Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween - A Sequel That Lost the Magic
A sequel that squanders the charm of the original, continuing the story of monsters unleashed from the pages of books.
The small town of Wardenclyffe is buzzing with anticipation for Halloween night. Houses are adorned with pumpkins and ghostly figures, windows display silhouettes of bats and dancing skeletons, and children have their costumes and treat baskets ready. On the eve of the holiday, two friends, Sonny and Sam, venture into an abandoned house once owned by a famous writer. There, they discover a manuscript about Slappy, a sinister ventriloquist dummy with a knack for manipulating people. As soon as the boys open the book, Slappy materializes into the real world and begins building an army to conquer the planet. He finds plenty of “volunteers,” bringing Halloween decorations to life and turning them into genuine terrors for children and adults alike. To stop the supernatural invasion, Sam and Sonny must seek help from Sarah, a high schooler whose writing talent might be the key to ending the Halloween Horror.
While the cast and creators of the first film expressed interest in returning for a sequel, director Rob Letterman was already committed to “Detective Pikachu,” Dylan Minnette was busy with “13 Reasons Why,” and Jack Black barely managed to juggle “Haunted Halloween” with “The House with a Clock in Its Walls.”
If Hollywood kept score of studios that fumble promising projects, squandering initial success with lackluster sequels, Sony would undoubtedly be near the top. How many times has the studio aimed for ambitious, long-running franchises only to fall short? From Roland Emmerich’s “Godzilla” to the recent “Dark Tower,” the company has a history of mishandling valuable properties. R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” series is a treasure trove of potential, but unfortunately, we see gold turned to dust as the filmmakers fail to capture the magic.
The Original’s Charm
The first “Goosebumps” film wasn’t a masterpiece, but it was a solid teen movie with inventive special effects and engaging characters. It was also suitable for family viewing, with non-irritating adult characters and monsters that were more entertaining than frightening. The setup for a sequel was intriguing, with one villain still at large and the “fictional” daughter of the writer offering numerous possibilities for further development. A good sequel could have tripled the impact of the first film, expanded the fanbase, and deepened the characters. Instead, Sony opted for a forced reboot, effectively erasing everything that Rob Letterman and his team had built in 2015.
R.L. Stine, the author of the “Goosebumps” books, makes a cameo in “Haunted Halloween” as a school principal presenting an award to one of the main characters in the finale.
Changes in Production
The sequel saw a complete change in the creative team, with the director and lead actors absent for various reasons. Only Jack Black managed to appear in “Haunted Halloween,” but viewers have to wait a good 70 minutes to see him as R.L. Stine. Replacing Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, and Amy Ryan are less compelling actors, shifting the film’s focus from teenagers to children. The romantic subplot that anchored much of the original’s story is also gone.
Monsters and Effects
The sequel also fails to introduce impressive new monsters. While the finale features a grand scene with a giant spider made of balloons, the rest of the film relies on familiar faces like Slappy, the Abominable Snowman, and the Werewolf, all of whom have lost their edge. The only real improvement in “Haunted Halloween” is the replacement of the gnomes from the first film with gummy bears, who prove to be formidable opponents despite their softness and cuteness. Unfortunately, the new story is no match for the original film.
Final Verdict
If the first film was akin to “Night at the Museum,” the sequel feels more like a low-budget 80s TV movie, with mediocre effects, uninspired actors, and flat writing. Sadly, this sequel to a once-impressive, funny, and energetic film puts a nail in the franchise’s coffin. If the story of Stine and his characters is to continue, it needs a different approach. But there’s no need to despair; Sony has a history of “losing” promising projects, including “Spider-Man.” Someone more agile and interested will inevitably “pick up” “Goosebumps,” and then we’ll see the true potential of humans versus well-written book monsters.