After 'Vincent', 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and 'Corpse Bride' Tim Burton returns to stop-motion. Based on a live-action short film he directed in 1984, 'Frankenweenie' tells the story of young Victor who succeeds at reviving his dead dog Sparky. The movie is shot in black and white and contains many nods to old-school horror flicks from Universal and Hammer.
Burton's unique visual style has always been perfect for stop-motion animation. His production 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is still one of best films of that kind. The surreal look of Burton's vision combined with the somewhat creepy feel of stop-motion work wonders together. And with its bizarre subject matter 'Frankenweenie' walks the line between lightweight horror and comedy.
Unlike his previous live-action movies, 'Alice In Wonderland' and 'Dark Shadows', 'Frankenweenie' feels fresh. For the first time since 'Sleepy Hollow' Burton seems to be in his element. He and his animators are having fun playing with Victor's world, which appears to be a cross between 1950's suburbia and a misty Dutch town from the late 1800's.
'Frankenweenie' is visually appealing. The sets are beautifully designed and some characters look genuinely creepy. The animation itself is noticeably crude, especially when compared to this year's 'ParaNorman' which was made in a similar fashion. The crudeness appears to be on purpose. There's little polish here, when a cat moves its head you can see its fur move as the animator make his frame per frame adjustments. This gives life to the characters and lends a great deal of authenticity to the film.
Danny Elfman is back with his unique brand of fairy tale music. Drawing heavily from earlier collaborations with Tim Burton, more than once Elfman's score reminded me of 'Edward Scissorhands'. His dark but playful music amplifies the film's gloomy atmosphere.
The story deals with one of life's more serious and final problems: death. It's a heavy subject to handle, especially in a medium that will appeal to a lot of children. Fortunately, Burton keeps the film from getting lost in dark territory. Unlike Mary Shelley's original novel 'Frankenstein' we're not faced with the existential dilemma that arises when you bring life to what was once dead.
'Frankenweenie' is sure to be a treat for all fans of classic horror. Whether you're a Universal Horror enthusiast or a Hammer Horror lover you'll eat this up. This film's science teacher looks and sounds like Vincent Price, Christopher Lee makes an appearence in his most famous role and the finale takes place in a burning windmill. Sparky's love interest even sports the iconic hair cut from James Whale's 'The Bride of Frankenstein'.
'Frankenweenie' feels like its Tim Burton's comeback. He's returned from the commercial direction his later movies have followed. His recent career appeared to be marred by a profound lack of interest. 'Dark Shadows' featured hints of Burton's former glory but 'Frankenweenie' sees him reaching back and recapturing that unique and entertaining spirit.
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