Revisiting “The Nightmare Before Christmas”: This Film Never Ceases to Charm

I have never chatted with others about a film as universally adored as “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” I wouldn’t call it a “cult classic,” because it did pretty well in theaters, but it has a very “2000s emo’s favorite movie” vibe that’s persisted since its release in 1993. But even as a non-emo (at least I don’t think I am), this film is endlessly charming, and I always make sure to revisit it around Halloween. I think “Home Alone” and “Klaus” are the only other films my family makes sure to watch on an annual basis.

I don’t need to give a synopsis of this film; everyone and their cool aunt have already seen it. But using a stop-motion style (something often associated with classic Christmas shorts) in a Halloween-themed setting is so fun to look at. The characters’ squashed and stretched proportions make all their designs fun to watch move, and the sets are made with such an attention to detail that blow my brains out every time I view this film. The songs are all well-utilized and super memorable (Sally’s Song, “What’s This”, and “Oogie-Boogie’s Song” are my favorites). The final battle’s neon casino-inspired imagery combines two of my favorite aesthetics, making it one of my favorite scenes.

I won’t pretend this is a perfect film, as I think the short length makes it feel a bit rushed. It had plenty of “leftover time” to stretch out and breathe a little bit. But for a tinier project, this is bursting with personality from every possible seam. It’s got a lot of heart, and despite the horror setting, it’s an overall super feel-good movie, which helps me get in the mood to be nicer than usual during Christmas time. Oh jeez, maybe I am an emo after all … 

Drew Hickman is a Junior

Communication Major from

Shawnee, Kansas