However, in the hands of director Tim Burton, the movie plays it rather fast and loose with the original novel written by Ransom Riggs.

The story is about 16-year-old Jacob Portman (Asa Butterfield), who travels to a Welsh island for answers after his grandfather Abraham Portman (Terence Stamp) is mysteriously killed.

He proceeds to discover an orphanage for “peculiars”, or gifted children, that Abraham had lived in as a child, and eventually meets and defeats a group of monsters who sustain themselves on the eyes of the “peculiar”.

At first glance, one could say this movie gives a typical Burton-esque twist to the X-Men. It is set just prior to the second world war, though the dressing of some characters makes it seem like it was set decades earlier.

To its credit, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children does not fiddle with the original story too much.

It is a solid story with plenty of potential for excitement. The Victorian-style set pieces are vivid and striking, as largely befits a Burton film.

There is plenty of weirdness for the Burton fan as well, complete with a floating girl who has to wear lead shoes, a well-dressed invisible boy, and a little girl with the strength of 10 men.

The monsters are also fairly spectacular, and stride through the film with the same lanky grace that earmark most Burton villains.

On the performances, Butterfield’s protagonist seems to be unperturbed even in the face of absolute danger, though his love interest, Emma Bloom, played by Ella Purnell, could do with a little more expression.

Then we have veteran action star, Samuel L Jackson, who plays chief villain Mr Barron, a role that is reminiscent of his character in 2014’s Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Eva Green as the titular Miss Peregrine is a lot more striking, as she does her best to imbue her orphanage headmistress role with spirit.

The movie is worth watching simply for its uniqueness, and yes, Tim Burton.