31 Days of Drafts and Darkness:

"ParaNorman" (2012)

Halloween films need not all be blood-fests. Even those crawling with zombies and witches. Today's entry is for everyone in the family to enjoy, save for maybe very small children. 

Note: This is on Netflix Instant Stream right now if you want to check it out!

The Plot: 

Norman Babcock lives in the Salem-inspired Blithe Hollow, Massachusetts. The town is littered with advertisements and slogans relating to a series of witch trials that occurred there hundreds of years ago. Blithe Hollow thrives on the tourism it gleans from hyping up its dark history. There's less emphasis on the hangings, more on the pointy hats and broomsticks. For a town with so many skeletons in its closet, the residents aren't shy about parading around the bones.

The titular Norman appears an average preteen on the surface, enjoying all manner of the morbid. Zombies, horror movies, ghosts, etc. What separates Norman from the rest of us is that he can actually chat with some of these ghouls. Yep, Norman's got the sixth-sense and is able to see and communicate with the dead. We meet him long after he's realized this, so by now Norman's pretty much accepted his gift and made peace with it. He greets ghosts with the same casual attitude the rest of us would to any old acquaintance. Unfortunately for him, these spectral conversations make the rest of the town see Norman as a bit deranged, as all they see is him chatting with empty air. 

That is, save for one resident of Blithe Hollow. Norman's uncle, long ago estranged from the Babcock family, shares Norman's gift for supernatural communication. Norman's uncle is well aware of his nephew's talents. And some centuries-old curse that only their family can stop. Norman hesitates at first, but a series of disturbing visions eventually drive him to put his talents to good use. Teaming up with a rag-tag band of teens, can Norman unravel the curse's mystery and save Blithe Hollow from the vengeance of a long-dead witch?

What follows is not only a thrilling adventure with some mild scares for the little minions, but a few sharp bits of commentary about human nature. Oh, don't get me wrong, monsters are involved, but not all of them are necessarily inhuman.

The Flavor:

"ParaNorman" is somehow able to combine together classic horror, a family adventure, and zombie movie. Norman just so happens to be a horror-movie buff himself, so his choice of viewing habits and posters leaves many an Easter eggs for genre-fans to point out. Hell, his ring tone is Mike Meyer's theme from "Halloween". Other bits and pieces of homage poke their way throughout. When the zombies begin their approach on Blithe Hollow, the music shifts to a eerie grindhouse-vibe. It's obvious the film loves such movies even as it pokes fun at them.

Even with all that going on, what makes this film great goes beyond the creeps. "ParaNorman" is more concerned with illustrating the ways society can be monstrous than it is about tossing zombies and witches our way. Without spoiling anything, I can say that the movie's darker moments are as heavy as they are not because they're supernatural, but rather because they're inspired from actual tragedies.

The film's aesthetic is heavily stylized, leading an unknowing viewer to assume it's a simple cartoon. The claymation effects were done by the same team as in "Coraline" and are beautiful to behold. Though a  family-friendly adventure, "ParaNorman" has no qualms about venturing into mature subjects along its journey. Just because the characters aren't realistic looking doesn't mean they don't deal with some serious, very-real themes. Norman and his band of misfits are actually threatened more by the crazed, torch-wielding mobs of Blithe Hollow than they are by the approaching zombies. The nature of how far people will go when they're afraid of something they don't fully understand is illustrated not only through Norman's being outcast, but also through history potentially repeating itself. 

The young characters refreshing use language that's a bit more edgy than seen in typical 'kid's movies'. No serious cursing, but just as real-life children are fans of rye humor, so too are the heroes of "ParaNorman". It almost reminds me of classic adventure films like "Stand by Me" and "The Goonies" in how kids actually sound like kids and not syrupy-sweet, non-offensive cutouts. They can be mean, even cruel, and feel more real as a result.

Best Paired With:

"ParaNorman" is an excellent Halloween film and makes for spectacular family movie-night fare. I'm honestly surprised the movie's not more well known, as it has all the potential to be a seasonal classic. There are plenty of gripping adventures and soft-scares for the young ones and lots of deeper messages for the older crowd to ponder.

Despite the weighty material, the film's not overly heavy-handed in its course. "ParaNorman" becomes serious when it needs to, but wants you to have fun as well. I'd also call this movie a great date-night film if you're in the mood for something a little out-there and different. Trust me non-believers, it's a great deal more charming a movie than the kiddy-friendly trailers would have you believe. 

Accompanying Brew:

At first glance, tonight's film seems little more than a silly kids cartoon. Once you get started however, you see the deeper, even bitter layers underneath the shiny exterior. Rather than detract from the experience, the added bite makes it more fulfilling. Better. Tonight's brew reflects that.

When looking at Anchor Steam's Big Leaf Maple, the first thing that probably comes to mind is maple syrup. Sweet, slightly tangy, and likely to make a beer taste like dessert. Upon the first sip, you realize how wrong that assumption is. Front and center in Big Leaf Maple is the serious business of hops and malt. The bitter bite is pleasant and well balanced by the robust use of malts. You'll  find many Fall seasonal brews center on ample malts. If you're as much of a fan as I am, you won't mind a bit. This one just so happens to bring some hops with it to the party.

Big Leaf Maple's sweetness is incredibly mild, developing slowly over the tongue during the course of a sip. The maple flavor takes some searching for, especially if you're not used to hoppy beer. If you're a fan of hops and well-versed in bitter brews, you'll find the maple tang to be wonderfully subtle. Not too sweet, just pleasant and light in the background. The complexity of the beer reflects the 'more-than-it-seems' vibe of "ParaNorman", and makes a great pairing to go with the film.

Taste aside, Big Leaf Maple features a beautiful amber that fits the autumnal color palate of "ParaNorman" like a glove.