The Boxtrolls

Cert PG.

92 mins.

Animation/Fantasy/Comedy.

Featuring the voices of: Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Sir Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, Tracy Morgan, Dee Bradley Baker, Simon Pegg.

ONE dark night, a Boxtroll called Fish (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) kidnaps the infant son of an inventor (Simon Pegg) from the Victorian-era city of Cheesebridge and spirits away the child to an underground lair.

This shocking act plays into the grubby hands of pest exterminator Archibald Snatcher (Sir Ben Kingsley). He strikes a deal with Lord Portley-Rind (Jared Harris) and the other noblemen of Cheesebridge to earn a place at the cheese-tasting top table in exchange for slaying every Boxtroll.

Many years later, abducted boy Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) ventures above ground with the Boxtrolls and encounters Lord Portley-Rind’s snooty daughter, Winnie (Elle Fanning).

She initially believes the horror stories about Boxtrolls devouring children – “Eat me. I’m sure I’m delicious!” – but once Winnie learns the truth about Eggs’ past, she agrees to help vanquish Snatcher and his snivelling henchmen Mr Trout (Nick Frost), Mr Pickles (Richard Ayoade) and Mr Gristle (Tracy Morgan).

Based on the novel Here Be Monsters! by Alan Snow, The Boxtrolls is a rollicking stop-motion animated romp from the makers of Coraline and ParaNorman that proves weird can be truly wonderful.

The meticulous detail of the moveable figures and miniature sets is impressive, and co-directors Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi corral a vast team of animators to produce thrilling chases and quieter moments of ribald humour.

With faint echoes of Raymond Briggs’ Fungus The Bogeyman, Irena Brignull and Adam Pava’s script is laden with verbal and visual gags, striking a gently mischievous tone throughout.