Line #26 ShoutOut/ParaNorman


1	* The film is one to bad '70s [[BMovie B-Grade]] {{horror}} flicks in general... exactly the type Norman likes to watch on TV.
2	* The concept of the film is remarkably similar to ''Film/ReturnOfTheLivingDeadPartII''. To recap, the film is (mostly) a BlackComedy centered on a group of people led by a kid which includes his older sister and a guy she's into trying to survive a ZombieApocalypse that was caused by the kid's bullies.
3	* The opening credits are introduced by [[Franchise/EvilDead the camera doing a high-speed zoom through some eerie woods]].
4	* A number of references to ''Franchise/{{Halloween}}'' are scattered about:
5	** The ''Halloween'' ThemeTune is Norman's ringtone.
6	** Uncle Prenderghast peering out from behind a hedge watching Norman at school and disappearing a split second later is similar to two shots from the original ''Film/{{Halloween 1978}}'' of Michael stalking Laurie at school and on the way home.
7	** Neil startling Norman by standing outside his window in a hockey mask also mirrors a shot from the first ''Halloween'' in which Laurie/the camera looks down from a second-story window to catch a glimpse of Michael Myers, in his white mask, next to washing hanging on a clothesline.
8	*** Neil's mask itself is a ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'' Jason Voorhees type hockey mask -- but he really does intend to play hockey.
9	* The name of the town (Blithe Hollow) is a mash-up of the titles of two ghost stories -- ''[[Theatre/BlitheSpirit Blithe Spirit]]'' and ''[[Literature/TheLegendOfSleepyHollow Sleepy Hollow]]''.
10	* One of the board games under Norman's bed is titled "[[Film/ManosTheHandsOfFate The Hand of Fate]]."
11	* There's a bar called [[Creator/DarioArgento Bar Argento]] and a vending machine with a ''Film/Suspiria1977'' logo on the side.
12	* There's a candy bar called [[Literature/{{Cujo}} Cuj-Oh's]] in the vending machine.
13	* Norman trying to yank the book away from the hands of his dead uncle is reminiscent of [[Film/YoungFrankenstein Frederick Frankenstein]]'s similar predicaments with his grandpa's book.
14	* Norman's friend being called Neil may be a shout out to Creator/NeilGaiman, given that he wrote the source material for Creator/{{Laika}}'s previous success ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'' (as well as ''Literature/TheGraveyardBook'', which shares some similarities with ''[=ParaNorman=]''.)
15	* Judge Hopkins is named for the title character of the Creator/{{Tigon\|BritishFilmProductions}} horror film ''Film/WitchfinderGeneral'', based on real life witchhunter Matthew Hopkins.
16	* Neil's dog is named [[Film/DayOfTheDead1985 Bub]].
17	* There are several shout-outs to [[Franchise/ScoobyDoo Scooby-Doo]], although, of course, they don't have a live dog:
18	** The police officer uses the phrase "those meddling kids."
19	*** She even says "Jinkies" when they come across the mob.
20	** For part of the movie, the kids are driving around in a van like the Mystery Machine.
21	** Salma, the smart one, could be a shout out to Velma, the smart one.
22	*** Confirmed by [[WordOfGod the commentary]]. And the reason they call Salma instead of bringing her along because that's what would happen in real life. The gang wouldn't bring Velma on the dangerous adventure, [[MissionControl they'd call her whenever they needed information]].
23	** Does [[http://veryaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Paranorman3.jpg this]] remind you of the title card for ''WesternAnimation/TheNewScoobyDooMovies''?
24	* Alvin wonders why, when faced with a zombie apocalypse, they should have to go someplace as lame as [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer the library]].
25	* The refrigerator magnets spell [[Film/TheShining Redrum]].
26	* Norman tells Courtney [[NotUsingTheZWord not to use]] "[[Film/ShaunOfTheDead the z-word]]."
27	* One of the ghosts Norman greets on the way to school is named [[Film/TheSixthSense Bruce]].
28	* The confrontation between [[spoiler:Norman and Aggie]] during the film's climax is eerily similar to that of the ending of ''Film/TheFountain'', right down to the color palette and music.
29	* After centuries of having ''Literature/SleepingBeauty'' read to her, is it any surprise Aggie would use her own [[TheHedgeOfThorns barrier of thorns]] to obstruct Norman from reaching her lair?

Context ShoutOut / ParaNorman