Synopsis

Welcome To Spookville – Film Synopsis

Lila, a 12-year-old girl, is brave and adventurous, but naive and a loner by nature. Her 9-year-old brother Danny likes pulling pranks on her, but doesn’t have an ounce of real courage in him. Or, so he believes.  After one of Danny’s pranks goes too far, the two kids end up falling down an old stone well, which is actually a magical gateway to the underground world of Spookville.

Spookville’s architecture is an eerie mash-up of creepy Victorian and New Orleans Neon. Misshapen old buildings are squashed together and bathed in the glow of green, yellow, and purple lights. Slimy Muck Yucks sing and dance in the streets, bike-riding clowns honk their noses like car horns, ghosts cackle and raise their glasses in a toast, tiny gremlins grab grub at COFFINS AND COFFEE, ghouls shop for worm-ridden flank steaks at THE ROTTEN MEAT GROCERY, and monstrous lovers snuggle on a carnival ride called THE TUNNEL OF SLUDGE.

Spookville’s creepy, but friendly, residents welcome Danny and Lila into the town. The children quickly learn that the violent and abusive mayor, Big Daddy Brass, is exploiting the citizens of Spookville for profit.

Lila bravely, and perhaps naively, volunteers to lead the fight against the oppressive Big Daddy Brass. Her brother Danny is more timid and cautious. He shies away from Lila’s talk of revolution. Eventually, Lila and Danny’s conflicting personalities cause a falling out that won’t be resolved until the duo learns to appreciate their differences and work together.

While in Spookville, the two kids meet some delightfully entertaining allies, such as the exuberant Circus Ringleader, Rivulus Rottenrib (think: Jack Sparrow in charge of the undead version of Ringling Bros.) The Ringleader’s circus is being driven out of business by Big Daddy Brass’s violent thugs.  Despite this, the Ringleader is having trouble mustering the courage to fight back.

Lila and Danny also meet Razz the Rat, a slick, street-wise city rat seeking vengeance on Big Daddy Brass for the kidnapping of his wife. Razz and Lila team up to form a secret plan to sneak into town hall and usurp Big Daddy Brass.

At the end of the second act, Lila’s naivety finally catches up with her. She acts rashly, causing Big Daddy Brass to catch her and beat Razz the Rat within an inch of his life. In response to Lila’s imprisonment, Danny and the Circus Ringleader finally find their courage and lead the Spookville residents in an uprising against Big Daddy Brass.

In an action-packed conclusion, a riot rages on the streets of Spookville, Big Daddy Brass is smashed into brass bits, and Lila is rescued in the nick-of-time.