SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES — ★ ★ ★ — Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn, Seth Rogen, Martin Short; rated PG (violence, mild profanity, vulgarity)

"The Spiderwick Chronicles" is probably the creepiest, most disturbing, PG-rated kids film to come along since the 2006 animated feature "Monster House."

In fact, there a couple of intense, violent moments in this film that suggests it should have received a less-family-friendly PG-13 rating instead.

And yet, it's also the best fantasy movie to come along in a while. "Spiderwick" is miles better than the yawn-inducing adaptation of "The Golden Compass." It's smart, thrilling and funny, and it even features a good message about the importance of family.

Freddie Highmore plays two roles, those of twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace. Jared is particularly unhappy when his mother, Helen (Mary-Louise Parker), moves them and their older sister, Mallory (Sarah Bolger), into an old family mansion.

In between moping and squabbling with Mallory, Jared finds a mysterious book containing information on brownies, sylphs, griffins, hobgoblins, ogres, trolls and other creatures supposedly inhabiting the grounds.

However, there's another person, or something, that's looking for this "field guide" — a shape-changing ogre named Molgarath (the image and voice of Nick Nolte), who's willing to kill to get it.

Director Mark Waters ("Mean Girls") and three credited screenwriters have captured the feel and spirit of Tony DeTerlizzi and Holly Black's best-selling book series.

And there are some very good computer-generated special effects (as compared to the fuzzily rendered ones in "Golden Compass").

The film also has a very good cast. Highmore is a likable presence, as is Bolger. And the live supporting cast features Parker, David Straithairn and Joan Plowright, while Seth Rogen and Martin Short bolster the voice cast.

"The Spiderwick Chronicles" is rated PG for strong scenes of violent fantasy action (child-in-peril elements, creature attacks and some violence against women), vulgar flatulence humor (as well as some creature goo), scattered mild profanity (mostly religion-based), and derogatory slurs. Running time: 97 minutes.

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