ParaNorman (2012) (PG) ★★★★

ParaNorman dares to play to all audiences. Unraveling with a purposefully imperfect stop-motion technique, the zombie adventure utilizes striking filmmaking styles, sharp wit, and scares that will give young ones the willies while tickling the nostalgia bone of any adult who used to stay up past his or her bedtime watching horror movies. The film isn't overtly for anyone; it's simply on a mission to tell a great story. ParaNorman succeeds: embracing a world where bullying is hitting an epidemic level and the social ''outcasts'' are lashing out, the animated movie balances emotional messages with a wild visual ride. Quite out of the ordinary — the living dead being just the beginning.

Norman (The Road's Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a middle schooler living on the fringes. He sits alone at lunch with his only real friend, the chubby nerd Neil; he's routinely beat up by schoolyard bully Alvin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse); and the kicker: he sees ghosts — and no one believes him. Norman passes the time by watching old horror movies with the spirit of his Grandma (Elaine Stritch), much to the chagrin of his mother (Leslie Mann) and father (Jeff Garlin). Norman's dad is fed up with Norman's ''disturbed'' behavior, but before he can ship his son off to psychiatric help, all hell breaks loose in their hometown of Blithe Hollow. Failing to put together the cryptic words of town crazy Mr. Prenderghast and keep zombies at rest, Norman goes on the run from the living dead, who take to the streets of Blithe Hollow. Why? The mystery is revealed as Norman embarks on a Goonies-style race around Blithe Hollow.

ParaNorman only loses footing when it's in explanation mode, setting up the pieces of the puzzle that will play out in the movie's second half (not unlike most movies of the genre it's riffing on). But the introductions to the colorful cast and horror-inspired adventure, brought to life with stunning animation and a muted color palette unlike most kid-friendly cartoons, are an absolute treat. Norman is a three-dimensional character both in puppetry and human terms; Smit-McPhee's timid vocals realize the fear of the scary moments, and work as perfect deadpan to ParaNorman's comedic asides. The movie advances its risk-taking to a whole other level in the finale, offering an explosive crescendo that wows the senses and is sure to bring tears to the eyes. It's a marvel on a technical level — intricate landscapes shot with shallow focus all set to Jon Brion's rousing score — but in the end, the film works because it's a great, bold story. For a movie grounded in fear, ParaNorman stands out as a movie for audiences young and old that's truly fearless.

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Hollywood.com rated this film 4 stars.