Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom

Gr 3–5—After visiting his father in an insane asylum, young Howard Lovecraft embarks on a wild adventure to save the mystical land of R'lyeh, encountering several of the horror writer's literary creations along the way. Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, the movie is plagued by several noticeable technical flaws. The animation is definitely wanting, as characters move stiffly, with limited facial expressions and range of motion. Pacing feels clunky as scenes and character interactions move equally slowly. Environments are often minimal and bland, seemingly going against Lovecraft's love for details in his written work. These visual flaws might be forgivable if the story were compelling, but it sadly is not. The film lacks charm; jokes often fall flat, and Minions-style slapstick humor is often not timed right or used too sparingly. Some impressive vocal performances (Jane Curtain and Christopher Plummer) fit the characters perfectly, but that alone is not enough to lure an audience.