Greetings again from the darkness. Shaun the Sheep is a British creation dating back thirty years or so. It’s through Aardman, the same imaginative studio as the brilliant ‘Wallace and Grommet’ characters and stories. Through multiple series and feature movies, we’ve come to know and love the claymation Shaun and his misadventures. This latest from co-directors Steve Cox and Matthew Walker, and co-writers Mark Burton and Giles Pilbrow, is yet another entry that will entertain adults and kids of all ages.
Halloween is rapidly approaching and the flock of sheep has been cultivating a secret pumpkin patch. At the same time, the clumsy, unaware farmer is working up the courage to invite the local veterinarian to the Halloween Hoe-down. A freak occurrence has the farmer accidentally destroying the pumpkin patch, leading Shaun and his nifty science book (“Home-Made Science”) to concoct a rapid-growth solution meant to replenish the pumpkins. Of course, there are ‘hairy’ side effects that put all involved on a track resembling a Buster Keaton movie … one hilarious misstep (with the best intentions) after another.
There are so many subtle touches to complement the chaos that most are best left for the viewer to discover. For a taste, there’s a nod to Hitchcock’s PSYCHO, perfectly timed wilting flowers, a slick use of a car wash, a sea shanty, and a few pokes at selfies and social influencers. Perhaps my favorite is the angry mob chasing the beast, reminiscent of what happened to the Frankenstein monster. In reality, the show is a tribute to monster movies with an emphasis on Shaun (and his trusty book of experiments) as Doctor Frankenstein.
The visuals here are outstanding as usual, and for those unfamiliar, dialogue is non-existent – other than a song lyric near the end. The communication and emotions are conveyed through grunts, groans, and giggles … and we are never in doubt as to what a character is thinking or ‘saying’. Sheep, a farmer, a loyal dog, the helpful vet, some longshoremen, and angry townspeople all play a role in this Halloween tale that will surely entertain (with a good-natured fright) viewers of all ages. The tradition continues.
