Review: Frankenweenie (PG)

Aside from evidence of sharper animation techniques and a different cast, not much has changed. It’s still in black-and-white, still too creepy for kids (the original was censored by Disney) and still boasting that trademark Burton brand of dark whimsy.

Frankenweenie is the tale of science geek Victor Frankenstein who brings his dog Sparky back to life after it has been knocked down by a car. But in Burton’s hands the story harks back to the adventures of Boris Karloff as first the local kids get in on the act and then the townsfolk of New Holland chase Sparky through the streets shouting as he heads towards the sanctuary of a windmill.

Burton knows his film heritage and Frankenweenie is liberally dosed with sly references to the great frighteners of the past. Victor’s schoolmaster (voiced by Martin Landau) is a dead ringer for Vincent Price. There are clips of Christopher Lee as Dracula on the TV. And a rival dog to Sparky sees its fur turn into a frizzy bouffant à la Elsa Lanchester’s Bride of Frankenstein when it gets a jolt of electricity from the bolt in Sparky’s neck. Nice touch.

In truth the picture is laden with nods to those great old shockers, however the fun and in-jokes don’t necessarily translate into a winner. Frankenweenie resembles what it is: a short film padded out to make a feature. Though it runs only 87 minutes it doesn’t survive the operation.

Burton buffs will love it.