The gothic fable A Monster Calls, adapted from the novel by Patrick Ness, tells the story of a young boy (newcomer Lewis MacDougall) dealing with his mom's (Felicity Jones, also in this month's Rogue One) cancer and his dad's (Toby Kebbell) move from England to America. Grandma (Sigourney Weaver) has little sympathy and fewer kind words. It's no wonder, then, that Conor finds solace in a friend -- who happens to be a giant tree voiced by Liam Neeson.

In this clip, watch what happens when the tree comes to Conor's aid in an encounter with a bully in the lunchroom. A Monster Calls opens in limited theaters December 23, and everywhere on January 6.