Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween ** / *****
Directed by: Ari
Sandel.
Written by: Rob
Lieber and Darren Lemke based on the books by R.L. Stine.
Starring: Wendi McLendon-Covey (Kathy),
Madison Iseman (Sarah), Jeremy Ray Taylor (Sonny), Caleel Harris (Sam), Ken
Jeong (Mr. Chu), Chris Parnell (Walter), Bryce Cass (Tyler), Peyton Wich (Tommy
Madigan), Shari Headley (Mrs. Carter), Christian Finlayson (Cooper), Matthew J.
Vasquez (Derek), Sydney Bullock (Vanessa), Deja Dee (Mrs. Hoover), Hallie
Jackson (Nana), Mick Wingert (Slappy).
It’s
never a good sign when almost no one involved in the original film shows up for
the sequel – but in the case of Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, it’s probably
a blessing in disguise, because the major thrust of the plot is pretty much
exactly the same. In the surprisingly fun 2015 original, an unwitting teenager
accidentally unleashes all the monsters that were in the R.L. Stine Goosebumps
books, and then teams up with the author himself (Jack Black) and his daughter
to get them all back safely stowed in the books. In the sequel, instead of
unleashing monsters from all the books, an unwitting teenager accidentally
releases the monsters from just one Goosebumps books – it just so happens that
the book in question contained all the same monsters. We’re in a new town,
which means new teenagers – and although Jack Black does show up in the film,
it’s really far into the third act when he shows up, and basically amounts to a
cameo appearance. He does inject some life into the proceedings though – and made
me laugh out loud at his comment when he saw a red balloon floating by a sewer.
Until
then, though, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween pretty much functions on
autopilot. This time, it’s nerdy Sonny (Jeremy Ray Taylor) and his friend Sam
(Caleel Harris), who find an old manuscript for Goosebumps in a dilapidated
house, and unwitting release Slappy – the maniac puppet who was the most
popular character in the first film (in a show of just how little time Jack
Black had for this movie, he didn’t even do the voice of Slappy this time,
which he did last time). Once the pair realizes that Slappy isn’t just a fun
toy – or a way to get things done quicker – they have to loop in Sonny’s older
sister, Sarah (Madison Iseman) to help contain Slappy – who only wants a
family, especially a mother, and is willing to unleash all the monsters to get
it. Their mother is played by the delightful Wendi McLendon-Covey from The Goldbergs,
although neither she nor Chris Parnell nor Ken Jeong – who show up in small
roles – can really inject much life into things.
Goosebumps
2: Haunted Halloween is the very definition of a sequel that was only made because
the first one made money. There is not more story here – which is why it’s
pretty much a repeat of the first film, nor do the filmmakers really find much
of a reason for the film to exist. I will say that as introductory horror movie
for kids, the Goosebumps films both work quite well – I watched the original
with my seven-year-old a few weeks ago, and she quite liked it, so we ventured
to the theater to see this one. It scared her, but not terrified her – and there
were no nightmares. Along with The House with a Clock in Its Walls, this fall
season has given two decent enough movies to scare children, without scarring
them. And for that, I guess, Goosebumps 2L Haunted Halloween works.
But for
the rest of you? The ones who don’t have kids, there really isn’t a reason to
see this film – and little more to see the original Goosebumps if I’m being
honest. I have limited nostalgia for the series – I remember reading the books
in the years before I worked up the nerve to start reading Stephen King (the
fictional R.L. Stine’s arch nemesis), but I barely remember anything beyond the
covers. The first film was an entertaining time waster – the second film more
of the same, with diminished results. The third film, which they setup in the
final moments here, will be completely unnecessary, if and when it’s made – but
at least seems to be something a touch different. We can hope anyway.
