Run time: 80 mins

Aardman’s hero is back in The Beast of Mossy Bottom – a terrifying tale of frankenfood, pitchfork-wielding villagers and a monster with suspiciously stiff orange hair.

Everyone is looking forward to Halloween on Mossy Bottom Farm – until the clumsy Farmer trashes the Flock’s beloved pumpkin patch. But when Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, things rapidly spiral out of control. With the Farmer missing and a wild beast roaming the woods of Mossingham, all the ingredients are in place for a monstrously fun family adventure.

Mossy Bottom is indeed a horror film. Or, at least, a horror for those with a 7.30pm bedtime. Scares have been softened. But there remains allusions to films like Psycho, as the flock cower in the shower. Other inspirations include Nosferatu and Frankenstein, The Shining and Weird Science. So there are plenty of nudges and winks for the adult horror fans in the audience.

Aardman once again showcases not just its extraordinary talent at sop-motion animation, but the way they juxtapose cutesy charm with genuine thrills. All in a brisk eighty minutes.