From Kyle’s original theatrical review:
There’s great love poured into the story and injected into the characters that inhabit the town of New Holland, where everything seems to have roots in classic horror history. The final act is a creature-feature blast that plays as a love letter to classic monster films and really gives the indication that Burton was having the most fun he’s had in a while. Full of colorful characters (no pun intended) supported by strong voice acting and the ghoulish brilliance of the film’s look and design, Frankenweenie is a truly fun and imaginative modern Grimm fairy tale that hearkens back to the director’s more beloved early career.
Frankenweenie may be presented in black and white, but the crispness and clarity in this stop-motion animated film is astounding. The characters models are created with painstaking attention to detail, and the gorgeous video transfer allows the audience to appreciate just how much work went into creating this world. On the audio side, the 7.1 sound mix makes ample use of the rear channels, injecting plenty of ambience into every scene while still prioritizing dialogue, and the score, from frequent Burton collaborator Danny Elfman, enhances the onscreen action without becoming overpowering.
Unfortunately, the supplemental materials fall far short of expectations for a Disney release, with a meager offering that consists of a 5-minute look at the Frankenweenie touring exhibit, a 20-minute featurette on the making of the film, a music video and a set of trailers. A nice bonus is the original Frankenweenie short film, but this is also available on the Nightmare Before Christmas release, as well.
Frankenweenie is a fun, enjoyable little film, and this Blu-Ray looks and sounds fantastic, but certainly could have benefited from better offerings in the supplemental department. As it stands, it’s a must-buy for serious fans only.