The Nightmare Before Christmas: Tim Burton's Spooky Delight

 


As it is nearing the end of October, I feel it appropriate to discuss a Halloween classic.

 The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop motion animated movie from 1993. Directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton. Their wonderfully eerie style emanates from the screen.

The film follows Jack Skellington the ‘Pumpkin King’ of Halloween Town. We find that Jack has become jaded with Halloween, sick of doing the same thing every year. While wandering through the woods Jack finds a tree with a door on it. After entering, he finds himself enamoured within a world of Christmas Joy. Jack gleefully tells the townsfolk all about Christmas. Eventually Jack and the Halloween Town residents decide to take Santa’s place and deliver their own spooky version of Christmas which ends up failing hilariously.

 

I love this movie, it’s such a pleasure to put on every year between October and December.

The film is full of iconic character designs such as Oogie Boogie and Jack Skellington who are wonderfully animated using stop motion puppetry. The design of Halloween town is one of my favourite aspects of the film. I love the aesthetic of the ash black hills swirling in on themselves, illuminated by a moonlit sky. It’s reminiscent of Starry Night by Van Gogh if it were mixed with the creepy edge of Junji Ito’s Uzumaki.

The soundtrack is great. Written Danny Elfman each song does a great job of conveying the feelings and emotions of the characters throughout the story. The characters are interesting and engaging thanks to the voice talents of Chris Sarandon as Jack who is a joy to watch, as well as Catherine O’Hara as Sally who does a good job playing the voice of reason throughout the film as Jack learns to accept who he is.

This movie is just pain fun. If you are looking for something good to watch this Halloween (or Christmas) season I believe this film to be a solid choice.

 


If you are a fan of stop motion animation, then check out my review of Fantastic Mr. Fox.

 

Have you seen this film? What did you think of it? Tell me in the comments below.

If you liked this review, then don’t forget to share it with someone else.

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    1. Great read. Will definitely have to give it a watch after this insightful review.

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