WNN Monday Movie Review: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Cherryville, NC (WNN) - Welcome back to your weekly WNN Monday Movie Review!  With Halloween just two weeks away, we're celebrating October with a spooky classic: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).  Since this is an older film, spoilers lie ahead. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Released in theaters on October 29, 1993, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop-motion animated musical created by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick.  The film explores the worlds of Halloween and Christmas, asking: What happens when two very different holidays collide?

A film still from The Nightmare Before Christmas

Credit: IMDb

Rated PG, the film features spooky character designs and eerie imagery, beginning with the opening musical number, "This is Halloween," which sets the tone for the rest of the movie.  The song introduces viewers to Halloweentown, a place filled with unusual characters, including its public figure, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King.  Jack Skellington has two voice actors.  Chris Sarandon provides Jack's speaking voice, while Danny Elfman performs his singing voice.

Moral of the Story

The film begins with Jack questioning his role in Halloweentown.  Despite being admired as the Pumpkin King, he feels there must be something more to his life than repeating the same Halloween traditions year after year.  His perspective changes after discovering Christmastown.  At its core, the film explores the struggle with identity.  This conflict is especially apparent in the song "Jack's Lament." Jack learns that finding fulfillment isn't about abandoning who you are; it's about discovering a new meaning in the person you already are. 

Visual Style

One of the reasons The Nightmare Before Christmas stands out from other family-friendly Halloween movies is its distinctive visual style, which draws on German Expressionism.

This movement influenced filmmaking during the 1910s and 1920s, and is exemplified by the 1920 German film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, directed by Robert Wiene.  German Expressionist films used exaggerated shapes, sharp angles, and dramatic shadows to create unsettling atmospheres and to express emotion.

Credit: IMDb

These techniques are used throughout The Nightmare Before Christmas, from the buildings of Halloweentown to the exaggerated designs of its characters.  Its visual style helps establish the film's personality and sets it apart from more traditionally animated holiday movies.

The Hoot Review Scale

• 5 Hoots - Outstanding filmmaking with emotional or cultural impact
• 4 hoots - Great movie with some minor flaws.  Would recommend to a friend.
• 3 Hoots.  Enjoyable, but not groundbreaking. 
• 2 Hoots - It was okay, but it falls short of expectations or potential. 
• 1 Hoot - Weak story and/or poor execution. 

3 Hoots

I would give The Nightmare Before Christmas 3 Hoots.  Whether you watch it around Halloween or Christmas, it's an enjoyable film with a memorable soundtrack and a distinctive visual style.  If you have not heard of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, I recommend watching it as it is an important piece of cinema that has influenced many films over the years. You can watch here on YouTube.

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