When you break down the movie Coraline, it doesn’t have the same elements as your typical, cult-favourite horror film. It’s not gory at all and there are no jump scares, yet it always seems to cement its place as one of my favourite films in the genre. The seemingly ordinary film is filled with subtle quirks and complex scenes that make it spooky and bone-chilling.
This kids’ stop-motion film is based on a book of the same title written by Neil Gaiman. The film adaptation is directed by Henry Selick and features well-known actors like Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders and many more.
It follows the protagonist Coraline, a young girl who moves into the Pink Palace Apartments in Ashland, Oregon. Her parents aren’t portrayed as warm or loving; they have a somewhat distant approach to parenting. They seem to be so immersed in their work-life that they barely have any time to spend with Coraline. This lack of attention causes Coraline to feel unhappy and bored, especially in a new city. Not to mention, Ashland, Oregon, is shown to be a dull and lifeless area. This seemingly monotonous storyline takes a drastic turn as the story progresses. Coraline’s average life is transformed into an adventure that includes an alternate reality with loving parents, button eyes, a secret door and several strange prophecies.
To say this movie is one-of-a-kind is a severe understatement. But what makes this movie so remarkable?
The success of this haunting masterpiece can be attributed to three significant factors:
Slow-burn technique
Coraline is quite a slow-paced film. If you are impatient when it comes to watching movies, I wouldn’t recommend this one. It’s one hour and 40 minutes and it takes its sweet time to build up the plot. The slow-burn technique might feel irritating at first, but it’s essentially what makes the movie a hit. The audience goes on this surreal journey with Coraline, with barely any idea of what is to unravel.
We understand there’s something wrong from the get-go, but we are never explicitly told. We feel trapped with Coraline and are eager to learn more; we are just as curious as she is.
Brilliant stop-motion
The stop-motion film beautifully captures the creepiness that author Neil Gaiman encapsulates in his work. In addition, the use of colour and detailed set designs make the film pleasing to the eye. It took four years to finish this masterpiece for that very reason.
You feel a sense of gloom and loneliness when glancing at the lacklustre Pink Palace Apartments. You get an uncanny feeling watching the seemingly-familiar characters turn monstrous.
Complexities
Coraline isn’t your typical one-dimensional storyline where the mystery is resolved at the end and everything goes back to normal. Rather, this film is filled with weird twists and loose ends. A quick film search on Reddit will uncover a plethora of fan theories.
Though we can simplify this story to be a tale about a neglected young girl, there is so much more to it. We still have a wide array of unexplainable characters and scenes, like the weird doll, the strange Russian neighbour, the mouse circus, the fortune-telling, dancing Pink Ladies – you name it! In the end, the audience takes away what they want from the film, given its evident ambiguity.
Coraline is a hauntingly-beautiful tale that deserves all the attention it receives. Be sure to watch the film. I’d love to hear any theories you may have!