Review of The Secret of NIMH (1982) by Joe M — 14 Jun 2008

Each genre of film is inevitably accompanied by a stereotype. We hear "horror" and most will think Freddy. We hear "comedy" and most will Jim Carrey or Bill Murray. And when we hear "animated", usually we will think Disney, Bugs, Saturday morning, and "for children only". Very few would think of Don Bluth, and his original masterpiece "The Secret of NIMH". This is simply because this film is above its own code, breaking most conventions and forging others.

Out of all the movies I've seen, and I've seen a few, this film most certainly contains my favorite heroine of all: Mrs. Jonathan Brisby... a mouse, no less. We never learn her first name through the film, but her entitlement (usually as "Mrs. Brisby" or even "Briz" to a clumsy crow friend) suits her well. She is caught between a rock and a hard place, quite literally, as her son Timmy catches pneumonia and cannot be moved from their stone home, just before the plow is to come and drive them away. She seeks help from animals who have gained certain supernatural powers due to a drug administered to them by a company called the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The plot thickens as forces of good and evil connive against each other in the plan to provide aid for her and her family.

This animated feature is rare in that it's not as solely directed toward children. It contains suspense, terror, violence, even cursing, in its content. All is done in good taste, while leaving audiences gripping their seats. I watched it as a child, and was not traumatized---though I won't say a giant cat attacking the animals did not scare me to death. If you like terrifying monsters, Dragon might do the trick.

The animation is flawless, unique, and beautiful in its artistry. The build-up (and especially finale) is eye-opening. Such rich character development in animation was perhaps never so masterful. One could not help but be inspired by Mrs. Brisby's sweetness and her determination---it is chiefly she who causes me to keep going back again and again. To top it all off, the majestic score written by the late Jerry Goldsmith brings this feature to a level untouched by any before, or since.

Bravo to Mr. Bluth. He has been hit-and-miss in his features, but his first ever will ever be his greatest.