Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

Name: Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Comedy, Family
Released: October 12, 2018
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Ben O'Brien, Bryce Cass, Caleel Harris, Chris Parnell, Christian Finlayson

2018

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 50 Ratings

See All

4.8

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4.8	Your Score
4.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 50 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

Now Playing: Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: October 12, 2018 | PG

Starring: Ben O'Brien, Bryce Cass, Caleel Harris, Chris Parnell, Christian Finlayson, Courtney Lauren Cummings, Darin De Paul, Drew Scheid, Jack Black, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Jessi Goei, Ken Jeong, Kendrick Cross, Madison Iseman, Odeya Rush, Peyton Wich, Shari Headley, Sydney Bullock, Tyler Silva, Wendi McLendon-Covey

Summary: Halloween comes to life in a brand-new comedy adventure based on R.L. Stine's 400-million-selling series of books.

Director: Ari Sandel

Genre(s): Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Comedy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 90 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Marc Savlov

Oct 10, 2018

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween knows what its target demographic wants but also resonates with adult audiences, thanks to the zippy plot and across-the-board excellent performances from the totally game cast. Read full review

Kate Taylor

Oct 11, 2018

So, the safely scary and often amusing formula holds. Meanwhile, the movie’s conclusion includes enough plot about Stine’s fate to suggest Goosebumps 3 will feature more of the elusive Black and that can only be a good thing. Read full review

Peter Hartlaub

Oct 10, 2018

Beyond some network television-quality production values, the sequel to the 2015 film is completely satisfactory family entertainment. It's hard to imagine anyone putting "Goosebumps 2" on their end-of-year worst movie list. And not just because it's hard to imagine anyone even remembering this film beyond next Tuesday. Read full review

Harry Haun

Oct 10, 2018

It’s a completely new crew, on both sides of the camera, dispensing warmed-over chills. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Oct 11, 2018

It replicates the template and the atmosphere of the original, but it lacks invention and emotional investment. Read full review

Teo Bugbee

Oct 11, 2018

The production design displays a genuine enthusiasm for the decorative kitsch of the Halloween season, and the flashes of giddy craftiness beneath the slick style almost compensate for the toothlessness of the horror. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Oct 15, 2018

The plot feels played and the stakes feel low. Read full review

SEE ALL 20 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

manningn15

Oct 15, 2018

The visuals were beautifully spooky and creepy just like in the first one. The writing and humor was funny but not hilarious like in the first one. The acting performances were fantastic especially Ken Jeong, Madison Iseman, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Caleel Harris, and ChrisThe visuals were beautifully spooky and creepy just like in the first one. The writing and humor was funny but not hilarious like in the first one. The acting performances were fantastic especially Ken Jeong, Madison Iseman, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Caleel Harris, and Chris Parnell. This one was not as good as the first one but it was still pretty entertaining. One of my favorite Halloween movies.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Jim222001

Jan 30, 2019

Better than the first at times and Slappy is definitely better. Feels more like the Goosebumps series than the first. Which was more about family fun than scares or creepiness.
Although I don’t remember Slappy having powers in the first. I thought I would miss the cast from the original. TheBetter than the first at times and Slappy is definitely better. Feels more like the Goosebumps series than the first. Which was more about family fun than scares or creepiness.
Although I don’t remember Slappy having powers in the first. I thought I would miss the cast from the original. The new cast is pretty good though and the sequel is so entertaining I forgot I missed them lol.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CityOfGeek

Dec 9, 2018

Let me lead with the first Goosebumps film from 2015 was a delight. It had a surprisingly heartfelt backbone to the family friendly carnage with a set of well known actors giving it their full attention – no slumming around. Not to mention a fantastic way to adapt the spirit of the longLet me lead with the first Goosebumps film from 2015 was a delight. It had a surprisingly heartfelt backbone to the family friendly carnage with a set of well known actors giving it their full attention – no slumming around. Not to mention a fantastic way to adapt the spirit of the long running series. (My first was in 6th grade in 1992; I think it was “Say Cheese and Die”)

However, Goosebumps 2 is much lesser than first one. It feels like one notch above a TV movie. Think of the film you expected for the first film. The movie here is likely around the quality you expected. Since it’s a sequel, one expects to use what worked the first time and build in a different way. But this is very much the first one again with some details changed.

With being a sequel, it takes too long to get to the expected Halloween/Monster mayhem with a really sketchy set of scenes to get to it. Set ups that would work for a movie of the week but not so much on the big screen. Undercooked way to get to Slappy, and later to the monster fun. Odd as the mayhem starts about 20 minutes after it did the first time around. It’s a sequel, be bigger! When it does happen, the film is a blast with great production design for the creatures, including green orb head witches and a giant spider made from balloons. The sequence when Slappy gets the gang back together is amazing and gets the spirit going. There is a notable cheapness to the whole she-bang even when it goes as the film keeps finding excuses to exit the town getting attacked (I’m pretty sure there are piles of dead), ranging from “let’s talk in this alley” to “hang out with as annoying as normal Ken Jeong for a minute”. Jeong plays the character in a way that makes those who laugh just because he is there happy. Broad and groan-worthy. He does have the Halloween yard set up I want so bad though.

This all leads to a very rushed and easy ending. How convenient is it? It doesn’t feel done. Like there is about to be the next, real climax. But it doesn’t happen. Just wrapped up in a bow with really weird voice-over. And several subplots left unresolved.

On the plus side – the monsters look great, there is fun in the sequences you came to see. The design on Slappy is very well done – it’s not Black doing the voice this time but a reasonable facsimile. I’m pretty sure many of the extras characters straight up died. There is great report between the leads and some well-done humor and nods to horror franchises. I’m not sure if one bit was a direct nod to Halloween III: Season of the Witch or just a coincidence as I have Halloween on the brain (cough podcast cough) – and I’m watching Halloween III as I write this. We do get Jack Black on hand for a little bit, but almost feels like he’s added in when they realized he can stop by for a day during The House with a Clock in its Walls downtime.

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is not a terrible movie. It’s just a disappointment after the first entry showed this concept can be done better. I personally hoped the sequel would be a Horrorland type thing instead of essentially the same plot. For family-friendly horror-fantasy on the big screen, go see House instead.

C+… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

EpicLadySponge

Oct 12, 2018

Remember 2015's Goosebumps? No? Neither did I since the movie was just too forgettable in my opinion. Prepare for a sequel that no one wanted but the crew just had to make it so that they can make more money. By that, I mean expect it to be not funny nor scary. It's just another forgettableRemember 2015's Goosebumps? No? Neither did I since the movie was just too forgettable in my opinion. Prepare for a sequel that no one wanted but the crew just had to make it so that they can make more money. By that, I mean expect it to be not funny nor scary. It's just another forgettable movie you'll probably forget about once you go out to see better movies.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Tomtag

Apr 14, 2019

This was a bit out of the content what we were talking about: monsters, halloween but this movie did not try their best about those

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tropicAces

Oct 12, 2018

The first film was a nice surprise, full of a few genuinely creepy moments and surprisingly dark humor. This is aimed at a much younger demo, and without Black there to lead the charge it just all feels aimless.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

whackjacker

Oct 23, 2018

I can't stand watching Nacho Libre, but I will admit when I am wrong. Its directorial prowess and Jack Black's powerful performance as a man who just wants to do right by the people he cares about is one that has me in tears every time. It honestly beats Kevin James in Here Comes The Boom,I can't stand watching Nacho Libre, but I will admit when I am wrong. Its directorial prowess and Jack Black's powerful performance as a man who just wants to do right by the people he cares about is one that has me in tears every time. It honestly beats Kevin James in Here Comes The Boom, they are two wonderful films cut from the same cloth, but tailored by very unique minds.

2/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 17 REVIEWS