The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Review – A Gothic Holiday Masterpiece
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A visually breathtaking and emotionally resonant masterpiece that stands as one of the greatest stop-motion achievements in cinematic history. The Nightmare Before Christmas succeeds by perfectly balancing gothic horror aesthetics with a heartwarming and humorous holiday story. Henry Selick’s meticulous direction, combined with Tim Burton’s unique character designs, creates a world that is both eerie and enchanting. The film serves as an ideal gateway into horror for younger audiences, introducing genre tropes through the charismatic Jack Skellington. Danny Elfman’s iconic score and unforgettable songs provide the perfect heartbeat for the narrative, ensuring it remains an absolute joy to watch every season. While it is not a traditional horror film, its inclusion of macabre themes and creature designs – like the fiendish Oogie Boogie – gives it plenty of genre weight. This 4.5 star effort is a technical marvel that has rightfully earned its status as a timeless holiday classic. It is a work of pure creative genius that deserves a spot in every film collection. Simply put, it is essential viewing for anyone who loves the magic of the movies.
Details: Director: Henry Selick | Cast: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, Ken Page | Runtime: 1h 16m | Release Date: 1993
Best for: Families, fans of gothic art, and anyone looking for a film that effortlessly bridges the gap between Halloween and Christmas.
Worth noting: Tim Burton did not direct the film due to his commitments to Batman Returns, though his influence is visible in every frame.
Where to Watch: Disney+, Amazon🛒
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
(A technical and musical triumph that perfectly blends festive cheer with gothic horror imagery, creating a timeless and visually stunning holiday classic.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are checking out Tim Burton’s Gothic stop-motion musical The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).
Table of Contents
I know, it’s not really horror!
I suppose you could call this cheating a little. The Nightmare Before Christmas is not technically horror. It is, however, filled with horror themes. Some of the characters could have been ripped out of a 30s Universal Pictures movie. I believe some of the later scenes absolutely show a horror influence, as well.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas is not technically horror, but it is filled with genre themes. Disney even thought this would be too scary for children, releasing it under Touchstone Pictures.”
You can’t tell me Oogie Boogie isn’t horror 101 for kids! It’s worth noting the fact that Disney thought this would be too scary for children. With this in mind, they released it under their Touchstone Pictures label. Surely that counts for inclusion on this website?
The Nightmare Before Christmas is based on a 1982 poem by Tim Burton. Burton had wanted to develop a short film of the poem for quite a while. It wasn’t until 1990 that he actually struck a deal to bring it to the big screen. With Henry Selick set to direct, the movie was greenlit and production started in the summer of 1991. 120 workers filmed and animated on 20 sound stages to bring Nightmare to life. The result was a movie that is tremendously well-regarded to this day.
It’s very unique
Blending horror with sentiment and good cheer, The Nightmare Before Christmas felt like no other children’s movie around at the time. Taking place predominantly in Halloween Town, the residents are a collection of horrific-looking characters with good hearts. Jack Skellington is the leader of the community and everybody looks to him for guidance. Jack is feeling a little lacking in enthusiasm so he sets about stealing Christmas to mix things up a little. His vision of Christmas however, is a little different from most people’s.
It doesn’t sound scary and it isn’t, but this is the perfect gateway movie into horror for young kids. There are plenty of genre themes and characters but the whole thing is presented with just enough sugar to make it charming rather than frightening.
“The stop-motion animation was enormously ahead of its time. It set a benchmark that would take decades to match and might never have been truly beaten.”
The story is one that examines morals in a very clear manner, as well. Jack’s intentions are good but he is unwittingly selfish. It’s a great way to frame an important lesson about considering others. It’s also just a perfect film for kids at heart to enjoy on a surface level, too.
Utterly stunning visual and songs
It looks bloody glorious, too. Henry Selick worked wonders on this movie. In fact, I would say it might only be surpassed by his later hit Coraline. The stop-motion animation was enormously ahead of its time. It set a benchmark that would take decades to match and might never have been truly beaten.
The animation is fantastically smooth, the locations are incredibly well-lit and impressively detailed, characters are wonderfully expressive, and the movement is never jerky or awkward. Accompanied by Danny Elfman’s tremendous score, it is a visual feast – certainly one of the greatest-looking stop-motion movies of all time.
Speaking of music, due to the song-filled nature of the movie, many of the scenes feature complicated choreography. It’s hard not to appreciate the scope of these parts. It’s incredibly impressive. Later scenes featuring Jack and the villainous Oogie Boogie are particularly noteworthy. The lighting is a joy to behold and the work involved is rather breathtaking, particularly when you consider the medium. It is brilliantly well done and still one of the best examples of the genre.
Brilliant voice acting
The Nightmare Before Christmas is headed up by some excellent voice performances. We recently reviewed the fantastic Fright Night starring Chris Sarandon. Well, he is back here as the voice of Jack and I absolutely love his performance. It is perfectly fitting for the charismatic Pumpkin King.
Needing to express different emotions with just his voice, Jack experiences wonder, amazement, regret, and everything in between with perfect clarity. It definitely can’t be easy. Sarandon nails it wonderfully, however. His voice performance makes Jack an even easier character to like. Danny Elfman would provide the voice of Jack during songs but it’s not a notable difference. They blend together perfectly.
“Chris Sarandon is back as the voice of Jack, and I absolutely love his performance. It is perfectly fitting for the charismatic Pumpkin King.”
There is a fantastic cast of brilliantly voiced side characters in Nightmare, as well. Particular note goes to the late Glenn Shadix as the Mayor of Halloween Town. A fantastic actor, his character doesn’t feature heavily but many of his lines are very memorable.
Danny Elfman joins in every now and then as a few side characters. He has impressive vocal range that is most apparently on show as The Clown with the Tearaway Face. William Hickey has an understated part as Dr. Finkelstein. Ken Page (recently passed away in October 2024) plays the sinister Oogie Boogie and almost steals not only Santa but the show as well. His booming voice lends itself perfectly to the fiendish character.
It’s hilarious throughout
The impressive voice performances extend to Danny Elfman’s magical soundtrack. Initially poorly received, it went on to become one of the most iconic of all time. It is almost impossible not to have some of the songs stuck in your head after watching. It’s literal earworm after earworm. What’s surprising is the way Elfman has managed to craft humour into so many of the songs as well as actual emotion. All of it really adds to just what a hilarious movie this is.
It features subtle cheeky jokes aimed at adults as well as stuff purely to make the kids laugh. It is full of wonderful little touches that keep you chuckling throughout. The humour is always well-spirited, too. Nightmare never feels a need to go to the bottom of the barrel to provoke a laugh. It’s a simple thing but Jack Skellington pricking his finger on a needle is a great example. It is ridiculous but always makes me laugh. These small bits of attention to detail are much appreciated and keep the mood light.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Stunning Animation: The stop-motion work is flawless, offering a level of detail and fluid movement that still sets the industry standard.
- Iconic Soundtrack: Danny Elfman’s songs are true earworms, blending dark humour with genuine emotion to create an unforgettable musical experience.
- Gateway Horror: It is the perfect movie for introducing children to macabre themes without being truly frightening or overwhelming.
The Bad
- Middle Sag: The pacing slows down slightly during the transition from Halloween Town to Christmas Town, though it quickly recovers.
- Variable Songs: While most tracks are classics, a couple of the smaller musical numbers aren’t quite as memorable as the heavy hitters.
- Short Runtime: At just over 75 minutes, the world is so captivating that many viewers will find themselves wishing they could spend more time there.
The Ugly: The Unmasking of Oogie Boogie. The final revelation of what lies beneath the burlap sack is a genuinely gross and effectively “horror” moment for kids.
Should You Watch The Nightmare Before Christmas?
Yes. It is a 4.5 star film that belongs on every “must-watch” list. Whether you are celebrating Halloween, Christmas, or just want to see a technical marvel of animation, this movie delivers on every front. It is charming, witty, and visually glorious. There are very few films that manage to be this unique and well-executed. It is a holiday tradition that never gets old.
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