The best way to start the spooky season is with a scary movie that will have you gasping for air because you can’t stop laughing.
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom is 80 minutes of pure comedy, and to think I almost didn’t go watch it. It took my nephew convincing me to go watch it, and even then, I only went because he wanted to. To think I almost missed out on one of the best scary movies of the year.
I’m going to be honest, this film pokes fun at a lot of horror movies and pop culture icons, and I absolutely loved it. The opening scene alone made me realise that I would be having a lot of fun in the theatre. There aren’t a lot of movies that can make me laugh for almost 90 minutes, and this movie did it.
It’s not just a great comedy, but the horror aspects are also awesome. Now, I know this is a family film and parents usually don’t want their kids to watch scary stuff, but this one is scary-themed without actually being scary. It pokes fun at horror tropes and characters without becoming overtly silly. It perfectly balances the story with the humour.
I’m not going to spoil the film’s story, but I do want to say that this film took a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. It kind of plays like a high-stakes thriller at times, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s so much fun. The story came to a satisfying end, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have some questions throughout the film.
I can’t say much about the acting, since there’s no conventional dialogue in this movie. Think of it as Mr Bean, but with sheep made out of clay. The humour is in the characters and the situations. I do enjoy all the grunts and mumbles; it reminds you that these characters can communicate in some way.
I haven’t always been a fan of clay animation, but I respect the work that goes into it. I think the filmmakers put in a lot of hard work, and that’s what makes these kinds of films even more special. This movie especially perfectly blends various filmmaking techniques, which adds to the storytelling. It also has a few traditional animated scenes that I absolutely adored.
As I said, the characters don’t really talk, so the story relies on the movie’s score and soundtrack to bring more life to the screen. The film has an outstanding score that really adds to the scary aspects of the film. It also has a few catchy songs woven into the story that not only expand the story but will also have you singing along.
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom has a long title, but it’s a fairly short film that will have you replaying the story in your head for years to come. It easily became one of my favourite 2026 films, and I think a lot of people will love it. It reminds me a lot of 1990s films, especially with the humour. It’s like a film for millennials, but Gen Alpha will absolutely love it.
It’s an easy 4 out of 5 stars for me.
