And for adults, “A Monster Calls” is a serious drama without the confections that adult dramas usually promise. There’s no sex, violence, sweeping landscapes shot or any other type of escapism.

Kenneth Turan reviews “A Monster Calls,” directed by J.A. Bayona and starring Louis MacDougall, Felicity Jones, Liam Neeson, Sigourney Weaver, Toby Kebbell and Geraldine Chaplin.

From its elegant title to its unexpectedly edgy tone, “A Monster Calls” makes its own way. There is magic, real magic here, and if it doesn’t manifest itself in every frame, it’s just ...