Stitch Head Parent Guide

As the first “almost alive” creation of Doctor Dislocation (Ryan Sampson), Stitch Head (Asa Butterfield) holds a responsible position in Castle Grotteskew. He assists the mad scientist in his experiments, calms new monsters as they rampage through the halls, warns them against inciting mobs from the village, and tells them bedtime stories. But even in a gothic castle life can become humdrum and Stitch Head feels unappreciated by the doctor.

Stitch Head’s restlessness coincides with the arrival of Fulbert Freakfinder and his traveling carnival to the nearby town of Grubbers Nubbin. Freakfinder’s circus is nearly broke, so when he hears of a castle full of monsters, he believes his dreams have come true. He persuades Stitch Head that people will love his frightening face, and with that promise, the young boy leaves the castle and places himself in Freakfinder’s money-grubbing little hands. Luckily, Stitch Head has friends - monster and human - who will help him through whatever comes next…

What comes next won’t surprise anyone over the age of eight. Stitch Head feels like a combination of Frankenstein and Hotel Transylvania and bangs out genre tropes with precision. Thankfully, because it is a British production, Stitch Head also tells its tale with a quirky wit. There are the opening credits which describe various cast members as “repugnant”, “repellant”, and “deranged”. There are the fans who crowd around Stitch Head for autographs, and a solo fan whose sign reads “Stitch Head helps me briefly forget the meaninglessness of my existence”. These offbeat moments are a bonus for parents, who might otherwise drift off during the predictable story.

Despite the yawn-inducing predictability of its plot, the movie benefits from top notch animation. The backdrops are wonderfully evocative and the animation has a idiosyncratic, offbeat style. This movie will never get mixed up with a Disney production – it’s just too weird (in a good way). Even if the story leaves you cold, there’s always plenty to look at.

Since this film is geared at kids, it has fairly low levels of negative content, aside from brief, plot-related violence. There are some scenes that might frighten sensitive kids – and are too scary for preschoolers – but any child who can sit through a Disney animated feature can make it through Stitch Head. Like most other films geared at young audiences, this one also comes with positive messages. Not surprisingly, the themes focus on self-respect, appreciating differences, forgiving others, valuing relationships, and celebrating diversity. The plot draws a direct line from ignorance to fear to violence and clearly warns kids against manipulation. This film might not be brilliant, but it’s good enough and the messages are solid. I wouldn’t recommend paying theater prices to watch it, but it’s worth seeing once it comes to a streaming platform.

About author

Kirsten Hawkes

Kirsten Hawkes has a BA in Political Science and English and has worked in international development and medical education and marketing. Kirsten enjoys reading, watching movies, and debating politics with her husband and sometimes unwilling children.