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Monsters ruin Halloween night in ‘Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween’

'Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween' is what happens if monsters come to life and terrorize a town. 

Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sat, October 13, 2018

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Monsters ruin Halloween night in ‘Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween’ Ventriloquist dummy Slappy dominates the story of 'Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween' with his terrifying laugh. (Sony Pictures Entertainment on YouTube/File)

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onny (Jeremy Ray Taylor) never thought that a ventriloquist’s dummy he found with his friend Sam (Caleel Harris) in an abandoned house would come to life. Named Slappy, the doll looks harmless at first and all he wants is a family, hence they believe he will behave and become their friend.

But as time goes by, Slappy becomes strange. He turns Sonny’s class assignment into a disaster and disturbs Sarah, Sonny’s older sister, at school. Although they throw the doll into the river, Slappy is always able to return with his trademark terrifying laugh. 

A still from 'Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween' when friends Sonny (Jeremy Ray Taylor, right) and Sam (Caleel Harris, left) meet Slappy for the first time.
A still from 'Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween' when friends Sonny (Jeremy Ray Taylor, right) and Sam (Caleel Harris, left) meet Slappy for the first time. (Sony Pictures Entertainment on YouTube/File)

Realizing that no one wants him as part of their family, Slappy decides to awaken monsters from Halloween decorations and command them to terrorize the town where Sonny lives. While other residents are busy trick-or-treating, Sonny, Sam and Sarah have to save the town from the influence of the evil puppet before it is too late.

Read also: 'Goosebumps':A fun twist on the iconic teen horror novels

Back in 2015, Rob Letterman's Goosebumps left the audience wondering about the invisible boy who was still roaming the world freely. But director Ari Sandel does not start from there in the sequel Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween.

Based on R.L. Stine’s best-selling horror series Goosebumps, the film includes some monsters from the book, although not as many as the first installment. The sequel also comes up with new monsters, among them are The Witches and The Gummy Bears. Goosebumps 2 uses the same resolution as its predecessor but with a little twist in the end that may hint at another film.

Spoiler alert for those who have yet seen the film. Some adult characters only have small parts, including Wendy McLendon-Covey (playing Sarah and Sonny’s mother) and Jack Black who returns as Stine. Having Black in the film is an exciting surprise, but he only shows up when everything is almost finished.

However, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is enjoyable to watch, especially for families. The storyline may be predictable for adults, but the film will still be able to terrify children and make them laugh at the same time. It is not necessary to have watched the first film to understand the story as it is briefly explained in the movie. (mut)

 

 

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