ParaNorman (2012)
Certified: PG
Duration: 92 minutes
Directed by: Sam Fell and Chris Butler
Voices of: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Elaine Stritch, Bernard Hill, Jodelle Micah, John Goodman
KRS release
Set in a small town named Blithe Follow, ParaNorman follows odd-one-out teen Norman Babcock (Kodi Smith McPhee) who sees and talks to dead people.
Contrary to most of the films that inspired it, the characters inhabiting ParaNorman evolve- Johan Galea
This is very frustrating to his parents Sandra and Perry (Leslie Mann and Jeff Garlin), even more so as Norman talks to his dead grandmother, Perry’s mum.
His father is worried that his son will end up a weird, derided recluse much like his uncle Prenderghast (John Goodman). For his older teenage sister Courtney (Anna Kendrick), Norman is a burden. Bullies like Alvin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) are always picking on him.
Meanwhile, Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), who is chubby and is in the same situation, becomes his best friend.
One fine day, Norman gets to know that the town of Blithe Follow is celebrating the 300-year-old anniversary of the death of a witch by the local folk.
Young Aggie (Jodelle Ferland) had been thought to be a witch and a jury of six and the judge (Bernard Hill) had condemned her to death. As a result, the child had cursed the whole town. Now the curse is set to come into effect and the dead are about to rise.
Norman, along with his sister, Neil and Neil’s inane but muscled brother Mitch (Casey Affleck), must stop the curse, a band of zombies and a town of crazy rioting villagers.
ParaNorman is quite a nice little odd animated 3D movie. Made by Laika Entertainment, which also produced Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005) and Henry Selick’s Coraline (2009), the film is both an homage and fresh in its take on the 1950s horror movies of yore.
ParaNorman has more horror elements than previous films but at the same time it is full of adventure and can serve to kickstart the fascination with the genre.
Contrary to most of the films that inspired it, the characters inhabiting ParaNorman evolve, be it the hero, the human cast, the witch or the zombies.
Norman is particularly authentic as a lonely boy and in the final reel, when he and his dad come to a sort of understanding, the mellowness of the moment is very touching.
Despite being replete with elements from other pictures, ParaNorman still looks fresh and has several memorable moments. These include the sequences in which the zombies and the kids fight it out on a 1960s-style camper van.
The confrontation between the witch and Norman is also quite a scene, as is that of the rioting townspeoplerunning amok.
This film is also worth watching because it plays against type. This is not a cartoon that has talking and singing animals or happy musical numbers which magically solve any storytelling problems that arise. And visually, it is colourful and suitably macabre.