The Wasteland Reviewer

Outside the Wasteland: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Film can mean so much more than just entertainment on a screen, right? Outside the Wasteland is my new avenue to express my thoughts on films that have truly made an impact on my life. This is not about how great the films are or even how much I love them. This is an expression of how these films have made a direct impact on my life including my love of film, my personality, my world view, and just an overall lasting impression that deeply affected me.  This is a doorway into The Wasteland Reviewer through the films that have shaped me.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

How many films do you know that can be an annual holiday watch for multiple holidays? Generally, most films take place during one holiday and lean into that holiday’s motifs, themes, and traditions. But if you find the right story, you can explore multiple holidays, do them justice, and celebrate the spirit of the seasons. Tim Burton certainly had a killer idea when he came up with The Nightmare Before Christmas. There are lore and world-building elements for each major holiday which are locked behind holiday themed doors in trees out in the middle of an enchanted forest. The creative mind of Burton, combined with the stop-motion skills of Henry Selick and the music talents of Danny Elfman bring this magical film to life. There are hints at other holidays throughout the film, but this is truly a two-hander. Halloween and Christmas. That makes this film the perfect annual watch for both.

What does this film mean for my own celebration of these holidays? The Nightmare Before Christmas is the one cinematic tradition that I have for Halloween itself. I have watched The Nightmare Before Christmas duringthe week of Halloween, for as long as I can remember. Obviously based on all these articles so far, film is a big medium of my expression for many things. If I can, I will make sure to watch it on Halloween. This was a special year for my wife and I as Halloween landed on a Friday which is our date night. We ordered in and took turns picking Halloween related films. Coraline, Halloween, and (of course) The Nightmare Before Christmas. It is hard to argue that Nightmare has been a film that represents Halloween so well when the opening musical number is called “This Is Halloween”. The spirit of the holiday and all the creepy characters you can think of fill out this song making it one that fits Halloween so well. There are certainly other films that represent Halloween for me, but Nightmare will always be my favorite. I even will watch Nightmare occasionally during the Christmas season as well (including watching it for my Holiday Movie Marathon a few years back).

How else has this film permeated my life off the silver screen? One of the most unique aspects of The Nightmare Before Christmas is just how influential it is on pop culture. There are so many things that have been heavily influenced by Nightmare in the past 30 years including a whole store’s aesthetic and vibe were lifted from this movie (looking at you Hot Topic!). The soundtrack has been something of a huge influence on me. This is one of the most listened to movie soundtracks for me in my life. “The Oogie Boogie Song” is one of my favorite songs from any musical (live action or animated). Ken Page kills it with the passion and energy that he brings to the performance. “This Is Halloween” is a song that will automatically get me in the mindset for the holiday season. As I write this article, I am sitting next to an Oogie Boogie stuffed animal my wife bought for me (which is far from the only Oogie swag that I have been gifted over the years. Even the Revisited album was such a cool idea to have famous music artists cover all the songs (that Marilyn Manson cover of “This Is Halloween” is amazing).

What makes The Nightmare Before Christmas so special as an animated film? One of my favorite filmmaking media is stop motion animation. There is just something truly special about seeing these figures coming to life on screen. The detail, passion, and commitment it takes to craft something like that is remarkable. The amount of patience and time it takes to make something that is extraordinary. There is also so much space to be creative when it comes to crafting stories in that way. From an early age, I loved stop-motion and it all started with those Rankin & Bass specials on television for the holidays. They weren’t the biggest budgeted or most refined stop motion films, but they have always been special to me. Selick is a master of the art form with his efforts like Nightmare, James and the Giant Peach, Coraline, and Wendell & Wild. Making any movie is a hard feat and takes a lot of hard work, patience, and problem-solving. There is just something so impressive when it comes to stop-motion and making that come to life.

What does this matter so much to me? If I could make any cinematic project, I would love to make a stop-motion animated film. I have a few screenplays written that are for live action projects, but I would love to bring a stop-motion fantasy to life. I have a high concept fantasy film idea, but it would be cool to make it come to life in stop-motion. The project would call for complex figures and movements (in a similar vein as Kubo and the Two String) but it would be the coolest experience ever to see it come to life. Maybe someday. I would certainly have to start with much smaller projects and short films to get a better understanding of the filmmaking process and executing stop-motion animation. I certainly have ideas! Maybe too many ideas. There is only so much time for projects around work and everything else. But alas, at least I have marvels of stop-motion like The Nightmare Before Christmas to appreciate.