Coraline

Rating 10/10

“There’s no place like home.”

Much like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Coraline is the story of a girl who yearns for a more exciting life outside the confines of a humdrum existence, only to find that what lies beyond is not as great as what she already has. However, while Oz is a bright and whimsical land, Coraline’s Other World offers a false perfection with sinister undertones.

Eleven-year-old Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning) moves to the Pink Palace apartments in Oregon with distracted parents (Teri Hatcher & John Hodgman). She encounters eccentric neighbors: Mr. Bobinsky (Ian McShane), who runs a mouse circus; retired burlesque performers Ms. Spink (Jennifer Saunders) and Ms. Forcible (Dawn French); and Wybie (Robert Bailey Jr.), the landlady’s intrusive grandson. When Coraline discovers a mysterious small door in the new home, she is curious. Later, a strange ragdoll and a black cat (Keith David) hint at an alternate realm where her “Other” parents, with buttons for eyes, lavish attention on her. Though the world initially seems perfect, Coraline soon realizes it hides a dark secret.

The stop-motion film was originally released in 2009 and has returned to theaters for its 15th anniversary.  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the soundtrack. Composed by Bruno Coulais, it blends haunting melodies with offbeat rhythms using vocals sung in a made-up language. It creates an otherworldly sense of mystery.  Directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) and based on Neil Gaiman’s novella, Coraline was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2010 Oscars. (Pixar’s Up won that year).

LAIKA Studios remastered the film and re-released it on August 15 through partnerships with Fathom in the U.S. and Trafalgar Releasing internationally. It has lost none of its charm or ability to wow over the years. The narrative creatively blends genuine horror in a way that is appropriate for children but just as unsettling for adults. The scene where Coraline’s mother reveals her true self is iconic. Coraline was filmed in stereoscopic 3D, a technique that creates the illusion of depth by capturing two slightly different images for each eye, simulating human vision. If anything, it looks even better now and impresses with how ahead of its time it was. Coraline serves as a cogent reminder of the age-old proverb: sometimes the grass isn’t greener on the other side.

09-03-24