I had such high hopes for this stop motion project. It's so rare to find them these days, so I really want to support them when I came across one. Visually, the film was spot on. What lacking was a good plot that has a bit more depth than borrowing from Monster Inc.

The story reminded me of Corpse Bride, the music is wonderful, the style is unique. But it's missing something—maybe it's not scary enough, or the characters aren't developed well, I don't know—but overall, it's a good film.

A wonderful journey into a world of nightmares and personal turmoil. I’m always down to watch a good stop-motion movie and this doesn’t disappoint. Characters and worlds that are deep and expansive that lend themselves to imagination and possibilities. Would Recommend

[Fantasia '25] With an aesthetic inspired by 19th-century Mexican Baroque, this film develops a simple story that is sometimes unbalanced by a pace that seems too accelerated, adapting the narrative of an episodic show to a nearly two-hour feature film that requires a more gradual pace. There is a beautiful and colorful, dark and gothic artistic design that is sometimes too overloaded but creates a very personal world. The film has a childlike approach but with contemporary and psychological themes that bring it closer to a more adult viewer. But all the visual richness is too overwhelming and the script has trouble conveying the characters' emotions.

Contrary to what the pitch was selling, there is little happening in the "real" world, and Francisca's life is anecdotal. Which is great because the real world is not really interesting, and the **character design of the Spooks is absolutely gorgeous**. Even more when you see the actual figurines used for the stop motion in the behind the scenes during the credits. The story is classical, a version of real and dream worlds being intertwined. Appearing a bit childish in the beginning but with mostly adult themes. Maybe two hours is a bit too much and personally I could have done without the songs. Script wise there was two weird things. One, there is a time jump. Just before we see Procustes trying and failing a coup. And since Ceimut was there, everyone, including the royal family, is aware. Yet years pass, and nothing is done. In the meantime he is supposed to write great stuff. Yet years pass, he doesn't deliver, and no one questions it. And most importantly, everyone is aware that the prince can go to the other world, which was thought impossible. Yet years pass, and no one even mentions it. This is literally the most important event in the realm for centuries, and no one cares. Second, the whole story holds on the fact that Procustes manages to deceive both Frankelda and the Prince. But this whole time, even if the Prince is the one that got her there, that she knows him since childhood, etc, she just doesn't want to trust him. And yet she instantly accepts whatever Procustes says. So maybe there's the adult interpretation that she is insecure and he is the only one reinforcing her insecurities, so she buys it. But anyway, how the well didn't the Prince explain first "well we have this guy, with an important official position, that is supposed to write stories, and he sucks, and the whole point of bringing you here is to replace him" ?? Then maybe that would have put his word into perspective. And, it seems that no one cares what happens to her body. First he brought her, leaving her body in the cemetery like that. Only the poor guy that is in love with her since childhood cares for her and takes her in. But... her body is never mentioned again, nor is this poor guy that no one cares about. A bit disappointed that the 7 clans were basically reduced to their leaders, I would have loved to see armies. There was several short blank scenes, with sound and no images, so not sure whether it was a projection issue or if the copy was incomplete.