Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children : Movie Review


Of the many things this story tries to be, the best is that it is another Tim Burton classic-to-be. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is based on the best-selling novel penned by Ransom Riggs, and is quite the gripping watch.

While Miss Peregrine, brilliantly played by Eva Green, may be the title character, we follow the story of a young boy named Jake ( Asa Butterfield), living the life of an ordinary but out-of-place teenager in Florida with parents who are protective, but not ones to give time. In classic Burton fashion, the film starts on a dark note and continues that way with the occasional bit of humor. After a gruesome turn of events that leads to the death of his beloved Grandfather who's dying words were a cryptic message of clues, Jake heads to Wales to find the children's home that he heard the stories of while growing up. Stories of a place where the headmistress could transmogrify into a bird, a girl lighter than air who wore lead boots so that she doesn't float away (a brilliant performance by Ella Purnell), a boy with bees living inside him, and many such special and peculiar children.

In the harsh realities of the world, there is are also a set of peculiars who aren't so nice and are a threat to the safety of other peculiars, particularly when they are young. Tim explores the dark side of their world quite well, the monsters in it, metaphorical and real, with the vulnerability of these children keeping the audience always on edge and involved in their fight to overcome their dangers.

The film is a great visual treat as well, with a particular scene with animated skeletons giving it an iconic Tim Burton touch. For the story, there are some failings, in terms of not giving support characters enough screen time, and with an ending that wasn't as strong as the rest of the movie. Keep an eye out for a fun performance by the antagonist Mr. Baron played by Samuel L. Jackson.

This film may have been better if aimed to be a witty horror film, but it is still a good watch. I'd rate  it 7 out of 10 carrots. Thanks for reading, feel free to comment and share!


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