Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

Image credit: Common Sense Media

So it appears that I have been on a bit of a sequels bender recently, both in the cinema and at home, as on a boring night about a week ago, my partner and I can across Goosebumps 2 on Prime and thought ‘why the Hell not?’

The films tells the story of two boys who come across a creepy ventriloquist doll and an unfinished manuscript and, unwittingly, start an apocalyptic Halloween that sees costumes, masks, and decorations turn into the real and frightening deal. Leading this gang of monsters is none other than Slappy the dummy who is out to get a little revenge on his creator as well as find a family for his own… our heroes’ family.

Yeah, Goosebumps itself wasn’t really anything to rave about and its sequel, Haunted Halloween proves to be even less. A predictable plot blended with PG-13 monsters doesn’t really make for very compelling cinema. However, the film’s predictability and sheer dumbness proved to have some redeeming features in that my partner and I spent quite a bit of the movie complaining to each other about how bad this or that part of it was, and had fun doing it, so there’s that…

Image credit: The Irish Times

The performances from the central cast are all fine, but nothing to write home about and the special effects are pretty groovy too, all things considered. There’s a fair amount of character growth and development that takes place, a strengthening of relationships and personal character journeys that adds flavour to the film and ties everything up in a nice little bundle. And the Jack Black appearance certainly elevates it to a place where it can breathe.

But ultimately, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is pretty bland and mediocre; a fine one to plop the kids in front of or have as background noise as you wash, iron, or do whatever other mundane chore. I wouldn’t recommend that you actively seek it out though, you can lead a full and happy life without it.

Director: Ari Sandel, 2018

Cast: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Madison Iseman, Jeremy Ray Tylor, Caleel Harris, Ken Jeong, Chris Parnell, Bryce Cass, Peyton Wich, Shari Headley, Christian Finlayson, and Jack Black