EXTRAORDINARY TALES (2013)

Raul Garcia’s varied (and variable) animation of five Edgar Allan Poe short stories comes across more portfolio than program; a quick, easy watch, if not an especially memorable one. The contrasting styles, done via CGI, but not always looking it, fit the morbid moods, and the well-known vocal roster even more. For introductions, Poe’s famous Raven debates ‘Death’ in a style that recalls paper cut-outs before Christopher Lee comes in to narrate THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER which apes the look of wooden puppets in faux 3D effect. This is followed by an amazing ancient recording of Bela Lugosi reading TELL-TALE HEART, visually the least effective item, built over live-action filming, digitized into high-contrast (solarized?) b&w images; a technique that works better for architectural detail than for characters. Julian Sands handles more traditional vocal acting in the lesser-known CASE OF M. VALDEMAR. Backed by a graphic/comic book look, this story of death-bed hypnotism is exceptionally creepy. Guillermo Del Toro’s accent adds Spanish Inquisition savor to PIT AND THE PENDULUM which gets much of its force from a restricted, autumnal palette . . . and prison rats. Yikes! While the animation in MASK OF RED DEATH has a more traditional hand-drawn vibe, a vivid watercolor look and an impressive sense of court life bustle with figures suggesting Egon Schiele. (Also, a single line of dialogue read by Roger Corman in homage to his Poe anthologies). It’s the one you can imagine being expanded. Or could if Garcia, with lots of experience in the field of animation, not so much in animation direction, were better able to unlock the narrative potential hiding behind Poe’s elegant prose. Instead, objets d’art with occasional shivers.

DOUBLE-BILL: Disney took a whack at this sort of thing adapting THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, in the first half of THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD/’49. Don’t be fooled by Bing Crosby’s folksie manner, the final ride is the real deal. Plus, it comes with an opportunity to see Mr. Toad (& Co.) from THE WIND AND THE WILLOWS. Never pass up a chance to revisit Toad Hall!