Tim Burton rewatch! Burton goes back to his roots, but in story and in style, with 2012’s remake of his own Frankenweenie.

Here’s what happens: After young Victor’s beloved dog Sparky dies in an accident, Victor revives his pet using mad science he learned in school. Once his secret gets out, all the other kids in the neighborhood apply mad science to their own pets, resulting in chaos at the annual town carnival.

Origin story: Burton’s 1984 Disney-produced short film Frankenweenie was a real calling card for him at the start of his career, as tapes of it were spread around town to develop something of a cult following. Allegedly, Burton wanted to do a feature-length version for years, with multiple scripts in and out of development. Sometime around 2009, he signed a deal with Disney for two 3-D films. The first was Alice in Wonderland, and the second was the new Frankenweenie.

Outsider theory: This movie takes the outsider concept and reverses it. Victor and his dog are the only normal ones in a town full of weirdos, creeps, and just plain jerks.

Reality breaks through: Victor tries to keep Sparky a secret from everyone. Once the secret is out among Victor’s classmates, things spiral out of control. Again, the outsider concept is reversed, where all the weird, zany characters break through into Victor’s quiet home life.

Best bits: Science teacher: “Ladies and gentlemen, I think the confusion here is that you are all very ignorant. Is that the right word? I meant stupid.”

Thoughts on this viewing: This is really two movies. The first half is a boy-and-his-dog tale with a supernatural twist. The second is a monsters-invade-a-small-town movie, like Them!, The Blob, or even Gremlins. Some viewers prefer the calmer first, while others dig the crazier second. I’m in the latter camp, as the monster gags in the movie’s finale give it its own identity beyond remaking the original short.

Next: It’s a movement.

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