MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN ■ Tim’s labrinth
It’s always entertaining to see which movie Tim Burton directs next because of his diverse taste, which is also reflected in the quality of the final results. Sometimes, his movies are too weird. Too gothic. Too Burton, if such a term exists. It means his movies can be either inaccessible to mainstream audiences or delightful in fantastical ways and, thankfully, MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN slots into that flattering latter category. Just don’t take your kids to see it. Seriously.
It may be painted and presented as a children’s movie but, at times, it’s closer to Guillermo del Toro’s adult fable PAN’S LABYRINTH in execution than, say, BIG FISH. The first act is incredibly sloppy, as the disjointed pace and odd tone set a jarring precedent for the engrossing and oftentimes original story that follows thereafter. Young Jacob (Asa Butterfield) follows the trail of an old mystery that leads him to a remote island that houses a home for children with special abilities, looked over by the titular Miss Peregrine (Eva Green).
The story blurs fantasy and sci-fi in a digestible and compelling way, but when it ventures into Burton’s beloved dark fantasy territory, things get incredibly dark. Again, don’t show this one to younger kids. What emerges after the shaky first act is an engrossing story with creepy villains, interesting heroes, and some clever fight sequences that distract from the reality that, at first glance, the premise feels like a retelling of X-MEN. MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN may have been mistargeted as a children’s movie, but if you can get past that misconception, there’s a very adult and very entertaining yarn that’s well worth the price of admission.