Why Coraline Is So Creepy

Halloween season is here so let's talk about one of our favorite scary movies.

Coraline might technically be a ‘kids movie,’ but that doesn’t make it any less scary. The stop-motion animated flick was inspired by Neil Gaiman’s 2002 book of the same name. Up to that point in his career, Gaiman had made a habit of treading in the realm of horror and fantasy. His work geared specifically towards adults, but Coraline was his first attempt to craft something with a younger audience in mind.

Despite his younger target audience, Gaiman didn’t shy away from some truly horrifying subject matter. That subject matter was expertly captured by filmmaker Henry Selick. Selick was actually Gaiman’s first choice to direct the film, as he’d been a fan of Selick’s other works: ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ and ‘James and the Giant Peach.’

Selick’s style doesn’t shy away from its creepier tendencies - a perfect fit for Gaiman’s novel. Anyone who’s seen one of his films can attest to that. His stop motion animation is simultaneously charming and unsettling. His character models are slightly exaggerated and his monsters are the stuff of genuine nightmares. It’s also in the way his scenes are lit. It’s not bright or chipper. There are shadows and dynamic lighting to emphasize just how unsettling the film’s subject matter is.

Beyond the disturbing visuals, it’s the subject matter itself. Coraline’s genuine fear for her life, the fear that her ‘Other Mother’ will sew buttons onto her eyes. There’s some heavy stuff here that’s sure to give kids nightmares. Let’s take a closer look to determine why Coraline is so effective in its creepiness.

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[zoiexaiolong]

This is genuinely one of the most terrifying movies I’ve ever seen, like yeah horror movies are scary but they’re in your face scary. Coraline is more subtle, a soul eating monster disguised as a mother giving a sad child all the love and attention she wants while she feeds off her is genuinely so terrifying especially as a kid, I didn’t trust my mom for weeks after watching it

[diegopansini]

Coraline, Corpse's Bride, and Nightmare Before Christmas are masterpieces.

[MODNAR]

Why Coraline is creepy, Her other mother is a freaking spider and she freaking sews buttons into children’s eyes

[Hello-bjwp]

dude, coraline is literally creepier than the nun herself.

[julijakeit]

It;s not "other parents" who are evil, it's only the _other mother_ as the other father is a puppet.

[matildacotton]

I swear to god this movie was scarier than the conjuring

[_vallee_]

I vividly remember hearing "Don't leave me don't leave me, ILL DIE WITHOUT YOU" and getting extremely depressed.

[TheLeah]

I still can’t believe this is a kids movie.

[thequeensandkings]

I wish we had more animated films like this.

Who remembers cool kids Halloween themed movies

[beezebee]

Coraline is one of the most creepiest and most horrifying movie i've ever watched as a child. I remember after watching the movie the first time, I always got nightmares of the Beldam. But despite the nightmares I loved the movie so so soo much, in fact I was obsessed with the movie. For sure Coraline will be my all-time favourite movie!!!

[mushmello]

„Why Coraline is so creepy“
Hmmm idk, maybe cause there is a gigantic spidermorph that‘s trying to kill and eat you?

[aresgoated]

Producer: how scary do you want it to be

Neil gamen: yes

[eric]

I wish they would make an R rated horror animated film. Imagine the possibilities and creativity involved.

[verisym]

Coraline is like those dreams where you're trying to run away from something as fast as you can but your body just won't let you.

[victor_]

This is more scary than actual horror movies😂

[stellajohnston]

Me: Draws buttons as eyes thinking that it's cute
Me again: Watches Coraline
Also me: looks at my picture and tears it apart

[jana.sophie]

the movie definitely didn't take me on "an adventure" as a kid, i had nightmares for *months* and im still kinda scared of it to this day.

[bk]

Was I one of the only kids that didn't exactly find it terrifying when I was younger? I found it fascinating of all things! However, the older I got, the creepier it got because i was then a able to understand the serious message.

[starflowy]

Writer: this story isn't so scary for children because they see it as an adventure!
Kids in the comments: I had nightmares for months and stopped trusting my own mother

[illusion]

This scared me as a kid and still kinda scares me now

Edit: Yo thanks for the likes. I’ve never hit 1k before