By Jasmine Durst
Friday the 13 has brought ParaNorman to Susquehanna University’s doorsteps.
ParaNorman was released on August 17, 2012, by Focus Features, receiving generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its animation and script. It was a modest box office success, earning $107 million against a budget of $60 million, and the film was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA for Best Animated Film.
In the town of Blithe Hollow, which is also known for its history of witch trials, Norman Babcock is a young boy who can see and communicate with the dead.
This ability makes him an outcast, ridiculed by his family and peers, and his only friend is Neil, a boy who finds Norman’s ability fascinating.
Norman’s estranged uncle, Mr. Prenderghast, informs him that the town is under a centuries-old curse from a witch, and he tasks Norman with performing a ritual using a special book to protect the town.
However, when Norman tries to fulfill his uncle’s request, things go awry, and the witch’s curse is unleashed.
As the curse takes effect, the accursed dead rise, threatening Blithe Hollow.
Norman teams up with Neil, his sister Courtney, bully Alvin, and Neil’s brother Mitch to save the town, and along the way, they uncover the truth about the witch’s curse and the horrific events that led to it.
According to Synopsis and Reviews, a memorable quote that Norman “said with resignation, reflecting his experience with being ostracized” was: “You can’t stop bullying, it’s part of human nature.”
This movie was shown on March 13, 2026, in Charlie’s Lounge, and drinks and snacks were sold during this community event.
The fundraising goes towards Paranormal Club equipment, the annual Haunted House expenses, and travel and lodging expenses when the club investigates off-campus. The club also uses the funding for the annual Haunted House in Weber Chapel in October before Halloween on the Ave. This past October’s theme was a Haunted Forest.
The SU Paranormal Club, in the past two years, has investigated the library basement, President Green’s house, Degenstein Theater, and the Alumni House.