The Curse of Bridge Hollow is now streaming on Netflix.
The Curse of Bridge Hollow’s October release on Netflix is timely. The autumn vibes and playful yet spooky sentiments typically ascribed to a family-friendly version of Halloween cements its foundation. Because of this, any inclination to view it through a critical eye is subdued; the desire to just go with the flow and have fun is strong. Unfortunately, The Curse of Bridge Hollow has enough flaws that it’s not always easy to just enjoy the seasonal treats.
The Curse of Bridge Hollow has a familiar premise. Howard Gordon (Marlon Wayans), an overbearing but ultimately loving science teacher, struggles to identify with his mildly rebellious teenage daughter, Sydney (Priah Ferguson). Conflicts arise whenever a “suggested” course of action negates personal desire – self-defense classes and small-town living supersede ballet and a reluctance to change area codes. The latest clash stems from Sydney’s belief in the supernatural. After learning of the town’s openly dark past, she tries to warn her father of a looming threat. Howard has a hard time believing in otherworldly matters, though. Even after witnessing various Halloween decorations spring to life, he believes that there has to be a logical explanation. Chaos ensues.
What’s presented is a Halloween experience that tries to mesh comedy with light horror. In certain aspects, the film succeeds. Small children might giggle at brief uses of profanity or the eccentric townsfolk who are somewhat obsessed with all things creepy. Young teenagers who are new to horror will probably appreciate that the monsters aren’t nightmare inducing; most are appropriately scary given its PG-13 styled content. And parents hoping to share a bit of Halloween magic can do so without offense, their mileage for horror aimed at younger audiences notwithstanding.
What mires some of the fun is how bland The Curse of Bridge Hollow can be. As loud and wacky as the townsfolk are, they fail to intrigue. Most are there to support the main characters as a means of delivering exposition and/or a few extra screams during chase sequences. Lauren Lapkus and Rob Riggle are ok enough as Mayor Tammy and oddball neighbor Sully respectively, but their apparent attempts at comedy fall flat. Kelly Rowland, who plays Howard’s wife, Emily, is also just fine. Though her presence isn’t meant to drive the story sans a few key moments, she doesn’t really bring anything unique to the role.
Thankfully, Wayans’ Howard is somewhat likable. His experience as a comedian and overall charm works here. And while the relatable father and daughter conflict does the heavy lifting, making it easier to root for him, it’s a nice change to see Wayans in a more subdued role…even if that means fewer laughs than normal. Ferguson’s depiction of Sydney, on the other hand, is a little disappointing. She does well enough in playing the frustrated teenager, but what is lacking is any real emotion, despite being in several scenes that called for it. One would hope to see a more spirited performance from her, something more akin to her portrayal of Stranger Things’ Erica Sinclair. Instead, a lot of her lines feel phoned in – a lot of telling instead of showing.
It suffers from being one of the more mundane Halloween films released this year.
That’s the biggest issue with The Curse of Bridge Hollow: it’s mostly, well, hollow, with a sprinkling of charm here and there. And considering how it doesn’t present a unique version of this particular premise all that well, it suffers from being one of the more mundane Halloween films released this year. It isn’t outright bad. Sitting somewhere between Eddie Murphy’s The Haunted Mansion and Jack Black’s Goosebumps, it won’t ruin an evening of popcorn and soft drinks. It just isn’t as good as it could have been.
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