The Curse of Bridge Hollow – A Spirited Distraction

The Curse of Bridge Hollow is another new Netflix original that seemingly came out of nowhere. The film follows the Gordon family as they move to a new small town where nearly everyone except for them is obsessed with Halloween and decorations are around every corner. The plot kicks off when the Gordon’s teen daughter Sydney (Ferguson) accidentally unleashes an evil spirit that causes the decorations to come alive and wreak havoc on the town. She’s then forced to team up with her father Howard (Wayans) to save the town and rekindle their relationship along the way. 

The film is ultimately perfect for families and small children this upcoming Halloween season even if older audiences might be left a little cold or expecting more. It is far more comedic than it ever is scary or horrific which unfortunately holds it back as a lot of the comedy falls flat. There are a few adult-oriented gags that are sure to go over smaller kids’ heads but for the most part, it is geared towards younger audiences and families. In the end, the film has a great Halloween spirit and Autumn feeling that will get almost anyone in the mood for Halloween which is clearly one of its main goals. 

The film moves at a breakneck pace hardly wasting any time as its short 90+ minute running time simply breezes by. But that being said, this also causes a lot of scenes and plot lines to feel rushed and underdeveloped, providing very little to no emotional impact. The father/daughter dynamic is by far the best part because of how well Wayans and Ferguson sell it even if it’s incredibly formulaic and done to death. Meanwhile, there is a good mix of practical and CGI effects that for the most part are strong. The film’s few action sequences aren’t anything overly special but are fun enough to watch and will likely satisfy the average viewer.

By far, the best part of The Curse of Bridge Hollow is the acting and chemistry among the cast. Wayans can play this role in his sleep but he’s every bit as charismatic and likeable as he always is. Ferguson easily gives the best performance of the film, proving she can lead a film with her confidence and relatability. The chemistry between Wayans and Ferguson feels so natural, leading to a believable father and daughter dynamic. They perfectly sell the complicated relationship between Howard and Sidney and make for a fun pair to go on this adventure with. The supporting cast is full of comedy heavyweights who all get at least a moment or two to shine, especially Rob Riggle who makes everything he’s in better, this time as a man named Sully. 

The Curse of Bridge Hollow may be pretty middle of the road but there’s still a lot to enjoy here and is far from being what many would consider a bad film. It will almost definitely satisfy families in need of a 90-minute diversion and younger audiences who aren’t quite ready to check out a full-on horror film but that’s pretty much it. It’s a lot better than many recent Netflix originals though other than providing some good Halloween spirit and the occasional moment of fun, there isn’t a whole lot to chew on or take away from this at the end of the day

still courtesy of Netflix

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Connor Carey

www.connorsmoviereviews.com/