Polar Express - YOU'RE A DOUBTER!!!

Toys
Scrooge
Hobo with Marionette

[calowenby]

I remembered this scene being way longer. Guess it goes to show how being freaked out was kind of its own brand of an eternity to me when I was younger.

[TheFoxFromSplashMountain]

Probably one of the most traumatizing moments in a Christmas movie.

[zoruasnivy]

The scene here and the hobo are an analogy to belief in general, but for this movie it is relevant to Christmas. The marionettes calling him an unbeliever reflect the child's fear that his hopes (e.g. Santa existing) are not real, the hobo is meant to be an analogy for "seeing is believing". If ghosts aren't real and he's looking at one, then how will he react to seeing Santa? As we see later in the movie even seeing Santa is not enough for him, he has to interact with him to feel like it might be true. The bell acts as "proof" but eventually even that cannot outweigh his doubt. The dolls on the other hand represent the materialistic and finite magic of Christmas, the same way we one day outgrow our toys, those dolls were too abandoned when kids grew up and no longer found joy in them. The movie imo carries a deeper meaning about growing up and finding things you once enjoyed or believed to be dull, grey and empty as you become disillusioned. It's reflected all throughout the film, especially at the end where we learn that all the kids stopped hearing the bell when they got older. It feels creepy because it's meant to be, growing up is scary and daunting especially to children.

[nicholasheredia]

YOU ARE A You aren’t the real Buzz Lightyear! You’re a- Ah, you’re an action figure! You are a child’s PLAY THING!

[leahrowden]

0:33 Makes me wanna cry… seeing toys that were treated this way.

[firecastlemunchies]

Omg this scene used to freak me out as a kid.

[josephseansunga]

"You're A Doubter! A Doubter You Don't Believe!" One Of My Favorite Quotes.

[rexraptor]

Even as an adult this scene still manages to scare me

[DaisyGeekyTransGirl]

This scene scared me shitless as a kid but now I laugh as it’s controlled by the hobo. Still kinda creepy tho.

[benfostersworldofwonder]

Fun fact: The ''Scrooge'' puppet was the inspiration for the character's likeness in 2009s A Christmas Carol.

[elder-woodsilverstein]

This scene has left a dark empty void in my psyche when I first watched it as a small child.

Merry Christmas. 😀

[cyberboyred]

I know a lot of people were freaked out by this scene, but I actually found it quite hysterical! 😂

[MrMcSnuffyFluffy]

This scene is scarier than most horror movies.

[dannytallman]

The Scrooge puppet is just doing the ragdoll dance while raging! LOL 😂

[eriksanchez]

I can't avoid thinking about a creepy Woody marionette swinging and laughing just like Scrooge in this scene...

[snorthepirate]

This scene is hilarious. Probably my favorite part of the movie.

[TommyBlackMesa]

Why did I always hear it as the Scrooge puppet saying “YOUR A DONUT!!”

[JamieBoy-ijri]

Tom Hanks really does love to play toys who come alive and scare kids don’t he.

[jaegermann]

“You are just like me
TRYING TO MAKE HISTORYYYY!”

[brettewilson]

Although this scene wasn't pleasant to watch as a child (and I still find it rather terrifying), I originally had assumed that he was saying, "I know what you are, you're a _darling_ !"