Film Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

A teenage boy discovers his strange family history and the magical mystery that surrounds his grandfather’s youth, in a wild and imaginative film that returns Tim Burton to his fantastical best.

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Jake’s (Asa Butterfield) grandfather, Abe (Terrance Stamp), has always told tall tales. As a boy, Jake was often fascinated by his grandfather’s magical stories of children with superhuman powers who shared the orphanage where his grandfather was raised.

There were monsters in these stories, too; and as Jake grew older, he came to assume that the stories his grandfather told probably had more to do with the terrible acts of war in Europe that took his family and left him an orphan, than actual events. That is until he is called to his grandfather’s home, only to find he has been bizarrely attacked.

Abe’s last wish for Jake is to return to the home for children in Wales where Abe was raised, so Jake can learn the truth about his grandfather. This seemingly crazy idea is agreed to after a month of therapy has seen little improvement in Jake’s state of mind. When he and his father reach the island, what Jake discovers about his past and his future is quite incredible, setting him off on journey laced with danger and destiny.

What Tim Burton creates visually is incredible. How privileged we are as a generation to have been raised with his imagination at our disposal, gifting us with some truly fantastic films. In Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, the master of the peculiar hits his stride once more, and its magic is something to behold.

Based on the Ransom Riggs novel, the story has all the fantasy elements that evoke the wonder of Harry Potter—as well as the darker elements, too. Despite having a PG rating, this may not be a film suited to some younger audiences, but for those who can handle it, they will be richly rewarded.

Asa Butterfield may only be young, but his body of work as an actor is already impressive, and he again effortlessly captures the audience’s attention here. Eva Green, Dame Judi Dench, Allison Janney and Rupert Everett offer wonderful contributions; and while Samuel L Jackson’s villain may not be his best work, the supporting cast more than lift the film to great heights.

If you’re looking to entertain older children these school holidays, make sure you check out Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Like Edward Scissorhands before it, here we have a slightly dark, very peculiar tale that is in every way truly wonderful.