ParaNorman (2012) (Movie Review)

                                            

    For me, watching Halloween specials and movies are just as much of a holiday tradition as carving a Jack O’ Lantern or Trick R’ Treating. However, when I was a kid, I had Halloween movie/specials like “Casper”, “Halloween Town”, “Hocus Pocus” and “The Haunted Mansion”, which admittedly weren’t without some charm and appeal, but aren’t even close to what viewers have today. The Halloween Movie/Specials of today’s generation like “Coraline”, “Frankenweenie”, “Hotel Transylvania”, “Corps Bride” and “Monster House” are simply brimming with imagination, creativity, and subsequently a great deal more substance than simple derivative entertainment. The stop-motion animation company “Laika studios” hit gold back in 2009 with “Coraline”, and sense then, they’ve raised the bar for the quality of animated pictures, especially the spookier ones worth viewing around Halloween. Case in point for today’s review is their 2012 picture “ParaNorman”, which might just be the greatest Horror movie I’ve ever seen that’s aimed at both kids and adults equally. This film had quite a lot to live up to following on the heels of “Coraline”, but surprisingly “ParaNorman” was able to stand on equal footing with its spooky predecessor, and in some respects might just be a better movie. It was nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Animated Picture ... but lost to Pixar's "Brave", making for a rare case in which I don't think Pixar deserved the award.

    The premise borrows heavily from previous horror classics like “The Sixth Sense” and “The Crucible”, but like the best of stories, it takes old ideas and elements from classics, and then molds them into something that’s both original and unique. Norman is an abnormal child who can communicate with the spirits of people who’ve had untimely demise. Because of this, he gets bulled all the time by both people at school, and even the members of his own family. As a result, he shuts himself out from the world, and hides away in his bedroom full of monster decorations. Then one night, a 300-year-old witch’s curse falls upon the town, resulting in several zombies bursting out of their graves, which all run loose. Now it’s up to Norman to use his special abilities to stop the curse, save the town, and concur his greatest fears. On paper, this may sound like your basic good versus evil story with exciting monster attacks spread throughout, but as the film goes on, “ParaNorman” takes a surprisingly different turn into complex, and surprisingly emotional territories that go beyond simply watching a kid lift a witch’s curse.

   Before I go into any more details about the quality themes of the movie, let’s first talk about the films aesthetics, which are equally impressive. From a visual stand point, this movie is a thing of beauty to look at. The film is characterized by a color scheme of neon purples, oranges and greens all merged together, and it’s great because whenever I think about this movie, it’s these colors that immediately begin stirring in my subconscious. The stop-motion animation on display is outstanding, and there’s a simple charm that comes from looking at all these cool effects, knowing that most of them were actual props, and miniatures made to perform in front of the camera. There’s a little moment after the credits where they show how long it took just to create the Norman puppet.

Truthfully, I can’t even begin to imagine all the dedicated hours or even months it might have taken just to complete a single scene. It’s really a wonderful form of art, and I’m so pleased that films with this animation style are still getting audiences in the theater. The depth of field on display was also very impressive, and the stop-motion felt all the more submersing when integrated into 3D. Now there are some computer effects, but their used sparingly, and at just the right moments. Of course, there’s countless spooky imagery, which is perfect for getting me in the mood for Halloween, and I like that the film gives us a wider variety of creepy visuals, rather than just focusing on the resurrected zombies. There’s several effective dream sequences featuring creepy talking trees, ghostly hands, and one of my favorite little touches is this mysterious black bird that appears to Norman just before his first vision. The titular witch takes on several forms throughout the film, and the image of her evil face being formed in the stormy clouds is something that always stuck with me. The movie also moves at very brisk pace, giving you just enough time to breath and have an occasional laugh, but never without derailing the excitement.

    Norman himself is a great character who I can sympathize with, and even relate to on a couple levels. I also like his best friend, who despite being kind of a stereotype “fat kid” is actually quite charming and funny. Unfortunately, if I had any problems with this film, it would be that the remaining human characters all get on my nerves. A lot of the animation and quirky mannerisms of these side characters goes a little too far at times, and their deliveries are just a little too over the top for the films own good. There’s a crazy guy voiced by John Goodman, who plays an important part in the story, but the character is anything but subtle. There’s the stereotypical smart talking, self-absorbed older sister, whose quirks get very repetitive, but she does at least redeem herself by the end. There’s also a brainless bully, a one-note jock, a hammy theater teacher, a careless police officer, and their presence just spoils the mood every time. Now even though I can’t stand these human characters, there are still some admittedly funny moments, and even quotable lines. One of my favorite gags is when a guy tries to get a piece of candy out of vending machine which is unfortunately moving slower than the zombies. 

   There’s no shortage of satire on display, including an obvious metaphor of how the human people are acting more like monsters then any of the zombies. Thankfully, the film doesn’t solely focus on being satirical, and isn’t afraid to have some quiet, emotional, and even genuinely beautiful moments. I’m sure that sounds like an odd description for a stop motion cartoon-comedy filled with zombies and ghosts, but beneath the films outward appearances is a genuinely touching story about acceptance versus vengeance. 

In truth, “ParaNorman” might just have one of the most solid scripts I’ve ever seen for an animated movie. For all the monsters, ghosts and witches featured in the film, there really isn’t a cliched villain that needs to be defeated. Instead, the real evil that needs to be faced are the horrible mistakes that some of the characters made in the past. For me, the scariest part of a good monster tale is when the story acknowledges that our titular monster is the victim of human error, and we ourselves can become that kind of monster if we’re not more careful. I still remember going to see this movie back when it first premiered, and I was only expecting fast paced excitement, with stunning visuals and maybe have some laughs along the way. What I wasn’t expecting was to get so invested in the story or even be emotionally engaged in the drama surrounding the main characters. It’s right at the third act when this film begins playing with expectations, and the final confrontation between Norman and the Witch is about as perfect as a finale can get. It’s exciting, and visually extraordinary, but what makes it so good is this one moment when all the frightening action stops, and the two just have this peaceful conversation. It’s arguably the most touching ending I’ve ever seen to a spooky Halloween adventure, and it still gets to me on repeat viewings.

    For what could have easily been a cash crab movie that solely catered to either it’s 3D gimmicks, or it’s comedy, or scary action, really turned into something special. I genuinely felt that the filmmakers wanted this to be remembered as something really good, something that could entertain young viewers, yet still give them something mature to take away, and even give the parents something thoughtful. That’s not to say “ParaNorman” is recommended for everyone either, as some kids might be disturbed by the films scary content, while some parents may be turned off by the film’s goofy overtone, and occasional dopey hummer. 

Some of the jokes also get very adult, like border-line PG-13 territory, so the age of the viewer needs to be kept in mind before seeing this. I definitely have my issues with inconsistencies in tone, and I really hate the silly supporting players, but for all the problems going against it, this film balances out with stunning visuals, a heavy Halloween atmosphere, and just the right amount of emotional subtext at the center. While I personally prefer “Laika studios” previous film “Coraline”, this was still a strong follow-up, and I can absolutely respect why some would call it superior. “ParaNorman” is one of those films that I instantly wrote off as one of the great new Halloween classics, and it’s absolutely worth repeat viewings in the seasons to come.

Thanks for reading my review of 2012's New Halloween Classic “ParaNorman” ... and let's continue to make every day in October feel like Halloween!