Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 18, 2019

"Haunted Halloween," according to the film, is the first book R.L. Stine (Jack Black) ever wrote, penned when he was no older than the young teenagers who star in this film that bears the same name. Stine, as portrayed in the film, never finished the novel, which makes it a particularly dangerous book-to-life because an open-ended finale could lead anywhere, assuming one takes the time to write their own happily-ever-after, which for the devilsh dummy named Slappy means Halloween hell on Earth. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is not a direct sequel to the well received first film, which released in 2015, but it's a fun "universe" picture that toys with similar concepts and doesn't miss Jack Black in an expanded role. Director Ari Sandel (When We First Met) creates a relatively safe but generally fun family friendly adventure that's right in the Stine wheelhouse.

Best friends Sonny (Jeremy Ray Taylor) and Sam (Caleel Harris) do everything together, including operating a junk removal service that they treat as their own personal treasure hunts. One day, they are called in to haul away trash from a dark, rotted, cobweb-infested house that once belonged to none other than R.L. Stine, the prolific author of countless children's Horror novels. At the house, they literally find a treasure chest. Inside is a book that they eventually come to learn is Haunted Halloween, Stine's first, and unfinished, novel. They also meet a living dummy named Slappy (voiced by Mick Wingert) who attempts to get in the boys' good graces by performing unbelievable tasks, like instantly completing their homework for them or getting the best of a few bullies. But when it becomes clear that Slappy is up to no good, Sonny and Sam are forced to team up with Sonny's older sister Sarah (Madison Iseman) who just might find the inspiration she seeks for her college application essay when she finds herself in the middle of Halloween mayhem come to life as Slappy attempts to reshape the neighborhood, and finish Stine's story, to his benefit.

The film actually plays better in its first half, when the characters get to know Slappy and he causes mayhem in their lives, gradually at first and increasingly disruptive and violent later on. It’s a little less fun, a little more stock and streamlined, when the town is overrun by Halloween characters and costumes and odds and ends coming to life. It all ties together nicely enough and the special effects showing Halloween creatures come to life are quite good: a headless horseman, a huge balloon spider, witches and ghosts and goblins and garden gnomes and gummy bears. But the movie feels a little too linear and predictable. Taken at face value, though, most audiences will have a blast with the movie. It’s well paced and capably blends genuine character moments with dazzling visual effects.

The cast is very good. Jeremy Ray Taylor, who could pass for a young Jack Black (so much so that, just looking at the Blu-ray cover art, this reviewer thought maybe he was playing a young R.L. Stine in the movie, whom Black plays in the series), carries the character with as much depth as the script allows. His character is a bullying victim but not portrayed as a completely helpless wimp, either, which gives him a little more believable command of himself and his actions when the chips are down in the final act. Caleel Harris is well cast as Sonny's friend Sam, as is Madison Iseman as Sonny's sister Sarah. Each character is stock; all of them seem pulled from stock character shelves, notably Sarah who spends the movie fretting over college applications and her love life. She bookends the films as a college applicant struggling with the required essay, which of course tasks her with writing about a time she was frightened. Characters aren't special, but they fold into the movie well enough. Jack Black makes a cameo later in the film as R.L. Stine, and the ever reliable Ken Jeong steals every scene in which he appears as an eccentric Halloween decorator and secret Stine fan. The film unsurprisingly shines brightest in Black's and Jeong's scenes, but the film's isn't worse for their absence the rest of the time.

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween's 1080p Blu-ray release delivers a very strong image. Clarity is terrific, colors are bold, and blacks are deep. It's a typically great new release sourced from a digital shoot. Colors are very impressive from start to finish, with intense, very well saturated Halloween oranges and purples, richly bright and vibrant shades inside a store in chapter two, blue school lockers, variously colored clothes, and healthy flesh tones all amongst the standouts throughout the film. Black depth is terrific, with every shadowy corner or nighttime exterior featuring impressive depth and stability. Excellent character details -- faces, skin -- abound while rich and refined environmental textures, such as old woods and cobwebs as seen when Sonny and Sam enter the old, long abandoned Stine house, are exemplary. Slappy's worn textures are very nicely detailed in intimate close-ups and refined even at medium distance. Clarity is terrific across every frame; there are no soft shots or smudgy corners. Noise is kept in check and no major source or encode flaws are readily apparent. This is a top-flight Blu-ray release from Sony.

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For the Blu-ray release of Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, Sony has once again left off the Dolby Atmos soundtrack found on the companion day-and-date UHD release and instead included a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 presentation. Despite the downgrade for the Blu-ray, the track is perfectly good, offering wide stage musical and effects envelopment, sound clarity, and nicely integrated surround detailing. Musical fidelity is a plus, with rich instrumental clarity and precision placement and detail along the front. Surrounds carry a modest but complimentary support. Music at a dance party in chapter four is of slight exception, presenting with immersive stage command but it lacks that last little push of aggression and depth to really make the scene come alive, even if it turns into an unexpectedly sad moment a minute later when the boisterous music gives way to sorrowful score. There are some good directional zaps and zips during Sonny's overcharged Tesla presentation in chapter seven, and various examples of sonic mayhem later in the film present with capable stage immersion, seamless movement, good clarity, and a fair, but hardly dominant, low end support. The track folds in some very nicely shaped and integrated school hallway atmospherics, blowing wind, and a few other examples of support sounds with pinpoint positioning at any, and every, locale throughout the listening area. Dialogue is flawless and enjoys modest reverberation as necessary.

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween contains deleted scenes and several light featurettes. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 2:19 total runtime): Included are Tommy the Ice Skater, Mr. Chu's Porch, and Pumpkin Man.
• Gag Reel! (1080p, 2:37): Humorous moments from the shoot.
• Thrills & Chills - The Making of Goosebumps 2 (1080p, 9:56): This supplement explores the basics: story, setting, cast and characters, Ari Sandel's work as director, Tesla's place in the film, and more.
• Meet the Monsters (1080p, 8:32): A closer look at monster diversity, design, construction, and implementation into the movie.
• Science with Slappy (1080p): A five-part feature. Each section features Slappy and the main cast either conducting some science experiments that in some way relate to the film or explaining some scientific truths. These are educationally oriented with a humorous bend. Included are The Scientific Method & Gummy Bears (4:15), Light It Up with a Tesla Coil (1:36), Static Electricity Ghosts (1:37), What Gives Us Goosebumps (0:47), and Chemical Reactions & Slime (3:17).
• Slappy-Oke Sing Alongs (1080p): Slappy sings some songs which are based on the movie. Included are Take Me Out of the Manuscript (1:37), Where Is Slappy? (1:30), and Holiday Slappy-Oke: Slappy Spells! (1:14).
• Junk Brothers - Call Now! (1080p, 1:13): Sonny and Sam make a commercial for their junk removal business.
• Slappy's Audition (1080p, 2:00): The puppet auditions for his own role, and he's a shoe-in unless Daniel Day-Lewis is brought in to play the part.
• Previews (1080p): Additional Sony titles.

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is, without a doubt, a superfluous sequel, but it's also proof that superfluous can be satisfyingly fun. The films sticks with tried-and-true formula but works thanks to surprisingly good characters, solid story building through the first half, and some impressive digital work and works of wonder in the third act, including a giant, living Halloween spider made of purple and black balloons. The film doesn't push any boundaries, but it's confident in its ability to entertain, which is does from beginning to end. Sony's Blu-ray delivers impressive 1080p video, a good 5.1 channel lossless soundtrack, and a nice little collection of extras. Recommended, but fans should be aware that the UHD bests the Blu-ray for both video and audio presentations.