Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

The film firmly sits within the family-friendly horror-comedy genre. It aims for a balance of spooky encounters and lighthearted humour, characteristic of the Goosebumps franchise. The tone is energetic and adventurous, with a strong emphasis on friendship and teamwork as the young protagonists race to contain the supernatural threats unleashed by Slappy.

When Slappy is freed from his book, he brings a host of R.L. Stine's classic monsters to life, fitting for a Halloween setting. Expect to see various spooky entities, from animated gummy bears to towering monsters, all contributing to the pandemonium. The film embraces the spirit of Halloween with a menagerie of creatures designed to cause mischief and mayhem for the young heroes.

While both films are based on R.L. Stine's popular book series and feature the malevolent dummy Slappy, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween operates as a standalone story. It introduces new protagonists, Sonny and Sam, and their adventures with Slappy. Viewers don't necessarily need to have seen the first film to follow and enjoy the Halloween hijinks that unfold in this instalment.

This sequel generally leans into a family-friendly horror-comedy vibe, making it a decent option for younger viewers in Australia looking for some Halloween thrills. While there are supernatural elements and creatures brought to life by Slappy, the tone typically remains more playful than terrifying. Parental guidance is always a good idea, but it's designed to entertain without being overly frightening for its target demographic.

The film features a cast including Madison Iseman, Jeremy Ray Taylor, and Caleel Harris, who play the young protagonists. Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ken Jeong also appear in supporting roles, adding comedic and perhaps slightly alarming presences to the unfolding Halloween nightmare. Their performances contribute to the film's lighthearted yet spooky adventure.

The film centres on two best friends, Sonny and Sam, who run a junk business. While clearing out the old Stine house, they stumble upon a mysterious locked book. Upon opening it, they unleash the sinister dummy Slappy and a cascade of supernatural chaos. They must then team up with Sonny's sister, Sarah, to recapture Slappy and all the creatures he has brought to life back into the book before he plunges their town into pandemonium.