Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2013

The title kid is a morose little weirdo (voiced perfectly by Kodi Smit-McPhee—The Road) and a bullied social outcast, mainly because he can… see dead people. This does not unduly frighten him; in fact, he often hangs out with his dead grandma (the great Elaine Stritch) watching classic horror flicks. His eerie facility leads to his becoming embroiled in a spooky mystery involving the shady, witch-hunting history of his charmingly rendered New England hometown. The film’s message, in addition to being a healthy rant against the perils of the mob mentality, is that it’s okay to be different. This is a visually enchanting, freakishly funny, lovingly crafted stop-motion feature from Laika, the studio that brought us 2009’s Coraline. The tactile, coarse animation method is a refreshing change from all that slick CGI stuff. It’s charming and heartfelt, sly and sophisticated, creepy and fun. And for a movie that deals with death, it’s brilliantly alive, evincing a deep affection for old horror movies through the use of plenty of knowing humor. Not especially aimed at little kids, the film is rich in sight gags and great one-liners that will be best appreciated by older kids and adults.