The Nightmare before Christmas is a Tim Burton masterpiece though many don’t know this, but he produced the film and did not direct it (Henry Selick actually directed.) The story goes that Burton wrote the idea into a poem while working for Walt Disney as an animator. After years of keeping the project on the back burner he finally sparked a deal with Disney and the rest is history.
That’s just a little history on the subject, but the real question that is dividing households across America and ending lifelong friendships (not really, but maybe). Is The Nightmare before Christmas a Halloween Movie or a Christmas movie? Both sides of the argument have their points, but I’m going to tell you how I feel….Though it might have been a dead give away writing about the film in October I truly feel this is a Halloween Movie (Record scratch). I know it’s not that serious, but for some they will completely disagree.
Why is The Nightmare before Christmas a Halloween Movie? Well let me break it down for you. We begin our story in Halloween Town (Not the classic Disney Channel Original Movie). Jack Skellington is literally helping organize the Halloween celebrations for this year. Not to mention the first song of the movie is “This is Halloween”. These are just blatant examples of why it’s a Halloween movie, but let’s dig deeper.
You can argue that all of this happens in the beginning of the film so we transition into a Christmas movie, but let’s look at our protagonist. Jack is tired of the Halloween thing year in and year out. Everyone obsessing over him, praising his Halloween splendor. He wants something new, something fresh and he stumbles across the trees in the woods and happens to choose the one with a big Christmas tree painted on it. Jack essentially leaves Halloween town and goes to Christmas Town in search of a new celebration. The Pumpkin King’s eyes light up as he sees all the wonders of Christmas. He wants this and he rushes back to Halloweentown to explain to everyone, but they just aren’t getting it. Jack even goes further conducting “experiments” with the Christmas items and a foreshadowing showing Christmas can’t survive in Halloweentown when Sally (the rag doll) witnesses a weed grow into a Christmas tree and then go up in flames. Her premonition is that Jack will destroy Christmas turning it into Halloween.
People can say, “Well Jack is celebrating Christmas” which is true, but Jack is turning Christmas into a Halloween version all his own. The night he takes over Santa’s route he leaves scary and creepy Halloween based presents for all the children of the world. He has put his mark on the holiday and changed it from how we all know it. There’s elements of both holidays throughout, but the scary and spooky aspects seem to overpower the Merry and cheerful Christmas tones.
Another strong point people can make is “Christmas” is in the movie title. Well “Before” is also in the title and what holiday comes before Christmas? None other than Halloween.
We finally see Jack realizes Halloween has no business in Christmas, he comes back to Halloweentown to embrace the holiday he thought he no longer loved. Jack saves Santa from Oogie Boogie and allows the holidays to be celebrated separately as they should be.
Final Verdict: The Nightmare before Christmas is a Halloween Movie set during the Christmas season. Santa even rides off at the end telling Jack “Happy Halloween” case closed…..okay Jack responds with “Merry Christmas’”, but I stand by my choice. I would love to hear what everyone thinks about the movie and if they think it’s a Halloween Movie or a Christmas Movie you decide.
Happy Holidays!
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