The décor is tired of being neglected this Halloween season. A restless spirit with malintent uses any and every Halloween decoration and animatronics in its path to wreak havoc upon a small town. While Netflix’s The Curse of Bridge Hollow shares a similar premise to another family-friendly, novelty Halloween flick this Fall, its execution is far more energetic and fun.
The Howards have just moved to the quaint town of Bridge Hollow, just in time for Halloween. That’s excellent news for teen Sydney (Priah Ferguson, “Stranger Things”); her keen interest in the supernatural means she’s excited to see the entire block decked out with perfectly themed Halloween lawn displays. Her skeptic dad, Howard (Marlon Wayans), prefers science over superstition and is far less enthused about the Halloween revelry. It also means that father and daughter struggle to see eye to eye, often leaving mom Emily (Kelly Rowland) to referee. But when Sydney accidentally frees Stingy Jack’s ghost, which creates an army from holiday décor, she’s forced to team up with dad to save the town.
The Curse of Bridge Hollow. (L to R) Marlon Wayans as Howard, Priah Ferguson as Sydney in The Curse of Bridge Hollow. Cr. Frank Masi/Netflix © 2022.
Director Jeff Wadlow (“Are You Afraid of the Dark?,” Cry Wolf) makes the most of the Halloween concept, from Stingy Jack’s origin jack-o-lantern origin story to the quintessential New England Fall vibe. Bridge Hollow is at its most entertaining when it’s theming set pieces around whatever current Halloween décor is on the attack, and luckily that’s pretty often. Howard and Sydney race through town for answers on how to break the curse while Stingy Jack races to thwart them. It means a slew of encounters, from a giant spider siege at a retirement home to a lawn zombie invasion.
Grounding the spectacle is the Howard family. Todd Berger and Robert Rugan’s screenplay cutely pairs a scientifically minded cynic with a wistful occult believer, forcing them to work through their differences via Halloween magic. Ferguson plays Sydney with a level head that makes her far more adept and navigating the whimsy. Wayans is always game to get a little silly as Howard’s attacked by animatronic clowns, oversized pumpkin men, and more. Rowland also seems to be having a blast as the well-meaning mom desperate to find her niche in healthy baking.
The Curse of Bridge Hollow. (L to R) Marlon Wayans as Howard, John Michael Higgins as Principal Floyd, Priah Ferguson as Sydney in The Curse of Bridge Hollow. Cr. Frank Masi/Netflix © 2022.
That irreverent sense of fun and holiday spirit makes Bridge Hollow so infectious. The commitment to the concept, nostalgic set pieces, and cool Halloween animatronics certainly help. What’s less effective is the town’s identity. Many Bridge Hollow residents, including Mayor Tammy (Lauren Lapkus) or Principal Floyd (John Michael Higgins), don’t add to the story beyond lending a hand in a few Halloween hijinks. It’s through the peripheral characters and the wholesome family bonding that the target demographic is at its most pointed.
On that note, Wadlow’s latest is the season’s most endearing gateway Halloween film. The story isn’t wholly original or even new, but it does ensure it delivers on what it promises: a lively war against a Halloween army. Ferguson and Wayans provide rooting interest to keep you invested, even through the dad jokes and sillier stretches. It’s difficult not to be charmed by a family-friendly Halloween movie that instills the importance of Halloween while embracing it on a massive scale.
The Curse of Bridge Hollow releases globally on Netflix on October 14, 2022.
