Movie Review: Ms. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Recently, Ms. Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children hit the theaters, drawing millions of young moviegoers around the U.S.

The story focuses on Jacob, whose grandfather tells him fantastical stories about the children’s home he stayed at during World War Two. The children he lived with had strange abilities, from a boy who reanimates the dead to their caretaker, who could turn into a peregrine falcon. Jacob dismisses these stories until his grandfather is killed by a strange creature that his grandfather claimed killed Peculiars. Jacob is left with a cryptic message, and he goes to what’s left of the children’s home to find out what his grandfather meant. There Jacob discovers two things; one, that the children are still alive–and haven’t aged. And two, the creatures that killed his grandfather are also on the island–and they’re hungry for peculiars.             

I read the book this was based on by Ransom Riggs, and, as most adapted screenplays are, this didn’t have the same sense of mystery and peculiarity.  In addition, some scenes were cut out. But throughout both is a consistent undertone of love, and accepting who you are, even through all the action and horror. The Hollowgast–the creatures that kill peculiars–were a little too gory for my liking though.

The movie is directed by Tim Burton, whose creepy and cool-looking movies have included “Edward Scissorhands”, “Beetle- juice”, and “Alice Through The Looking Glass”, and I think that this movie fits his style well.

The actor who plays Jacob–Asa Butterfield–did a really good job of matching the character’s personality, and Samuel J. Jackson, who plays the main villain–is really creepy and plays his part with relish. Lastly, Eva Green, who plays Ms. Peregrine, has a good combination of comfort, oddness, and mystery, and a huge presence in every scene she’s in.

In all, I would highly recommend this movie for anyone who’s read the book, and is able to handle some intense creepiness and gore. But look aside from that, and you’ll find a great popcorn movie that’s entertaining and evocative. Ms. Peregrine’s home for Peculiar Children is an amazing, magical, action-packed, peculiar pleasure!