Norman is a kid with no close friends at school, but he does know a lot of dead people. Of course, neither his parents nor his older sister nor his schoolmates believe he can talk with the departed, but it turns out his crazy uncle has the same ability and needs to pass on to Norman an important annual duty involving a witch executed at a Salem-like trial three centuries before. There will be terrible consequences if Norman fails at the task, but he can’t figure out the uncle’s instructions.

It’s a pretty good story with well-realized characters and witty dialog, and the stop-motion animation (from the same people who did Coraline) is beautifully done, with computer-generated special effects. Not a great film, but entertaining.

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