Greetings again from the darkness. A fun-filled film meant only to entertain is always welcome. Traditionally these show up during the summer months, but timing this one closer to Halloween makes complete sense. Written by Bryan Schulz (the grandson of the late Peanuts creator Charles Schulz) and Cornelius Uliano (his collaborator on THE PEANUTS MOVIE, 2015), the film is directed by David Henrie, best known for his role in "How I Met Your Mother". It's his first feature film gaining distribution, and it doesn't disappoint.
It's 1997 on Martha's Vineyard (although it's filmed in Southport, North Carolina) and budding journalist Noah (Mason Thames, THE BLACK PHONE, 2021) is desperately trying to follow in his recently deceased father's footsteps. However, the local newspaper editor (Kevin James) wants nothing to do with the kid's ideas. Noah suspects an evil presence in town at just about the same time Miss Halverson (Lorraine Bracco, "The Sopranos") arrives for an extended stay at the B&B run by Noah's mother (Nora Zehetner, BRICK, 2005).
Not to give anything away, but witchy things start happening. Noah's baseball teammate Ben (Noah Cottrell) is night-swimming with a lady friend (Lilah Pate), and a fright leaves him "with the lights on and no one home" (as it's described). It's summertime, so baseball is a recurring theme for Noah and his friends Eugene (Julian Lerner, the new "The Wonder Years") and Sammy (Abby James Witherspoon), with familiar face Patrick Renna (THE SANDLOT) as the league umpire. The three friends begin their own investigation, but soon enough, Noah is on his own ... at least until he joins forces with retired detective Gene (2-time Oscar winner Mel Gibson). Gene has long been the subject of local rumors and mostly keeps to himself; but Noah's work piques his interest, and the two share a form of grief.
Bits and pieces of IT (2017), THE GOONIES (1995), and more recently, "Stranger Things" all play a role, and we have references to Mulder and Scully from "The X-Files", as well as a nostalgic feel that gives this more the feel of a childhood adventure than a true horror story. However, the creep factor is strong enough to earn the PG-13 rating. It should also be noted that Mel Gibson has been 'canceled' in some circles, yet he brings the necessary gravitas to elevate the film. It also seems safe to predict that young Mason Thames has a nice acting career ahead of him. Stories revolving around neighborhood legends and myths are quite common, and this one chooses to blend the supernatural with local police cases. So, if you are up for some cinematic fun times around Halloween, director David Henrie is all about treats, not tricks.
Opening in theaters on October 4, 2024.
