Slappy the Dummy Plots a Halloween Takeover in New Goosebumps 2 Trailer

Is it bad that I’m rooting for Slappy in Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween? Look, I get it. He’s a bit of a cynical narcissist who would be a drag at parties. Fine, he also wants to unleash an entire arsenal of monsters from your childhood library on the world. But you guys, he wants Halloween to last forever! I am fully in favor.

The second trailer for the film fleshes out where we are in relation to the first Goosebumps and drops a few clues as to why every human character is new. After R.L. Stine’s (Jack Black) literary creations escaped from their printed pages, Zach (Dylan Minette) got everyone back in their proper books. Apparently, the supernatural outburst was reported exactly as it happened without any skepticism because Sarah (Madison Iseman) finds a story about it online shortly thereafter. Her digital research was a little too late, however.

Stine has disappeared and in his abandoned house Sonny (Jeremy Ray Taylor) and Sam (Caleel Harris) discover there is just one book left. Of course, it is the book Haunted Halloween that serves as a compendium housing every Halloween themed creature you can imagine. They all escape and Slappy the Dummy lords over the chaos.

Goosebumps had surprisingly delightful VFX and the sequel doubles down. Glowing green witches, fire-breathing Jack O Lanterns, and a house-sized spider all come to life in exciting, but not truly terrifying ways. It’s exactly what you wished would happen out on your lame trick-or-treating run when your goofy neighbors would have way too much fun trying to trick you with a fake hand in the candy jar.

For Goosebumps 2, Ken Jeong is that overly excited neighbor and he’s perfect for the part. Whenever you want something done full throttle over the top, Ken Jeong is the man to call. Wendi McLendon-Covey also makes her first appearance in the trailer and there may not be a comedian today who has better timing. Together they’re expressive, goofy, and just a ton of fun. Goosebumps 2 looks more exciting than the original and may be the moment this franchise really hits its stride.

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween brings the tricks and the treats October 19.

Featured Image: (l to r) Caleel Harris, Madison Iseman, Slappy and Jeremy Ray Taylor in Columbia Pictures’ GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN. Credit: Daniel McFadden. © 2018 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.