Stopmotion Review: A Nightmarish Descent into Madness
Forgettable setup leads to a grotesque and darkly beautiful finale in Stopmotion, the latest streaming film on Shudder. The film follows the story of Ella, a woman and the daughter of a legendary stop-motion animator, as she descends into madness while creating her own film.
Ella’s mother, Suzanne, is a tyrannical figure who belittles Ella and treats her as a pair of surrogate hands, pushing her to the brink of sanity. When Suzanne falls ill and lands in the hospital, Ella is freed to create her own movie, but struggles with what she wants to say. Enter a mysterious little girl who inspires Ella’s latest creation, a story about a girl pursued by a terrifying monster known as the Ashman.
As Ella’s film and reality begin to merge, Stopmotion becomes more surreal and visceral, culminating in a grisly act of self-mutilation. The creaking, distorted score and grotesque puppets created by Morgan add to the discomfort factor, making the film a truly unsettling experience.
While the setup of Stopmotion may be forgettable, the film builds to a grotesque and darkly beautiful finale that showcases the talent of stop-motion animator Robert Morgan. Ella’s descent into madness is a compelling and disturbing journey that is sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers.