Review: ‘Coraline’

Nick:

‘Coraline’ is an amazing movie and an exemplary piece of animation. Directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) and adapted from the book by Neil Gaiman, ‘Coraline’ is a dark fairy tale that’s aimed at what Selick refers to as “brave children.”

I assure you that Selick isn’t joking. ‘Coraline’ is an honestly creepy film, full of strange characters and unsettling images. ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ may have a more macabre aesthetic but ‘Coraline’ has a darker heart. It  is rated PG for “thematic elements, scary images, some language and suggestive humor.”

Remember when a movie with a PG rating could be honest-to-goodness creepy? Remember when a PG rating didn’t necessarily mean that you were about to watch some pandering children’s film? I don’t know about you but ‘Poltergeist’ was nightmare-inducing, ‘Gremlins’ is  mischievously violent and ‘Return to Oz’ is just uncomfortably bizarre… all PG rated films. ‘Coraline’ is their rightful heir.

The story is simple enough. Coraline (Dakota Fanning) yearns for attention from her parents and is bored with the gloomy home they have moved in to. One day, she stumbles across a tiny, unassuming doorway in a corner of the house. She opens it up and enters another world that is a mirror image of the world she left behind, complete with parents that shower her with attention, a jumping mouse circus and a grand theatre with an audience of about 500 Scottish Terriers. It is a little reminiscent of Lewis Carroll, by way of Stephen King.

This new world would be perfect for Coraline if it wasn’t for the fact that her new, “Other” parents want to sew black buttons over her eyes. The young girl wants no part of that particular ritual, and that’s when things start getting creepy.

“Other” mother (an amazing Teri Hatcher) switches into villain mode, and begins to render what was once a magical place to escape to, into a nightmarish horror show you can’t escape from.

Selick has a blistering imagination, whether he’s working towards wonderment or unease. The team of animators working behind the scenes have helped bring that imagination to startling life, achieving some of the finest stop-motion you are ever bound to see.

Fans of the book will notice changes to the text, though nothing changed – or added – becomes detrimental to the story.

My only critique comes in regards to the first act exposition. It felt awkward and gave me pause as to whether I was going to enjoy the film as a whole, though this feeling was deterred as soon as Coraline discovers that little door.

And, finally, do try to see the film in 3-D. The effect is extraordinary. It’s like you are looking into a window of house. The depth of field given to ‘Coraline’ by the Real D process is quite astonishing and something to be treasured on the big screen, much more so than the 3-D schlock gimmicks of “My Bloody Valentine.’

‘Coraline’ is a must see for film buffs, especially fans of animation, though a horror-fiend will probably feel right at home.

[Overall: 4.5 stars out of 5]