2012, Focus Features
Stop-motion animation
Rating: PG
Approx. 92 mins.
THE STORY:
Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a young teenager with what some would consider a gift, but to him is a curse: he sees dead people. Everywhere. His family just wants him to be 'normal.' Kids at school pick on him for being a weirdo. Except for Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), who has issues coming out of every orifice-- literally-- yet has learned to accept himself and his situation.
One day Norman is approached by the spirit of the town crazy man (John Goodman), who reveals that Norman is his heir in the task of appeasing the witch who comes back once a year to wreak havoc on the town. Norman tries to perform his duty, but things don't go as planned, and within no time the town is over-run by zombies.
Norman refuses to give up, and soon realizes that the witch is the spirit of a young girl executed in the time of the New England witch trials. Through listening and talking to her, Norman manages to convince her that her fury doesn't solve anything, and that inflicting senseless terror on others makes her no better than those who harmed her.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
One day Norman is approached by the spirit of the town crazy man (John Goodman), who reveals that Norman is his heir in the task of appeasing the witch who comes back once a year to wreak havoc on the town. Norman tries to perform his duty, but things don't go as planned, and within no time the town is over-run by zombies.
Norman refuses to give up, and soon realizes that the witch is the spirit of a young girl executed in the time of the New England witch trials. Through listening and talking to her, Norman manages to convince her that her fury doesn't solve anything, and that inflicting senseless terror on others makes her no better than those who harmed her.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
- stupid
- fat
- dead/ die/ kill
- freaking
- hell
VIOLENCE:
- Zombies get shot through, but no human gore
TEACHING POINTS:
- Being different is a blessing not a curse
- Hurting others who have hurt you does not erase your own hurt
THE UPSHOT:
The dialogue, themes and action were all a bit mature for the 5 year-old in the room. Best, I think, for those 9 and up. That said, there were no tears or nightmares, so it wasn't the disaster that some previous movie attempts were.
I like the themes presented-- the celebration of difference, the discouragement of bullying, the idea that revenge does not compensate for our own pain. And I think the format is such that kids can relate rather than feel preached at.
The extras are all also very mature with nothing much to appeal to young 'uns, but the 'featurette' entitled "Making Norman" gives some interesting insight on how stop-motion works.
It wasn't as good as I was expecting it to be-- the curse of others' recommendations-- but it was worth watching.
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