Since 1993, a debate has raged over when to watch the stop-motion classic, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. This is, of course, a stupid debate since the correct answer is all the time. However, the perfect time to watch it is right now.
Halloween is newly over, hardly has the sun set on the glorious holiday & yet another has begun! We all know of those who woke up at 6 am last Friday to drag their Christmas trees out of the closet, & grocery stores have been preparing since mid-October. The perfect Halloween hangover, no-it-can’t-be-Christmas-yet cure is this film. Familiar spooky elements combined with the best parts of Christmas means it’s guaranteed to start kindling that holiday spirit while remaining respectful to our dear Halloween. I can’t be the only one who imagines there will be snow on the ground every time I leave the warm, cozy glow of the Rat.
Need MORE reasons?
The music.
“Oogie Boogie’s Song,” “Jack’s Lament,” “What’s This,” “THIS IS HALLOWEEN.” Need I say more?
Jack Effing Skellington.
There’s an entire article explaining why he’s the perfect man for the holiday season (and every season) here.
Catherine O’Hara singing.
Any Schitt’s Creek fans? Moira Rose is shaking when she hears Sally’s Song.
Danny Elfman’s FANTASTIC lyrics.
“And since I am dead, I can take off my head.
To recite Shakespearean quotations.
No animal nor man can scream like I can
With the fury of my recitations.”
I understand that we are hesitant to push the spooky season too far for fear of overdoing it & ruining the greatest season of the year. I too suffer that plight. And that’s what makes this film perfect: it has balance. You’ll have a great time watching it. And, if you, like the Pumpkin King himself, have ever felt “an empty place in my bones that calls out for something unknown,” I can assure you that this movie will fill it.
Enjoy!
P.S. It’s $3.99 to rent on Amazon. Worth it.