This film’s director is known for his unusual take on bizarre subjects (Nightmare Alley, The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth). For this adaptation, he’s forsaken the Disneyfied version to stick closer to the original book. While much of the basic plot is the same, there are some different approaches like setting it in Italy during Musolini’s rise to power. There are also a few extremely inert songs that just slow things down. Del Toro’s love of creepy character design plays out here, even in the look of the wooden boy (with echoes of Marvel’s Groot). While the animation is attractive, the purpose of this film isn’t clear. With the dark political edges and creepy creatures, it’s not aimed at children and the only adults who might appreciate this are fans of the director or of animation. It’s an interesting take on the tale, but a rather listless artistic endeavor. (2.5 / 5)