STITCH HEAD lives in my soul. Like many of the films that are now part of me it came into my life unexpectedly and just took over.
God, I love when that happens.
The film is the story a creation called Stitch Head. He lives in a castle where a mad scientist is making monsters. Since the scientist is making monsters so fast he end up ignoring the things he makes, but Stitch Head doesn't, and he takes care of all the monsters. Down below the castle is a town where the people are afraid of what is in the castle, even though they don't know what is there. When a traveling circus comes to town the two worlds end up on a collision course as the head of the circus decides to go to the castle to get a monster for his show. He ends up with Stitch Head.... and well a monster named Creature decides to go to the town to rescue his best friend.
And I left a great deal out because this is a densely packed film where a lot is going on...trust me. This is a film that doesn't stop moving and expanding it's story from first frame to the last. Its a film with real characters, witty dialog and real emotions. Its a film that feels not so much like a meal but a whole banquet.
What I love about the film are the characters. We have wonderfully drawn characters who are just like the best people we know. Stitch Head is lovely person with father issues. His father ignores him and how that affects him drives what happens. His arc of chasing a surrogate father only to realize that he has a found family is deeply moving. The love that Creature feels for his best friend, Stitch Head, is in its way goofy, but it speaks volumes about how we feel about the people we love. His drive to save Stitch Head is wonderfully charming. No one is one note, there is good and bad in everyone, and they are all broken but find strength in their "families" or friends. We are not moving in a movie but among real people.
The writing is wonderful. The dialog is witty and spot on. There are no false notes. The progression of the narrative never feels cliche. Even if we think we are in familiar territory, we quickly learn we are not. The writing makes what could be WTF moments in a couple of places things that are note perfect (looking at you needle drop).
As for the character designs, they are wonderful. They are goofy and charming. They may look off at first, we quickly fall in love with them. By the end you will want to hug them.
I am fighting the urge to tell you everything because I think this film is so magical. It's a film that will restore your connection to life and make you feel glorious.
See this film it's one of 2025's very best films
(And I'm sorry for using wonderful too many times but this film sapped my vocabulary in the best way)
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