Stop motion is such a time consuming endeavor. It makes it all the more painful when the plot doesn't live up to the visuals.
Simply put, this movie doesn't know what it wants to be.
We are given multiple plot threads and ideas, but none of them are ever fleshed out enough to feel compelling. We're never given the proper amount of time to digest, it's just onto the next.
The entire "Hell Maiden" concept is completely brushed past in order to make way for a private prison plot point which is hardly engaging. Wendell and Wild, barely even interact with Kat during the film when you really think about it- they're too busy dealing with the OTHER plot point of Father Best trying to appease the Klaxon's in order to keep his school. We just establish that the one nun, and one janitor know EVERYTHING about demons and move on.
So, why would the nun move the bear to a class where it might end up in student hands, if she knows demons are so tricky and evil? Evil- being a funny word here since Wendell and Wild don't actually do anything bad in the film- hell, when they descend upon Raul they just... put him behind an easily escapable open cage. Manberg even gives back the demons, no problem.
We get some really half baked morals tossed in the last 5 minutes, and that's it.
What are the stakes here exactly? Was I really supposed to care about a dead town with a total of 5 residents?
The lack of focus leaves a film that feels unpolished and rough. Not even the awesome animation and unique character designs could save it.
5/10.
Simply put, this movie doesn't know what it wants to be.
We are given multiple plot threads and ideas, but none of them are ever fleshed out enough to feel compelling. We're never given the proper amount of time to digest, it's just onto the next.
The entire "Hell Maiden" concept is completely brushed past in order to make way for a private prison plot point which is hardly engaging. Wendell and Wild, barely even interact with Kat during the film when you really think about it- they're too busy dealing with the OTHER plot point of Father Best trying to appease the Klaxon's in order to keep his school. We just establish that the one nun, and one janitor know EVERYTHING about demons and move on.
So, why would the nun move the bear to a class where it might end up in student hands, if she knows demons are so tricky and evil? Evil- being a funny word here since Wendell and Wild don't actually do anything bad in the film- hell, when they descend upon Raul they just... put him behind an easily escapable open cage. Manberg even gives back the demons, no problem.
We get some really half baked morals tossed in the last 5 minutes, and that's it.
What are the stakes here exactly? Was I really supposed to care about a dead town with a total of 5 residents?
The lack of focus leaves a film that feels unpolished and rough. Not even the awesome animation and unique character designs could save it.
5/10.