ParaNorman - Film Review

     ParaNorman (Chris Butler., & Sam Fell. 2012) is a mystery and fantasy animation which attracts audiences at various ages. Despite it being animated, the film is targeted for mature audiences unlike other animation. at the other hand, the film may not be advised for children below the age of 12 for certain inappropriate content like sexual and violent elements in it. The purpose of this review is to look the film in thorough and understand the theory applied in the entire movie.

     The film is a supernatural and unnatural horror due to the element of zombie being added. In conjunction to mixed genre being combined, it could be considered hybrid genre. At the same time, the application of both semantic and syntax allows complementary to occur. For example, mix and matching the elements of each genre applied in the film, for instance zombie horror elements and fantasy where fictional scenes in the film are applied. Apart from that, melodramatic elements have been added into the film. For example, melody music being added into the film. Furthermore, Chris Butler and Sam Fell has succeeded applying post-modernism into the film by breaking the animation film type to an older aged audiences and questioning in the existing knowledge on horror. To conclude the theory application, both the directors deserve applauses for the attempt of mix matching genre and writing a new type of script.

     The film is about Norman Babcock voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee, who has an extraordinary ability to converse with the deceased. This is somehow not trusted by people around his social circle due to his interest in dark elements, for example the set up in his room and the kind of movies he watches. He then meet an old grumpy man, who he is not supposed to welcome into his life, his uncle who tells him that an old century witch’s curse is real and is about to haunt the town. Norman is the only person who has the powers to fight the curse and goes on with the pursuit to strive for glory. Along the way, a group of zombies come as hurdle to stop him for his pursuit. With the assistance of people around him, like his friends and sibling, he goes on for the attempt to fight against the witch’s curse and succeeds it.

     To initiate with the analysis, overall flow of the film has definitely been brought well in terms of the characterization and his journey throughout the film. For example, a lonely kid being bullied in school and having a different type of interest which keeps him away from everyone is normal in teenage based films but succeeded in engaging the character of Norman with the audiences. Also, Norman’s journey in fighting the quest of defeating the witch’s curse has been well-constructed and written. This movie has definitely fought the norms of animation films and changing the type and age group of audiences. For example, spiritual content being applied in this film. Dark art being explored in depth and applied made the film not appropriate for kids below certain age category but suitable for adults and teenagers. Then the application of sexual content when Courtney, Norman’s sister falls for Neill’s brother after seeing him in towel and Neill’s brother exposing himself being gay in the end. This may not be good elements for kids below the age of 12. Then the violence in the film. There is a lot of violence in the movie, especially the climax when the people in the neighborhood takes all types of weapons to fight the zombies and Aggie’s fight with Norman in the end. This goes by to not only expose violence but dark arts which may be too in-depth for children.  Finally, the both directors deserved a hats off for mixing various genre into a film. For example, Supernatural , Thriller , Horror , Mystery, Sci-fi into an Animation. The brave attempt may have been applied in normal film but this is one of the first in animation movies.

       To conclude the overall review, Paranorman is definitely a new type of animation movie for breaking  the stereotypes having the thoughts that animation movies are just for children. Furthermore, the flow of the movie and plot has been well driven with an engaging character of Norman. Despite having a lot of inappropriate factors, which questions the suitability of kids watching the movie, the in-depth study and detailed application of dark art has made the movie a movie thrilling and entertaining horror cartoon. The Postmodernism effect being applied by Chris Butler and Sam Fell of breaking cliché has definitely been a plus for the movie, allowing and encouraging more filmmakers to make animation movies for adults. More films like this should be made for adults to change people perception that cartoon are just meant for children.

  References ;

  (Paul Asay, 2012) Paranorman : Film Review. Retrieved from ; https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/paranorman/