CINEMAS are awash with two things of late: films to make you cry and (if you attend my local multiplex), my tears after watching them, writes Jason Day.

A Monster Calls has a couple of strong-hanky-needed moments as well as some beautifully animated fantasy stories related by a tree monster, voiced by Liam Neeson but resembling an Ent from Lord Of the Rings.

The monster calls to help troubled teenager Conor (Lewis MacDougal), who needs all the help he can get.

He deals with horrific high school bullies, his mother (Felicity Jones) is dying and the only family he has are a distant father (Toby Kebble) and a monstrously tidy, emotionally constipated grandmother (Sigourney Weaver).

There is a strong whiff of familiarity with this film in look, style and theme, but not one to breed too much contempt.

The acting is strong, the effects stunning and MacDougal as the lead star is quite a find.

Definitely one to take the older kids too (rated 12a).