There must be something in the air. Karl Ryan Erikson's Thanksgiving-themed The Family Recipe is the third Thanksgiving flick to cross my desk in a relatively short period of time. The film is centered around the Mitchell family, most of all mom Alison (Stacey Van Gorder). Alison seems to have acquired the task of assembling the fam for the holidays since the passing of her mother. However, it's readily apparent that upholding the traditions is more than a little stressful and this family leaves out the fun in dysfunctional. 

There's a retro vibe that radiates throughout the heartfelt and gently humorous The Family Recipe. From chaos amidst the pre-Thanksgiving shopping trip to her hubby Gary's (Chris Connell) accidental destruction of the cherished family recipe book, Erikson's tells a story that feel familiar, uncomfortable, and as if there's a constant tension always bubbling underneath the surface of even the most basic holiday task. 

Erikson does a nice job of fleshing out the classic family dynamics. The Family Recipe reminded me often why I don't cherish these gatherings myself, and it reminds me even more why one of the first things I did after my last remaining immediate family member passed last year was to swear these things off for good. 

The Thanksgiving dinner table is a bit crowded here, the family growing and the tensions rising between kids who'd rather be elsewhere and unspoken conflicts desperately needing to be spoken. Still, there's a quiet warmth here. Despite the tensions, we completely get why these people still gather. It's more than just obligation. There's a family bond amidst all that tension. I'm not sure what it says about me that I fell more in love with Stacey Van Gorder's Alison the more she started to downward spiral and lean into the frazzle. As Gary, Chris Connell has perfected passivity and often leaves Alison out there on her own to deal with both the practical aspects of Thanksgiving and the relational tension that never seems to rest. 

I also tremendously enjoyed the Mitchell children. Ethan Fisher shines as Andrew, and Caroline Digan creates a convincing transformation as the older sister who definitely isn't a joy to be around. Lensing by Nicholas Pietroniro is effective throughout in amplifying both tensions and familial relationships. The original score by Steve Matthew Carter serves as a nice companion to Erikson's storytelling. 

The Family Recipe is just coming off its world premiere at the Big Apple Film Festival. It's the kind of low-key holiday flick that is relatable and engaging even if it's a pretty familiar story that we've all likely seen before. 

The Family Recipe should make a solid showing on the indie and micro-fest circuit. While this may not be the best holiday flick you've ever seen, it's a warm and engaging effort and it'll be interesting to see where its festival journey goes. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic