. Most of Jem Garrard’s previous movies have been South African productions (not that this is part of their plot), but this time is was made in Canada.

Previously, Jem Garrard has directed some amazing Tubi genre movies. Most are deliciously kitsch horror-comedies (or horror with dark comedy), which means this one isn’t like those at all.

Instead, it’s clearly (and lovingly) made with its core demographic in mind: Young Adults.

I don’t know that your average horror fan will find this movie particularly interesting, as it is made for the young-adult audience. However, I do believe it could be a solid introduction to the horror genre for the next generation, so get the family together and enjoy.

Just one final warning: The ending of this YA horror movie is surprisingly brutal!

R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead streams exclusively on Tubi from October 17, 2025.

Details

Director: Jem Garrard
Script: Jem Garrard
Cast: Bean Reid, Adeline Lo, Kevin McNulty, Bob Frazer, Matty Finochio, Seth Isaac Johnson