Coraline (2009) Review – A Stunning and Sinister Stop-Motion Masterpiece
Coraline: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A technical marvel and a cornerstone of modern animation that manages to be both whimsical and genuinely terrifying. Coraline (2009) succeeds by treating its young audience with respect, refusing to pull its psychological punches while delivering a visual feast of stop-motion ingenuity. Henry Selick’s direction is masterfully imaginative, creating an immersive world where the “Other Mother” serves as one of cinema’s most chilling maternal antagonists. Teri Hatcher is exceptional, balancing domestic warmth with a jagged, uncanny-valley menace that elevates the film’s stakes. While the 100-minute runtime may test the patience of the youngest viewers during its more theatrical middle-act sequences, the sheer artistry of Laika’s craftsmanship – from the bioluminescent garden to the mechanical mice – is breathtaking. This 4.2 star effort is a mandatory watch for fans of dark fantasy and serves as the definitive gold standard for stop-motion storytelling.
Details: Director: Henry Selick | Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Keith David | Runtime: 1h 40m | Release Date: 2009
Best for: Brave children looking for their first real horror experience, animation enthusiasts, and fans of Neil Gaiman’s dark fantasy worlds.
Worth noting: Each character puppet featured a “seam” across the middle of the face, allowing animators to swap out thousands of 3D-printed mouths and eyes for specific expressions.
Where to Watch: VOD, Amazon🛒
Rating: 4.2/5 Stars
(A masterfully crafted and visually peerless stop-motion nightmare that effectively blends childhood wonder with genuine, button-eyed terror.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are reviewing another classic from Henry Selick – Coraline (2009).
Table of Contents
A haunting yet stunning stop motion classic
Coraline follows the story of an 11-year-old girl (Dakota Fanning) who moves to a new house with her parents. Perpetually bored, she heads out to explore the area around her new home. While outside, she meets Wybie (Robert Bailey Jr.) the grandson of the lady who owns the Pink Apartments where she now lives. Wybie tells Coraline he is not allowed to go to the Pink Apartments due to bad things happening there. With her curiosity piqued, Coraline discovers a hidden door in her dusty old house. She heads through only to find herself in an idealised version of the world but is it not quite as perfect as it seems?
“I seriously think Coraline might be one of the best gateway horror movies ever made. I can’t think of too many better introductions to the genre that an older child could possibly have.”
I’m including this movie because I seriously think it might be one of the best gateway horror movies ever made. I can’t think of too many better introductions to horror that an older child could possibly have. You could throw it in there with movies such as Ghostbusters and Gremlins. It manages to balance a compelling narrative with some serious laughs and some genuine scares with an impressive amount of finesse.
I would actually make the argument that Coraline may even be a bit too scary for younger children. There are a few scenes that are fairly intense and I could imagine it upsetting more sensitive children. What’s crazy about that is that you will probably really enjoy it as well. It’s impossible not to be impressed with the sense of wonder, the glorious art design, and the legitimately sinister plot. Let’s talk about that animation for a moment, though. It’s some of the best I have ever seen.
One of the greatest stop motion films ever made
Meticulously, and painstakingly, filmed entirely in stop motion, Coraline is a spectacular example of how incredible this form of animation can be. Coming from the mind of Henry Selick and Laika studios, what more could you expect but it is still surprising. There are moments during Coraline when you can’t help but marvel at what the animators achieved. This was obviously a labour of love. Some of the perspective shots must have taken so much work and planning. The set design is incredible and the scale of everything is very impressive.
It’s not just the ingenious 3D printed models and environments that stand out, though. It’s the brilliant lighting and camera work, too. One scene where Coraline is walking into the garden in the parallel world features lighting the likes of which I have never seen in stop motion before. The flowers unfurl in a choreographed pattern and it looks breathtaking. Another scene sees Coraline watch a performance from around 50 jumping mice. This scene was done by hand and is not CG. The work that must have gone into this is staggering. It is one of the most impressive things I have ever seen in a stop motion animation.
“Meticulously, and painstakingly, filmed entirely in stop motion, Coraline is a spectacular example of how incredible this form of animation can be. This was obviously a labour of love.”
Coraline maintains that 2000’s trend of making movies for kids with plenty for adults to enjoy. Sure, some of the humour is a little cheeky and based on innuendo but the movie is actually compelling enough to keep adults engaged. I would wager that some of the horror elements will actually surprise adult horror fans. Some of the imagery and scenarios are genuinely creepy and the Beldam’s spider like visage is truly horrifying.
Excellent voice acting
Coraline is a well voice acted movie. Dakota Fanning, as Coraline Jones, is decent and fits the role well. Her scream is like nails on a chalkboard, however, and may be the most unpleasant sound ever put to film. It’s actually 90’s bombshell Teri Hatcher, believe it or not, who steals the show here. Her performance as Coraline’s mum, other mum, and The Beldam is absolutely brilliant. She mixes caring mother with a sort of uncanny valley sinister tone and is just fantastic. I couldn’t think of anyone who would be better in the role. She is great.
Coraline also features a strong supporting cast featuring a few Brits including the excellent Ian McShane and the comedy duo turned successful actors Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Keith David’s turn as the Cat is a genius casting choice and works so well. Dawn French is probably the weakest member of the cast, to be honest, and I say that as a huge fan. She hams it up just a little too much and, compared to Jennifer Saunders who is an excellent voice actor, she stands out as being just a tad pantomime.
Perhaps a little slow paced
Coraline is, perhaps, a little on the slow side. This was our third or fourth time watching it and, if I am honest, this is the first time I didn’t mentally drift off for awhile. Hands up, I have bipolar disorder and I do sometimes struggle with keeping focus on movies but Coraline lost me at one point every time I have watched. This may be a problem with small children who struggle to keep attention.
“Some genuinely scary scenes and fantastic horror imagery are enough to qualify Coraline as a horror movie. It has plenty to offer adult fans without ever resorting to toilet humour.”
My friend watched with his kids, however, and they absolutely loved Coraline. There were no issues with boredom at all so it may just be a me problem. I do think there are a few scenes that drag on a bit, however. Despite being a visual feast, the scene with the jumping mice is fairly dull.
There is another similar scene with April and Miriam performing Burlesque that is also a little less interesting and magical than others. It’s not that these scenes are bad, they are just not as interesting or fantastical as Coraline visiting the garden. I think cutting 20 minutes off the run time would have improved pacing a lot. These are tiny complaints, however. Coraline is fantastic.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Peerless Animation: The level of detail and technical skill on display from Laika Studios is breathtaking, setting a high bar for stop-motion.
- Teri Hatcher: Delivers a phenomenal voice performance, transitioning seamlessly from a harried mother to a truly sinister, arachnid-like villain.
- Atmospheric Dread: The film successfully creates a sense of “uncanny valley” discomfort that makes its horror elements feel uniquely disturbing.
The Bad
- Pacing Lags: At 1 hour 40 minutes, the film can feel slightly overlong for a younger audience, particularly during the theatrical middle segments.
- Underdeveloped Scenes: While visually stunning, sequences like the jumping mice or the burlesque show don’t drive the plot forward as effectively as others.
- Distracting Audio: Coraline’s high-pitched scream, while authentic to the character, is physically unpleasant to listen to on multiple occasions.
The Ugly: The Button Eyes. The central concept of sewing buttons into a child’s eyes remains one of the most viscerally creepy ideas ever put into a family-oriented film.
Should You Watch Coraline?
Yes, absolutely. It is a 4.2 star film that represents a peak of modern animation. Whether you are a horror fan looking for a “cozy” nightmare or an animation buff who appreciates technical mastery, Coraline is essential. It is the rare film that bridges the gap between generations, providing genuine scares for kids and profound artistic value for adults. If you can handle the slow pace in the middle, you’ll find a dark, rewarding journey into a world where being careful what you wish for is a life-or-death struggle.
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