Stitch Head, Based on Guy Bass’s Books

Those classic Universal Monster movies continue to shape how we think about monsters—and apparently how monsters think about us. Thanks to their usual endings, mad Professor Erasmus’s creatures live in fear of the villagers storming Chateau Grotteskew with torches and pitchforks. Yet, when his original creation looks for belonging, he finds the wrong kind of acceptance from the human world in Steve Hudson’s animated Stitch Head, based on Guy Bass's children's books, which opens today in theaters.

Ironically, nutty old Erasmus started with his most human-looking creation—Stitch Head, who is obviously so-called because of the Frankenstein sutures crisscrossing his face. In contrast, his latest, simply called “Creature,” resembles a fusion of two major characters from Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. He also immediately adopts Stitch Head as his “best friend.”

Yet, poor Stitch Head feels unloved and unappreciated by his creator. Unfortunately, that leaves a void for Fulbert Freakfinder to exploit. The traveling sideshow proprietor recognizes a good attraction when he sees one—and Stitch Head is happy to finally feel wanted. However, Arabella a bright little girl living in the village, is appalled by Freakfinder’s cynical exploitation. Both she and Creature want to facilitate his escape, but Stitch Head must want to accept their help first.

Basically, Hudson’s film starts out riffing on James Whale’s Frankenstein films, but segways into a kids-friendly send-up of Nightmare Alley (the original, good one). The press materials repeatedly stress it is not intended as R.L. Stine-ish horror for young audiences, but the monsters and mad scientist certainly deliver a lot of Halloweeny vibes.

It might not have fast food tie-ins, but Stitch Head is irrepressibly likable and intermittently inventive. The hybrid 3D/2D animation is also quite impressively rendered. There is a lot of highly kinetic action that looks great on-screen. It skews towards younger viewers, but nostalgic monster-loving adults will find its underdog charms quite endearing. Asa Butterfield and Joel Fry nicely express the earnest innocence of Stitch Head and Creature, while experienced voiceover artst Rob Brydon brings his usual goofiness as the Professor.

Admittedly, Stitch Head is not quite at the level of GKIDS’ finest, but it still represents several cuts above the latest Disney and Pixar animated releases. Parents can feel confidence in both the quality and the appropriateness of its subject matter—there is nothing of a sexual or ideological nature. Affectionately recommended for family audiences and monster fans, Stitch Head opens today (10/29) in New York theaters, including the AMC Empire.