This is a decent, though unremarkable, ghost story. I think it's safe to say that “Family Reunion” was made with a limited budget, and director Michael Hawes managed to use those resources carefully by creating a subdued atmosphere of ghosts and unexplained occurrences. He avoided cheap-looking special effects, which helped keep the film relatively serious, although there were moments of silliness and some odd dialogue. “Family Reunion” centers on the Andrews family: Tom and Kate, the parents; Erin and Billy, their children; and grandpa Henry who joined them for the trip. They’re traveling to visit relatives for Christmas when Tom decides to make a detour to a ghost town called Sutterville at Billy's request. While there, they encounter a police officer arresting a strange young man for vagrancy – an arrest that only Billy questions with any real concern. After this odd interaction, the Andrews try to leave, but their car inexplicably starts driving itself, taking them deeper into Sutterville and leaving them stranded (it was a very uncooperative vehicle). Soon after, the car battery dies, much to everyone’s dismay, especially grandpa Henry, who seemed anxious about being in Sutterville and expressed it by constantly smoking. Meanwhile, the young man arrested for vagrancy doesn't seem worried about his situation, often smirking and taunting the police officers. Strange and disturbing things begin happening around him as the police investigate his background and uncover unusual information that doesn’t quite add up. People start dying in mysterious ways connected to this unidentified man. As the Andrews try to escape the quiet ghost town, they meet some of its strange residents who seem to have something to say, though they don't communicate directly. Eventually, Tom will discover a dark secret from his past that connects him to Sutterville and explains the nightmares he’s been having for years. This horror movie is so understated that it contains virtually no gore; the body count is low, and even the deaths are restrained enough for it to be suitable for viewers who don't like intense scares. One of the most violent scenes shows a character being strangled by an unseen force until he dies. Given this level of violence, the PG rating seems appropriate. There aren’t many jump scares either, and the music, while creepy, isn’t overwhelming. The acting is somewhat artificial, which isn't surprising given the film’s low budget; it would have been odd to expect anything more. Most of the main cast members haven't appeared in other films besides “Family Reunion,” with the exception of Mel Novak, who has a substantial filmography and remains active. Even talented actors probably couldn’t elevate the material considering some of the dialogue. Some of the unintentionally funny moments arise when Tom (Novak) loses his temper and snaps at his family for minor things. The humor is reminiscent of those family vacations where parents would lose their patience after hours in a car with noisy kids asking, "Are we there yet?" Director Michael Hawes hasn't made any films since “Family Reunion,” and his only previous credit is “Terror in Sutterville,” an Australian production that I suspect is connected to “Family Reunion” because of the shared location name. It’s strange how little known this film is, as even a thorough online search turned up very few reviews. I remember watching it during my teenage years when I would often watch obscure 80s horror movies on weekends. For some reason, "Family Reunion" stuck with me over the years until I recently found it online. Revisiting it after so long confirmed that there’s nothing particularly special about it, but I was still glad to have rediscovered it and it certainly entertained me. Still, I'm surprised that I even remember a film that could be considered fairly bland. Although “Family Reunion” probably won’t gain recognition among horror fans, those who stumble upon it will likely enjoy it, though they might not feel compelled to watch it again.

Source on TMDB