‘Odd Thomas’ comes from the books by horror writer Dean Koontz. The series based on a man who sees ghosts finally gets his big screen break and with Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, Van Helsing) it’s safe to say that the dark material will somehow be toned down for a teen audience.

 

Odd (Anton Yelchin) is a chef in small town Pico Mundo. In his own words, “I’m not a celebrity, not the child of a celebrity and never been married to, abused by or provided a kidney to a celebrity, but I do lead an unusual life… I may see dead people, but then by God do I do something about it.” In one statement the style, tone and setting are made. ‘The Sixth Sense’ meets ‘Dexter’ as Odd’s gift leads him to a paedophile murderer and after an extensive smash up.

 

Fortunately, Odd has police chief Wyatt Porter (Willem Defoe) on side who understands his gift and passes a blind eye, knowing Odd takes one bad guy off the streets makes his job that more easier. Without complicating his life any further, he takes residency as a chef in a fast food bar and is destined to be together forever with his childhood sweetheart, Stormy (Addison Timlin).

 

But simple doesn’t last forever and when Odd starts seeing the future deaths of the townsfolk as well as the gathering of Bodach’s (paranormal entities attracted to evil and stay around when death is nearby) throw Odd’s world into turmoil. All of the clues leading to a large massacre, Odd must find out what is going to happen, and how on this world he can defeat it.

 

Everything about ‘Odd Thomas’ flows seamlessly from page to screen but with Sommer’s behind the camera, the diluted outcome feels more teen than the books entail. From the plucky guitar string soundtrack and the sickly sweet romance to the slithering Bodach’s who don’t bring half as much terror as the shadows depicted in the book. The Dementor’s in ‘Harry Potter’ are also fitting for a 12A rating yet strike more fear than anything here.

 

It’s hard to fault the styling and the content fits so perfectly in Sommers hands and much like his résumé of turning horror classics into teen adventures, the same has happened here. When something as devastating as the massacre of the mall turns into a careless motion, the fear is erased and much like how Odd has adapted to his gift, it’s so easily to fall into the charm of ‘Odd Thomas’.

 

The lead up to the big finally becomes nothing more than a little entertaining and like Odd, you find it impossible to dislike this friendly adventure that uses its quirky style to win over an audience, not the horror that it could have been.