You have to suspend a hefty amount of disbelief in order to enjoy the kiddy horror pic “Spirit Halloween: The Movie” since, yes, it is a feature-length commercial for the Spirit Halloween chainstore. This lightly likable action-adventure advert rehashes the formulaic story beats that its filmmakers cribbed from a variety of acknowledged influences, including Amblin productions like “Gremlins” and “The Goonies.”
You might also think of Robert Zemeckis’s two Amblin movies, “Back to the Future” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” given the presence of Christopher Lloyd, who makes a brief appearance as a vengeful ghost who hopes to possess a new human body. (Lloyd otherwise delivers his lines off-camera as a voice actor.)
Unfortunately, screenwriter Billie Bates and first-time director David Poag don’t have a knack for snappy dialogue or a general sensitivity for child and/or amateurish acting, which inadvertently puts way too much strain on the movie’s younger performers.
You might also think of Robert Zemeckis’s two Amblin movies, “Back to the Future” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” given the presence of Christopher Lloyd, who makes a brief appearance as a vengeful ghost who hopes to possess a new human body. (Lloyd otherwise delivers his lines off-camera as a voice actor.)
Unfortunately, screenwriter Billie Bates and first-time director David Poag don’t have a knack for snappy dialogue or a general sensitivity for child and/or amateurish acting, which inadvertently puts way too much strain on the movie’s younger performers.
- 9/28/2022
- by Simon Abrams
- The Wrap
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