Sony’s 2015 GOOSEBUMPS movie with Jack Black was a modest hit, and one the studio was anxious to follow-up on with a sequel. The very first trailer for GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN is now here, featuring tons of creepy creatures from R.L. Stine’s iconic series of books – but no Jack Black's Stine with them. Instead, the movie stars Jeremy Ray Taylor (IT), Caleel Harris (CASTLE ROCK), Madison Iseman (JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE) and the creepiest doll outside of Annabelle, Slappy (voiced by Black).
Much like the first movie, HAUNTED HALLOWEEN finds the youngsters discovering a secret book from Stine, which when opened, causes all sorts of terrifying things to come to life. At the head of the freaky pack is Slappy, and now it’s up the young trio to set everything right. This time around Ari Sandel (THE DUFF) is in the director’s chair (Rob Letterman helmed the first one) with Rob Lieber (PETER RABBIT) on the script.
I didn’t see the first movie, but audiences liked it enough to propel it to $80 million domestically and $150 million around the world. I just don’t know if those same people will be interested in a second outing without Black around. The flick looks perfectly harmless and silly and should be a fine distraction for young children. Granted, this may traumatize the kids, forever causing them to be afraid of wooden toys. Hey, it had to happen at some point.
GOOSEBUMPS: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN hits theaters October 12.