What’s this, what’s this? (See what I did there).
A brilliant Halloween/Christmas film? Or both.
Yeah, I’ll get my coat.
24 years? Really? Well, despite that shocking revelation, The Nightmare Before Christmas is still a beautifully creepy, macabre (get me with the fancy words), musical masterpiece that I would happily watch again and again. And again. You get the idea.
It had been a while since I last viewed this with the family, but as soon as the opening song began, my feet were tapping and I was singing along, much to my parents’ annoyance. Once I got over the depressing fact that this film is as old as my little bro. Yikes.
I’m surprised that the West End or Broadway haven’t adapted this to the stage. I’m sure they did something at Disney for the 20th anniversary? BUT I digress . . .
We join Jack Skellington in the wonderfully gruesome Halloween Town as he battles the growing anxiety that something is missing in his life. Unhappy, he stumbles across doors that open portals to other towns, one being Christmas Town.
Elated that he may have found that missing link, Skellington tries to explain the concept of Christmas to the ghastly town with eerily hilarious consequences. A particular highlight being a little boy unwrapping a shrunken head, a very hungry Christmas wreath and toys that don’t quite gasp the concept of “play time”.
It may be a little frightening for children of a younger age. Saying that, my brother’s nearly 24 and it still freaks him out! Funny enough, this never did for me. (As a side note, the one that did was Toy Story. I know, right? Sid and Scud scared me and oh God, Babyface. Still shudder now, just typing the name).
Understandable that this world could only be brought to the screen by none other than Tim ‘Beetlejuice’ Burton and Henry ‘Coraline’ Selick.
BUT the pair fill these delicately creepy characters with such life and heart that make them so funny and entertaining from the delightfully satirical two faced Mayor (Glenn Shadix) to the (appropriately titled) Evil Scientist (William Hickey) with an abnormally sized cranium.
Packed with a wonderfully musical soundtrack by, one on the Burton checklist, Danny Elfman (who actually sang for Skellington. Sorry, Chris Sarandon fans).
I always use the excuse that this is a seasonal film just to watch it. Well it does feature Halloween, Christmas and Easter (well it’s got the Easter Bunny in it!) and . . . It doesn’t matter a film like this can be watched anytime.
Beautifully haunting, great songs, great story, just a great film.
5/5 (Whatttt?)
Oh, a little parting gift as I can’t get this out of my head now . . .
The MAD MOVIE RANTER 
Just realized I have never seen this film, but I’m VERY keen to see it now, thanks to your review. Thanks!
No worries. Thank you very much. If you’re a fan of Burton, a must see!
Reblogged this on The MAD MOVIE RANTER.
I think I did a short review of this last year and queried a possible plot flaw with in regards to Jack and Oogie-Boogie.
No way? I knew there were articles about the time frame in which Boogie’s Boys would have captured and eaten Santy Claws a long time before Jack would have been able to save the day.
I was curious that if Jack is the Pumpkin King of Halloween… Why is everyone so scared of Oogie-Boogie? Jack clearly does not want Oogie involved in the scheme
Good point. The Mayor was petrified of Oogie-Boogie but Jack never was.
He saw Oogie as an inconvenience and wasn’t afraid to sort him out when things went awry. The only theory I have is that Jack asked for volunteers to capture Santy Claws because if Jack knew they were Boogie’s Boys; firstly why hire them? And second; why did they introduce themselves to him?
Once the Mayor mentioned Oogie, Jack warned them not to involve him. Pressed for time as it was Xmas eve. Hence the theories about poor timing.
Either way messy plotting. Might have mark this down to a 4.5 now haha.
I put it down to the town being more interested in the Theatrics of Halloween rather than actually going around being scary people
Yeah true. Their intentions with the gifts weren’t meant to scare. That was their idea of presents. Definitely into the theatrics. This just makes me want to watch the film again.
Oogie is clearly more a more sinister operative. His lair is pretty much an LSD induced nightmare take on a Vegas casino
Haha I never thought of Oogie’s lair like it but you’re right, it totally does! Defo the most sinister of the bunch.
Lol when I want to I can turn a colourful phrase