When dads are away, hobgoblins will play. That, in somewhat condensed form, is the theme of "The Spiderwick Chronicles," a kids' fantasy adventure that links the absence of male role models to the appearance of nasty, family-threatening imps, bratty ogres and resentful misbehavior among latchkey children. On second thought, maybe that's not so farfetched after all.

The film stars the capable young actor Freddie Highmore, twice, as Jared and Simon Grace, identical in appearance but opposite in behavior. They, along with older sister Mallory (Sarah Bolger) and their stressed-out mom (Mary-Louise Parker), relocate to the abandoned boondocks mansion of their great-uncle, after Dad's departure leaves them unable to continue living in New York.

The long-vanished uncle, Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn), an eccentric naturalist, fit the family pattern of unreliable fathering. He spent his days in an attic full of spooky taxidermied oddities, neglecting his only child, Lucinda, eventually disappearing without a trace. Lucinda (played as an adult by Joan Plowright) explained to investigators that dandelion-fluff pixies carried Father away; the authorities promptly carried her to the loony bin.

Jared discovers the truth when he locates Arthur's notebooks, a field guide to mystical beasties invisible to mortal eyes. With the aid of a magical monocle, Jared observes this wild kingdom of chimeras plotting to invade the mansion and seize the book that contains their secrets. He unravels the plan with help from Thimbletack (voiced by Martin Short), an excitable house elf, and Hogsqueal (Seth Rogen), a gruff hobgoblin. Unfortunately, Jared's a troublemaker with no credibility. If his goody-goody twin Simon won't believe him, who will?

The story evolves into a scary-but-safe siege of the house, sour-tempered mini-monsters being held at bay by kids hurling baggies of tomato sauce (which causes severe heartburn in trolls). While this supernatural "Home Alone" scenario is trite, the story generates surprising emotional power with its portrayal of feckless or menacing father figures. Arthur Spiderwick, through his butterfly-chasing heedlessness, opens a Pandora's Box of trouble, while literally winding up with his head in the clouds.

The villain is Mulgrath, a fearsome shape-shifter played by Nick Nolte, who serves as a spookhouse reflection of the kids' absentee father. The anger that is a familiar response of children injured in divorce wars is acted out here in terms that mental-health professionals would find telling: Jared lashes out against Mulgrath in an attack of appalling intensity. Director Mark Waters ("Mean Girls," "Freaky Friday") and scripters John Sayles, Karey Kirkpatrick and David Berenbaum know that when it comes to scaring today's kids, the Brothers Grimm have nothing on Dr. Freud.

Colin Covert • 612-673-7186