Parents' Guide to All Fun and Games

Refreshingly lean, this horror movie tells a familiar story, but its strength lies in its vivid character relationships, its haunted location, and the real-world consequences for actions taken. Produced by Anthony and Joe Russo, All Fun and Games probably didn't suffer much in the budget department, but it still has an appealing B movie feel, perhaps best enjoyed late at night on television with popcorn and friends. It opens with narration by Dyer (Nancy from Stranger Things), introducing her family -- and as simple as it is, it's potent and effective. It's a mini-portrait of Americans who are struggling and dissatisfied, without much hope or choice. It makes the characters sympathetic and human.

Meanwhile, the filmmaking -- by former Russo assistants Eren Celeboglu and Ari Costa, making their feature debut -- is crisp, using the movie's space and the chilly Salem ambiance effectively. Unfortunately, the movie often falls back on all-too-familiar twitchy jumps and fast-forward skittering for fright effects. And it resorts to a "the end ... or is it?" finale. But before that, there's an ending that deals with the real-world fallout of the story, acknowledging that the survivors are going to have to pick up the pieces and figure out how to move on. And, of course, there are some pretty decent scares.