Set in the small town of Wardenclyffe, New York, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween follows Sonny and Sam, two middle school best friends who run a junk-cleaning business called “Junk Bros.” While cleaning out an old, abandoned mansion once owned by R.L. Stine, they discover a mysterious locked chest containing a partially finished manuscript titled Haunted Halloween.
When they open the book, the mischievous ventriloquist dummy Slappy comes to life. Slappy introduces himself as a friendly companion who offers to help the boys, but it soon becomes clear he has sinister intentions. Slappy desires to create a family of his own, using magic to bring inanimate objects to life.
The film heavily relies on practical effects and CGI to create the whimsical, spooky atmosphere. The Halloween decorations, particularly the giant balloon spider and the living gummy bears, are highlights of the visual effects.
The filmmakers aimed to create a movie that was scary enough to thrill children while still being lighthearted and comedic for family audiences.
The film grossed $93 million worldwide on a $35 million budget, making it a moderate success. However, it didnโt achieve the same financial or critical success as the first Goosebumps movie, which grossed $158 million.
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is a fun, spooky, and family-friendly film that captures the spirit of Halloween. While it doesnโt quite live up to the first installment, it offers plenty of laughs, scares, and nostalgia for fans of R.L. Stineโs iconic book series.