The BoxTrolls: Non-Stop, Stop-Motion Fun

I recently had the privilege of previewing The Boxtrolls, a stop-motion animated adventure based on Alan Snow’s novel Here Be Monsters!  I have not read the book and had no idea what to expect but I knew I was in for something interesting because The BoxTrolls was created by the same people who created Coraline and ParaNorman, two unusual yet captivating movies.

The BoxTrolls tells the story of a misunderstood family of strange box-wearing creatures who live below the city of Cheesebridge. The purported kidnapping of a baby, missing odds and ends, and the finagling of an enterprising sort of Pied Piper set up what turns out to be a roller coaster ride that might scare some sensitive younger children, but will have the rest of the family in stitches. The humor has a dark side and this is not a cheerful movie but it is much less dark than Coraline. While there are a few moments in the movie that might be scary to young children, the movie does have a happy ending.

The stop-action animation in this movie is incredible. If you take a moment and think about it, making a movie like this takes an amazing amount of talent and patience. It truly blows my mind. You might have seen this trailer that shows some of the artists at work.

If you go, be sure to stay for the scenes during the credits. They will make you laugh and your kids will love it.

The BoxTrolls

Rating:  PG

Runtime: 96 minutes

3D: Available, but not necessary.

Credits/After the Credits: Stay for the credits.