THE CURSE OF BRIDGE HOLLOW has arrived on Netflix and is easily one of the best family-friendly Halloween movies in years. This charming film tells the story of a family that moves from the big city to a small town on the cusp of Halloween in hopes of a calm new future. The problem is that they’ve moved into a storied home with a dark secret in a town under the threat of a curse. Jeff Wadlow directs from a script by Todd Berger, Robert Rugan, and John R. Morey, delivering a satisfying family movie that is full of playful scares, clever writing, and something for everyone. A wonderful introduction to horror.

Howard (Marlon Wayans) and his wife Emily (Kelly Rowland) have decided to move from Brooklyn to the sleepy town of Bridge Hollow with their spunky daughter Sydney (Priah Ferguson). Howard is a pragmatic science teacher, Emily is an aspiring baker and Sydney is a lively 14-year-old attempting to chart her own path out from under her doting father’s guidance. As the family arrives at their new home, they notice that the town kinda loves Halloween. Every yard is decorated. In fact, the town is abuzz with excitement for the annual Halloween festival that celebrates local legend Stingy Jack. This Jack is a nefarious spirit whose goal is to celebrate Halloween every night, forever. Truth be told we can’t really argue with that. But that is another matter. Assumed to be a harmless local legend we soon find out that he is very real and is being contained in the attic of Sydney’s new home. As she decides to strike out against her scientific dad, Howard, she inadvertently unleashes Stingy Jack and the fun begins.

At first Jack’s powers animate a decorative bat. Its eyes crimson with the power of Halloween mischief, the bat begins to dot the town’s decorations with life. As Mayor Tammy (Lauren Lapkus) leads Bridge Hollow in a Halloween celebration at the town square, Sydney and her father, Howard,  unravel the mystery of Stingy Jack with the help of new friends Ramona (Abi Monterey), Mario (Myles Perez), and Jamie (Holly J. Barrett). What’s worse, they need to contain Stingy Jack before Midnight!

The script from Berger, Rugan, and Morey is wonderfully clever, not to mention fun. Sydney is the Halloween heroine we want to root for. Wayans is the stubborn dad we want to win over with the Halloween spirit. As father and daughter settle their differences they work to save a sleepy little town from mischief and it’s really just sweeter than a mouthful of candy corn.

THE CURSE OF BRIDGE HOLLOW is one of those fun movies that everyone in the house can sit down and watch together and have some fun. There are lessons that each character has to learn about individuality and mutual respect. Then there are the colorful characters and wild hijinks and set pieces. THE CURSE OF BRIDGE HOLLOW could easily become mandatory Halloween viewing with its own collection of tricks and treats.

 7 Out Of 10