Stopmotion-a review

What happens when we lose ourselves?

Jun 12, 2024

Non-Spoiler Synopsis - Ella, a stop-motion animator, is working on her latest creation, which has taken a dark and bloody turn.

Where to watch AMC+

Trigger warnings: body horror, dead animals, drug use, mental illness

Ratings (out of 5) l😱😱😱and half

Worth the Watch?

What a ride this movie is.

Stopmotion, a psychological thriller, follows the journey of Ella, a stop-motion animator, as she tries to find her voice after her mother, a renowned figure in the industry, falls into a coma. I was on the edge of my seat for most of it, especially my therapist's brain empathizing with and understanding Ella, the main character.

Stopmotion, a truly unique collaboration between writers Robert Morgan and Robin King and director Robert Morgan, made its intriguing debut in 2024, offering a fresh and innovative take on storytelling.

The movie is just creepy, and if you are easily grossed out, you might want to skip it. There were plenty of cringy scenes that made me squirm.

The movie, aptly titled 'Stopmotion ', is about a stop-motion animator trying to find her voice after her mother, famous in the stop-motion industry, is in a coma. The title itself is a metaphor for the protagonist's struggle to regain control over her life and art. Ella, our protagonist, sets out to create her movie, and when she does, we start to question her sanity.

**Spoilers ahead-read with caution**

To me, Stopmotion is a movie about the intricate relationship between mental health and identity. It explores what happens to us when we have an overbearing parent who is known in a shared field, becomes ill, and ultimately is no longer able to control us. Ella’s mother calls her poppet and, in a hallucination, tells Ella she is just a puppet. If her mother isn’t pulling her strings, someone else is. The movie delves into this struggle in Ella’s search for her identity without her mother. Our search for identity can be complicated and terrifying as we delve into our psyche and explore our dark depths. We can also become lost on this journey.

We witness Ella’s further descent into madness. She starts to lose touch with reality and is actively hallucinating.

She becomes obsessed with finishing her movie and ultimately completing the story of the Ashman, who starts to haunt her. Often, our projects and work haunt us, taking on a life of their own. We see this impact on Ella, as she would kill to complete her project.

**end spoilers**

Dive deeper

First things first, you are the most important person, and if you are struggling, there is support!

Find a therapist:

Therapy Den: “TherapyDen believes in inclusivity and representation at every level. We want everyone to be able to find the care that they need with a therapist that is a good fit and we want every therapist to find the clients they are perfectly suited to treat.”

Inclusive Therapists: “ Inclusive Therapists is a social justice and liberation-oriented mental health directory, community, and resource hub. We offer a safer, simpler way to find a therapist, counselor or coach committed to Racial, 2SLGBTQIA+, Neurodivergence, and Disability Justice. We center the needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and Queer, Trans, Nonbinary, Intersex, ACE+ intersections (QTBIPOC). We amplify the voices and expressions of Neurodivergent and Disabled Communities of Color. We are a mental health liberation movement creating change through decolonial education, collective care, and activism. Celebrating marginalized identities, abilities, and bodies!”

Open Path Collective (low-cost therapy): “Open Path provides people in need with access to transformative and affordable mental health care. We envision a just, compassionate world where all people can easily access the care they need to thrive.”

If you are feeling suicidal/homicidal:

Twloha- “To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery.”
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline- “The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States.”
The Trevor Project- “To end suicide among LGBTQ youth. For more than 23 years, The Trevor Project has worked to save young lives through our 24/7, free, and confidential crisis intervention services, TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat.”
Crisis Text Line- “At the intersection of empathy and innovation — we promote mental well-being for people wherever they are.”
Go to your nearest hospital, urgent care, or mental health walk-in clinic or call 911

If you are in an abusive relationship or have been trafficked:

The National Domestic Violence Hotline- “We answer the call to support and shift power back to those affected by relationship abuse.”
National Human Trafficking Hotline- “The Trafficking Hotline's mission is to connect human trafficking victims and survivors to critical support and services to get help and stay safe. The Trafficking Hotline offers round-the-clock access to a safe space to report tips, seek services, and ask for help.”

Finding yourself: an activity

Get comfy, light a candle, brew a cup of tea (or coffee), play some relaxing music, and grab your journal. You will create a couple of lists that will be edited; the more, the better. Let this list flow; remember, you get to edit it. For example, if you put hiking on your list of things you enjoy and then realize you really don’t, take it off that list and put it on the list of things you don’t want.

Don’t think too hard. Have fun. These lists are works in progress, just like you.

Create the following lists:

Things I enjoy or like
Things I don’t enjoy or dislike
Things I am curious about or things I want to learn
Things I want to try
Things that scare me
Things I will regret not doing when I’m on my deathbed
What I wanted to do, be, or try when I was little
Things my future self will thank me for
What do I want in life

What do I not want in life

Once you have your list, go out and explore, try new things, take classes, go places, and experience the world!

Final Screams and Thoughts:

Stopmotion is an artsy, creative film that invokes the imagination through its unique blend of stop-motion animation and live-action sequences. The movie skillfully delves into complex mental health and identity themes, offering a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of these issues. The meticulous craftsmanship and imaginative narrative highlight the artistry of stop-motion animation and provide a profound commentary on the human experience, making it a truly memorable and impactful cinematic experience.

Have you watched Stopmotion? Thoughts?