ParaNorman

Animated movies have always entertained audiences of all ages, there are so many classics from Disney, Dreamworks, Pixar,  and other animation studios. You can do almost anything with animation, and use your imagination to create anything. When it comes to horror, there are not many animated movies that have tried combine classic horror elements with animation ( don´t even think of Scooby Doo, that´s a complete different story ). ParaNorman looks like a mix of horror and comedy with a different approach. From the company Laika, that brought us the classic horror animated Coraline, is ParaNorman a fun surprise, or an example of too many ideas brought together ?

In the small town Blithe Hollow, lives a young boy named Norman Babcock. He looks like an ordinary boy, but he have a special gift. He is able to speak with the dead. Since no one believes him, people make fun of him, and his parents feel like Norman needs to be more normal. In school he is a bully victim. But he manage to find a new friend, Neil Downe, an overweight boy who is bullied himself. Norman does not want Neil to think he is crazy, when he reveals he can talk to dead people. Neil just think this is cool. Norman´s deranged uncle Mr. Prenderghast visit Norman to tell him, he needs Norman´s help. Norman refuse to take his uncle seriously. Not long after Mr. Prenderghast dies in his home. While Norman and Neil are part of a school play, Norman have a vision of terrible things are about to happen. The school play is ruined, as Norman runs to the restroom. There he is visited by his dead uncle Mr. Prenderghast. He tells Norman that only he can perform a ritual, with a special book, that day before sunrise, or it will be too late. Not knowing what to belive, Norman head off in search for the book, and to find out what is going on.

I loved Coraline, that animated movie had something original about the story and the characters, as well as the design. ParaNorman may not be as original, but don´t worry. You will laugh, a lot. This is a really funny story, and a very clever tribute to horror movies, in animation of high quality. Think about this mixture, The Sixth Sense + Night Of The Living Dead + The Goonies = ParaNorman. Does that sound possible ? Yes, in some ways. This is a mixture of different classic movies, especially from the 80´s, with some different elements mixed together to please both kids and adults. I would not recommend the smallest kids to see this, there are zombies who have their body part ripped off. But this is what makes ParaNorman special, even if this is an animated children movie, we are served with some great horror entertainment, that usually never work in animated features. Coraline is still one of my favourite animated movies ever, even if Pixar did not make it. But close to this one, i would have to say ParaNorman is second, great entertainment for the whole family.

Rating: DDDD