A Tim Burton salute to classic horror and stop-motion animation that is fun enough for the kids as well as having references and gags even some of the adults might miss. There's classic Universal monsters as well as a couple from later decades. Then a subtle salute to stop-motion of ages past in the form of the name of the local villain mayor being "burgermeister". Don't get that one? Think back to stop-motion TV specials of the 1960s and early 70s, specifically the Kris Kringle origin story of "Santa Claus is coming to Town". The villain there was a mayor named Burgermeister. Coincidence? Probably not, but moving on.

The young Victor Frankenstein (yes, you heard me right) loses his pet dog and decides to try and bring him back from the dead in classic Universal way. What follows is a problem that gets quickly out of control in a town that itself looks like a horror movie is about to explode there at any moment. The kids even look creepy, down to one tal kid that more resembles a living Frankenstein's monster himself. This movie is loads of fun and will put a smile on anyone's face.