Film: Hogfather
Studio: The Mob Film Company; RHI Entertainment
Director: Vadim Jean
Principal Actors:  Michelle Dockery, Marc Warren, David Warner, David Jason, and Ian Richardson as the voice of Death
Release: 2006 (British television); On DVD release March 4, 2008
Film length: 189 minutes
Rating: Unrated 

3 ½ Stars

Reviewer:  Deborah Ground Buckner

Hogfather brings to the screen a glimpse of Terry Pratchett's Discworld.  Those who are unfamiliar with the series need to know that Discworld is something of a parallel universe, a world out in space balanced on the backs of four elephants who are perched on the shell of a giant turtle, Great A'tuin.

Discworld has a midwinter celebration known as Hogswatch, not unlike Christmas.  The hero of Hogswatch is the Hogfather, a jolly, rotund figure with the face of a hog, who travels around the world in a sleigh leaving presents for children.  But on this particular holiday, a group of ghostly figures known as the Auditors employ the Guild of Assassins to eliminate the jolly old soul.  (You must understand that every profession in Discworld is ruled by a guild).

Lord Downey (David Warner), the Master of the Guild, calls for Mr. Teatime (that is pronounced tee-ah-tim-eh).  Marc Warren's Teatime is a menacing-looking fellow with a sweet and gentle voice reminiscent of Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka.  It appears Teatime has already given some thought to the assassination of possibly fictitious characters, beginning with the Tooth Fairy.  Somehow, he believes the key to the elimination of the Hogfather begins in the Tooth Fairy's palace, for here the essence of belief can be attacked  ("control the inner child and it will even give you its teeth").

Meanwhile, Death (grandly voiced by Ian Richardson), who has an hour-glass for everyone and knows to make his rounds as the sand runs out, learns the Hogfather is in danger and assumes his identity to make his rounds (reminding one of Jack Skellington in Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas).  Death is accompanied by his faithful pixie Albert (David Jason), who advises his master on perfecting his "ho ho ho":  "You need to put a bit more life in it, sir."

While all this is taking place, two children are happily awaiting the celebration of Hogswatch while under the care of their governess, Susan (Michelle Dockery).  Susan is a remarkable, no-nonsense young woman who bravely goes to the cellar with a fireplace poker in hand when the children report the monster is making noise.  This proves a moment of amusing psychology to the party guests of the children's parents, and will prove even more amusing to the viewer of the film.  As the children report:  "Susan says, 'Don't get afraid.  Get angry.'"

Susan has a secret.  Though she longs to appear normal in the role of governess, she is actually the granddaughter of Death.  Seeing her grandfather making the rounds of the Hogfather, she knows something is amiss and is forced to take action.

Hogfather contains the satiric, snarky humor fans of Pratchett's books will expect, and my seventeen-year-old interpreter assures me this film is faithful to the book.  But there is enough to entertain viewers who have not previously experienced Discworld:  Fantasy, interesting characters, and the patter of witty lines delivered by characters with just the right amount of serious to keep things from blowing over the top.  The young adult crowd should especially enjoy it and go rushing to the shelves for the 30+ book Discworld series-if they have not already done so.

The film is unrated.  There are moments of violence, but they involve little to no blood.  Still, it might be a bit dark for young children (after all, the plot involves the assassination of a beloved Santa figure!).