Spooky Season is in full swing. This weekend we get one of the most anticipated horror movies of the Fall. But there are all kinds of takes on spooky season material. Sometimes, you want a spooky story you can enjoy with the whole family.

Fortunately, for those that don’t want to head to Raccoon City, Shaun the Sheep has you covered. He’s been a star of a number of films in the past, but now it’s time for a seasonally appropriate adventure that finds him dealing with the Beast of Mossy Bottom.

In the film, it’s nearly time for the town’s annual Halloween carnival. The sheep are working on their perfect pumpkins and they’re nearly ready for the big night. But the farmer makes things rough. While he’s trying to make a connection with the vet, he stumbles off course and ends up falling on and smashing all the pumpkins.

The sheep are crushed, but Shaun has a plan. He consults his book and whips up a special recipe. He takes a pumpkin seed, applies his special mix, and plants it in the ground. But he used a hair tonic bottle, and when the dog brings the bottle back to the farmer, he tries to regrow hair to make an impression on the vet.

The next morning, the pumpkins are back. So, too, is the farmer’s full head of hair. But it isn’t all as it seems, as Shaun soon notices that the pumpkins keep growing, turning into monster gourds. Unfortunately, the same is true of the farmer’s hair. It renders him unrecognizable, which leads Shaun down a road to save the farmer and find a way to reverse his work.

Shaun the Sheep was created nearly 20 years ago by Nick Park as part of Aardman Animations. It has been on the small screen for years but branched out into films in 2015. In 2019, a second film earned an Academy Award. Now, it’s back with a third feature, timed perfectly for this time of year.

And it’s a welcome addition to the landscape. There isn’t much family-friendly programming out right now and hasn’t been for a few weeks. But this is a great romp for audiences of all ages. It has laughs, heart, and perfectly fits with the season. That makes it a delightful addition to the late September cinematic landscape.

I like the animation style and the fact these stories are nearly wordless. Despite no dialogue, you clearly understand everything that’s happening and the breadth of emotion. The film is a crisp 80 minutes and is a lot of fun. I enjoyed the story and the way it all came together.

The Beast of Mossy Bottom is the third of the Shaun the Sheep films, and I think it’s the best. I enjoyed the ride and the humor, as well as the way it perfectly fit into the mold of spooky season films. It’s worth seeking out in theaters and worth bringing along the family!

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom is now playing nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.