Day 9: The Nightmare Before Christmas
There has been debate over whether this is a Halloween or Christmas film. Though the story starts at about 11:56pm (it starts in Hallowe'en minutes before it's over) as it ends on Christmas Eve, it is usually seen as a Christmas film. However it is a fun film to watch form 31st October to 25th December. Of course it's a fun film any time in the year but it makes sense to watch it during the season.
Classed as an old film now, being released in 1993 (way to make me feel old!) it is original enough to not really be dated. Yes the stop-motion animation is notably free of CGI, but in a way I feel it makes it better. I could be biased. It is a PG (I don't really know the equivalent in other counties) which means it's probably unsuitable for children under 8. I wasn't allowed to watch it when it first came out but managed at a friend's house. I was under eight at the time and there were some elements I found a little scary so the certificate is probably accurate.
This film is mainly set in three locations. Halloween town, Christmas Town and the real world. In the film it is suggested that all the holidays have their own individual towns where the residents spend the year planning for the next time their holiday comes around. These worlds are entered through doors in trees.
As this is an American film, the holidays are Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Easter, St Patricks Day (it still seems odd to me that so many people celebrate this day) and, of course, Hallowe'en. At the beginning of the film we come to this circle of trees and enter through the Jack 'O Lantern door to come to Halloween town. This effect is ruined slightly when the main character, Jack Skellington, comes to these trees (minus the Halloween one) later by merely walking far enough. The only doors we, as an audience go through, are the Halloween and Christmas ones.
The main premise, without giving too much away, is that Jack, who is the Pumpkin King starts to tire of both his title and the holiday itself. He goes through a crisis where he starts to feel empty. Going for a walk he comes upon the holiday trees and opens the Christmas one, after falling down (Alice down the rabbit hole style) he discovers Christmas town and is struck by the difference between this town and his. Exploring the town and feeling his emptiness fading, Jack decides he wants to plan and celebrate Christmas. It boasts a stellar soundtrack (Danny Elfman) including songs such 'This is Halloween' to start, 'Jack's Lament', 'What's This?' (a fan favourite) to name a few.
Like I said, a Christmas film it is but one we can watch at any time of the year. It is a dark film, we have come to expect this from Tim Burton after all. It has elements of abuse, death and abduction in it, definitely not a film for a younger audience. I suppose it is a dark comedy mostly. It has moments of horror, violence and romance. While aimed at older children and teenagers, it is a family film to a point. Adults can enjoy it as much as younger people.
For a bit of a change perhaps listen to the Nightmare Revisited soundtrack. An Album released in 2008 for the 15th Anniversary of the film it features Marilyn Manson singing 'This is Halloween', Fatboy Slim 'What's This?' and Amy Lee 'Sally's Song' as well as All American Rejects, Korn and others. A good film to watch during or post Halloween, for us dark people who maybe wish Christmas could be a little darker, this is one of the best Christmas films. Unlike Die Hard and Gremlins, it is actually about Christmas, not just set then. I do know this is 31 Days of Halloween, not 31 Days of Christmas, but I couldn't let this season path without having at least some mention of the Pumpkin King.
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