Family Movie Review: Kevin Bacon & Family’s Meta Horror-Comedy Coasts By On Its Real Chemistry

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Okay, so I just watched Family Movie, and it’s seriously the most unique thing ever! It’s a movie about a family making a horror film, and honestly, the Bacons – Kevin, Kyra, and their kids – are the only family I can imagine pulling that off. It’s so cute how it references itself, and it’s surprisingly sweet considering how much fake gore is involved. They really let each family member shine, and it’s funny because the whole thing acknowledges they are a family project and just…owns it. It’s cleverly self-aware and a really fun watch!

This film is surprisingly gentle and sweet, especially considering its strange story. The premise suggests a complex plot, but the script by Dan Beers (and no, not that Bacon!) is often surprisingly simple and struggles to find a consistent tone. The movie jumps between casual murders and attempts at sincere, emotional conversations that feel out of place. However, the actors – a genuine family who have worked together for years – have great chemistry, which saves the somewhat weak writing and makes the film enjoyable, even if it’s not particularly exciting.

Family Movie’s Meta Casting Ends Up Its Greatest Selling Point

I recently watched Family Movie, and it’s a fascinating look at Jack Smith, played by Kevin, a director who, let’s just say, isn’t exactly making cinematic masterpieces. He’s got a complicated relationship with his wife, Elle (Kyra), and their kids seem to go along with whatever he wants. What’s really interesting is that both the real-life Bacon family and the fictional Smith family in the film have been collaborating on movies for years! But the Smiths are famous for making really, really bad horror films. The movie quickly shows us Jack is incredibly driven, constantly trying to get his films seen, even though critics haven’t exactly been kind. His first feature, Going Postal, only played at a small festival, and he’s struggled to get anyone to even look at his work since.

Jack’s latest movie centers around a dangerous Satanic cult that performs human sacrifices during each blood moon – a fitting title for the film, Blood Moon. He’s brought his family together for what he claims will be their final project, and while they’re managing to work together, it’s raising questions about whether they’re enabling unhealthy patterns. The Smith family is spending money faster than ever, and they were only able to fund this film because they allowed Maya (Liza Koshy), the daughter of the investor, to film a behind-the-scenes documentary. To complicate things further, Maya is also having an affair with Trent (Travis Bacon).

Trent struggles to get his family excited about his music or his interest in Muay Thai, while his sister, Ulla, seems to be the center of attention. She’s landed the lead role in a new TV show, but there’s a catch: filming starts in Canada next week. This means she needs to tell her parents she’s leaving the current film project and confess that her manager is actually Kathy, her mom’s former agent.

Ulla could really use a quicker pace on set, but everyone involved is a volunteer or working for very little pay. People are juggling multiple roles – Trent is the editor, sound recordist, and composer, Elle handles catering and plays the bad guy, and Ulla is both the lead actress and a production assistant. Things are constantly delayed because the equipment isn’t set up correctly, and there was even an accident where a light fell and cut Jackie Earle Haley’s head.

What really frustrates Jack is his neighbor (John Carroll Lynch) relentlessly continuing his yard work, with the loud sawing constantly disrupting filming. Sometimes it’s the neighbor’s dog barking because it’s hungry. However, the situation takes a dark turn when Elle kills a man with a butcher knife after he attempts to sexually assault her.

She handles the grim task with a strange ease, even seeming quite skilled at it. What initially looks like a sudden, impulsive act turns out to be a regular, if unsettling, activity for this fiercely protective mother. Surprisingly, no one seems overly concerned; the family is more worried about how this will affect their own schedules and plans.

The humor in Family Movie often falls flat because it’s not outrageous or shocking enough to be truly funny. The film feels strangely calm, even with all the bizarre events and danger, as characters react too casually to serious situations. It needed significant refinement to really work; instead, it feels awkward and struggles to find a consistent rhythm, ultimately failing to leave a lasting impression.

Watching these four characters navigate their own ambitions while supporting each other is enjoyable, and it seems the Bacon family faces similar challenges. When everyone is a busy, independent artist chasing their dreams, finding time for family can be tough. If it’s difficult for the Smith family, you can only imagine how much harder it is for the Bacons. After all, spending quality time together is clearly a priority – one worth fighting for, it seems.

Family Movie screened at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival.

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2026-03-15 16:04