436. Goosebumps 2 - Haunted Halloween; movie review

GOOSEBUMPS 2 - HAUNTED HALLOWEEN
Cert PG

90 mins
BBFC advice: Contains frequent scary scenes

Yes, I am the dad who refused to allow his children to go out on the trick or treat trail.
And, Mrs W and I are the people who leave the house to avoid having to respond to face-painted children knocking at our door.
To us, Halloween represents the worst type of Americanisation and we object to its very notion of 'we demand something nice or face the consequences'.
If Goosebumps 2 is anything to go by... Americans have taken the October 31 celebrations on to a whole new level.
The premise of Ari Sandel's film is a Halloween which is given extra spice by Slappy, a ventriloquist's dummy which is inadvertently brought to life by pals Sonny (Jeremy Ray Taylor) and Sam (Caleel Harris).

At first, it seems as if Slappy might be the answer to their prayers because he has the happy knack of putting right wrongs - including seeing off the school bully.
But pretty soon it becomes clear that he is an unhinged megalomaniac who wants to take control of the whole town.
Madison Iseman plays Sonny's elder sister who suddenly finds a big distraction from both her studies and her love life when Halloween arrives in more ways than one.
Oh, and there's Jack Black who makes a fleeting appearance as R.L.Stine who has an uncanny similarity to the bloke from School Of Rock and The House With A Clock In Its Walls.
Goosebumps 2 is actually good family fun - although I fear that younger children may be spooked a little too much by some of the monsters (or even the fiendish Slappy).
Its special effects are out of the ordinary and there is a splendid dollop of quirkiness (mostly thrown in by the omnipresent Ken Jeong).
This is the second Goosebumps film and, while it offers something a little different to its predecessor, I think the makers should think hard about whether they might be milking it too much to have a third or more.
Nevertheless, this one has enough to keep the kids entertained.

Reasons to watch: Spooky family fun
Reasons to avoid: Very young children may be frightened

Laughs: A couple of chuckles
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7/10

Director quote - Ari Sandel: "The idea of Halloween coming to life is something that has never been done in a two-hour movie and there aren't a lot of Halloween films that are for families. Who doesn't want to see their favourite holiday come to life?"

The big question - How did Halloween become so commercial?

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