Halloween is one of the best holidays to ever exist. We get to eat candy, dress up in costumes to go trick-or-treating and play pranks. It’s basically Christmas for emo people.
Though the ultra best thing about it is the movies, that you just have to sit down and watch them every year in October… maybe during Thanksgiving too.
The whole point of Halloween movies is the aesthetic they give off. Some are horror like “The Exorcist,” there are slasher franchises like “Scream,” or there are comedy movies like “Scary Movie.”
The only movie that seems to have a deep scary plot, an otherworldly essence, iconic figures and is able to have both child and adult-targeted audiences is “Coraline.”
Coraline (the character), even from the beginning, was known to be an iconic figure. Her name is an essential part of her identity, as it differs from the generic name Caroline which everyone loves and knows. She has vibrant blue hair unlike any other character in the movie, and a quirky sassy attitude that shows she’s always the boss. She held her own the entire movie, when facing the Other Mother (who is another cool ass character) and giving back quick comebacks to Why-were-you-born (Wybie).
The Other Mother or The Beldam was another iconic figure that made the movie way better. At first she was so sweet and pretty, giving Coraline attention and love for once in her life. But her plot twist had me interested for days as she transformed from a caring mother to a button-eyed freak. She lured children in with everything they’ve ever dreamed of in exchange for buttons as eyes–not knowing they were also giving up their souls. And honestly, she had me convinced of her trickery at the ripe age of 10 as I was ready to have dark red button eyes for that meal she prepared with the gravy train.
But there was also a deeper intensity when analyzing the atmosphere of the movie. There was an attention to detail that made the movie more captivating. When traveling through the tiny door, the whole world shifts as it’s a better replica of the “real” world—the bland colors of the "real" world contrasted with the eerie vibrance of the “Other” world—bringing such a scary and “spooky” feeling that represents Halloween so perfectly.
The soundtrack of the movie added a new layer to the movie as well. The spooky songs made the scenes way better to watch because even when she was exploring the “real” world, you were always on your toes. And the amazing “Other Father Song” by They Might Be Giants is one of the most iconic songs ever. I still sing it every now and then.
Though there is a deeper meaning to the story as well. There are the apparent themes of bravery, self-discovery, and childhood loss. Coraline faced her fears to beat the Other Mother as her parents were kidnapped and had to face an adventure of finding the eyes of the lost souls that the Other Mother had taken. She realized an imaginary world wasn’t what she wanted, which for both adults and kids is a necessary reminder that life shouldn’t be easy and that there should be an “easy way out.”
Coraline is an all time favorite, as we all remember watching it as a kid scared of the Other Mother stealing our parents, or now as adults loving the dark aesthetic of it with our own black cat to cuddle with. It goes to show that Halloween isn’t always about screaming-our-lungs-out horror, but it can actually be about plot and supernatural fantasy elements that make Halloween… Halloween. It’s the perfect movie for the perfect holiday.
There are also extra points given because it was based on the novella “Coraline” by Neil Gaiman–and everyone knows movies that were books originally make the experience even better.
Amy Aracena is a copy editor and can be reached at amy.aracena@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Photo courtesy of Clyde (@chemical.trails)
