Greetings, and welcome back to October Horror Fest! I know this article is a bit late (I apologize), and it is because after watching tonight’s movie, I literally fell asleep on my couch. Not even joking, this actually happened. I APOLOGIZE! However, the movie was SO fun and is actually one of our first main sequels of the month. Get ready, readers, as we dive back into one of the most insane, wacky, and funny universes out there. Without further ado, sit back, relax, turn off the lights, grab some Candy and Popcorn, and let’s review…

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

Our film begins, just like the last one, right in the action. (btw, this movie is even more insane than the first and I honestly didn’t know that was possible until I watched it). Mystery Inc are the most popular people in Coolsville (this isn’t a joke, the actual name of the city which this movie takes place is literally called Coolsville). Our gang pull up in a MYSTERY MACHINE LIMO, and hilariously dress in the most fashionable outfits I have ever seen. Hell, even Scooby showed up with sunglasses. Mystery Inc. have decided to donate lots of the costumes from their previous villains and masked enemies to the Coolsonian Criminology Museum, (see how insane it is yet? This movie is so amazing). In the middle of the ceremony for Mystery Inc, however, the party is CRASHED by an actual ghost version of the Pterodactyl Ghost from Mystery Inc’s past. No longer just a costume, but an ACTUAL GHOST. The ghost flies around the museum, as Scooby and Shaggy try to stop him, only to be flung around the entire place while holding onto ropes that are attached to him. A masked figure appears on the top of the shattered roof, saying that Mystery Inc will be destroyed. He then FLIES AWAY as the Pterodactyl ghost helps him out, not without stealing many of Mystery Inc’s old costumes. Guys, we are about 15 minutes in. Get ready.

In the midst of the fallout from the attack on the Museum, a HORRIBLY ANNOYING journalist by the name of Jasper Howe attempts to smear the name of the gang, even using out of context quotes from Fred to accomplish this. The next day, we’re back at the gang’s HQ, which is SUPER high tech and very funny and honestly I was just full vibing at this point, it literally looks like if Mystery Inc had a Batcave. However, this is a Scooby-Doo movie, and there does have to be some legitimate moments of character building. Hiding in the kitchen while the rest of the gang discuss in the lounge, Shaggy and Scooby have a conversation where they both feel bad about what happened with the Museum, blaming themselves. Our boys then decide that basically every other Mystery Inc goof has been THEIR FAULT, and they vow to change their ways. Shaggy, for starters, decides that they should act like actual detectives. Our boys then try to have a discussion with the rest of the gang about the mystery, and try to go about solving it as a duo. The rest of the gang are VERY confused about this, but they don’t mention much else. We then get one of our first little exposition dumps, revealing the gang’s current theory on who is after them this time. They think (with good reason) that the main villain is one who wants revenge for the past, but they dismiss the possibility of Doctor Jonothan Jacobo, because in one of the funniest scenes in the entire movie we see him trying to break out of prison using a makeshift pair of wings (he was the original Pterodactyl Ghost), and FALLS INTO THE SEA.

Their attention then falls onto Jeremiah Wickles, who was the former Black Knight ghost, and also, Jonothan’s former cellmate. With the new theory in mind, the Gang sets out to Wickle’s old mansion, which is literally the most haunted house I’ve ever seen. While there (by the way, the “gang” as of this point only consists of Velma, Fred, and Daphne, because Scooby and Shaggy have now made it their mission to find clues by themselves). Once at the mansion, our trio finds an ancient book of magic that explains how to create monstrous beings through a combination of black magic and mad science, literally the PERFECT combination for the gang. AT THE SAME TIME, in (I’m going to say this a lot) one of the funniest scenes in the entire movie, Shaggy and Scooby find a “clue” on the outskirts of town which is literally an invitation to a NIGHTCLUB named the “Faux Ghost”, which is literally where all the previously caught villains of Mystery Inc hang out. Our boys get inside using the funniest “disguises” I’ve ever seen, and actually FIND Wickles! However, in a mock interrogation, the boys get the answer they were not expecting. Wickles tells our boys to get out of the criminal business. It isn’t worth it. Shaggy (being Shaggy) asks if Wickles would forgive Mystery Inc, an idea he IMMEDIATELY shuts down. However, as Shaggy continues his investigation, Scooby does the most Scooby-Doo thing I’ve ever seen. Our favorite dog ends up on the DANCE FLOOR, partying with the criminals that Mystery Inc were able to unmask. Scooby’s AFRO, which was part of his disguise, comes FLYING OFF, and our boys have to make a break for it!!!

Back with the core three of the gang, Velma discovers that a key ingredient in most of the magical science recipes in the book is, I’m not joking, “randominium”, which is apparently located in the nearby silver mines (THIS WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT SOON). However, since there is so much bad press going on around the gang, they decide (minus Shaggy and Scooby of course because our boys are literally on an adventure right now), decide to visit the museum themselves, along with its curator, Patrick. Velma has a HUGE crush on this guy, but feels like she’ll never get a chance with him because (this is a real quote), she isn’t “hot”. (this movie is somehow better than the first one I don’t know how). Velma then gets a HUGE makeover by Daphne, and she aims to impress our boy Patrick. The gang piles into the Mystery Machine and sets out, only to get to the museum to realize that it has been RANSACKED. The entire building has been attacked, and the entire Mystery Inc exhibit has been absolutely destroyed, with everything either being broken or destroyed. Patrick is understandably EXTREMELY upset about this, and leaves, trying to set out and solve the mystery himself. The gang (the trio) sets out to the mines, where they find Wickles and confront the former Black Knight ghost. However, he once again gives a VERY uncriminal-like response, saying he wanted to reopen the mines to make them an amusement park. Wickles then reveals to the gang that he DESPISED Jacobo, and this confession causes the gang to say he’s innocent.

The trio venture deeper into the mines, eventually finding the “Monster Hive” (dun dun dunnnnnn), where they reunite with SHAGGY AND SCOOBY. Our boys finally connect with the rest of the gang, and they all find a secret machine that transforms the stolen costumes of Mystery Inc into ACTUAL real monsters. (I have to mention this, in the cave there are a BUNCH of potions that Scooby and Shaggy obviously experiment with, turning Shaggy into a WOMAN, and then BUFF, this movie is amazing). But, of course, it can’t be all fun and games, as Shaggy and Scooby accidentally mess with the machine, causing some of the stolen costumes to become monsters right in front of their eyes. Mystery Inc then takes the control panel of the machine and BOLTS out of the caves. However, the gang cannot get ONE minute of safety, as the Masked Figure from the beginning of the film starts to TERRORIZE the entire city of Coolsville. All of the monsters that have been created through the costumes commence their attack with the Masked Figure. In a rare but amazing character development scene once AGAIN occurring, the gang heads to their old clubhouse from their high school days, a FAR cry from the “Mysterycave”. Once there, the gang puts their brains together and realize that they can reprogram the control panel which they can do through messing with its writing. During this revelation, however, the ghost of Captain Cutler (a classic Scooby-Doo villain) comes OUT OF A LAKE (okay Jason Voorhees), the gang speeds back to the mines in order to reprogram the panel, and hopefully end the monster takeover.

On the way there, every member of the gang splits off, doing their part to lure the monsters away. This leaves, you guessed it, SHAGGY AND SCOOBY, to go get the newly reprogrammed control panel to the heart of the hive. In the midst of the chaos, Velma finds a SHRINE to Jacobo, which she guesses was built by Patrick, leaving her to heartbreakingly accuse her crush of being the Masked Figure. However, ALL of her worries about this (I personally believed her theory because it’s very obvious) are cut short when Velma finds herself on a collapsing catwalk, only to be SAVED by Patrick. The two share a quick moment, BEFORE THE PTERODACTYL GHOST APPEARS, taking Patrick away. It’s time for the climax, folks!

The gang all reach the hive, and prepare for a standoff against the Masked Figure and all the rest of the monsters. However, before the standoff can occur, the gang is trapped by the Tar Monster, and ARE ABOUT TO BE SUFFOCATED TO DEATH. NO, I’M NOT JOKING. However, our boy Scooby appears in the knick of time, deterring the Tar Monster with a fire extinguisher. The gang are able to reunite, and attach the control panel, turning the monsters back into costumes. The Masked Figure is FINALLY unmasked, to reveal JASPER HOWE, THE JOURNALIST FROM THE BEGINNING. However, things get even crazier, when JASPER is unmasked to reveal JACOBO. That’s right, Jacobo faked his death (even though he didn’t actually mean to), and set out to destroy the gang for his revenge. Wickles was even framed by Jacobo just to tie up all loose ends. Jacobo is brought in, and Mystery Inc are back on the top of the world. LETS GOOOOOOO!!!! Fred and Daphne grow closer, Patrick and Velma begin to date (WOOOOO), and our main boys (Shaggy and Scooby) become SUPER self-confident, with the gang celebrating at the Faux Ghost to end our tale…

THERE WE HAVE IT! Guys, I know there’s been a LOT of Scooby this month, but this movie was so funny and a MUCH needed break after Jaws (Jaws was HEAVY, and tonight the rest of Mystery Inc. dropped in Fortnite so hey I’m not complaining about an unintentional coincidence). I LOVED how funny this movie was, and you best believe the “horror” in Horror Fest isn’t going anywhere. We have two weeks left. I can’t believe it. But it is about to FLY by, and I have some good ones lined up (it starts tomorrow). I hope you all enjoyed it! And of course, don’t forget, when you’ve got a mystery, call the gang…