Based on the title of the Tim Burton classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas, you would think that this movie would be about a nightmare before the Christmas holiday? Nope, wrong!
This movie takes place in the time period after Halloween but before Christmas, so some people may even call it a Thanksgiving movie, but that’s crazy! The movie tells the story of Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king, who comes from Halloween Town. He has become bored of scaring people from the “real world” every year. He thought that he could make a difference that year by plotting to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa and taking over his role. Then, Jack realizes that the best plans can go seriously wrong. As much as Jack Skellignton loves the holidays and wants to make a change, kidnap Santa, and take over Christmas, at the end of the movie he realizes his true love is Halloween! Many fans of the movie debate – should the film be classified as a Halloween creepy classic or a festive Christmas flick?
It is a Halloween movie, some may say. This movie was released to theaters October 29, 1993, and because of its release date, people claim it is a Halloween Movie. Also, the characters in the movie are all based on Halloween and come from Halloween Town.
Mrs. Stabile, a teacher at Point Pleasant Borough High School, says, “I feel like it is more Halloween because of the characters.”
Justin Huber, a student at PPBHS adds, “Also majority of the movie takes place in Halloween Town. The majority of the cast are Halloween characters.” Even the movie’s director, Henry Selick, said to Cosmopolitan, “It’s a Halloween movie.”
It is definitely a Christmas movie, others would say. Team Christmas points out that the real heart of the movie takes place on Christmas Eve, which people may argue is the dead giveaway for it being a Christmas movie.
Juan, a member of team Christmas says, “I say both HOWEVER, it’s a Christmas movie. Since it’s Halloween characters attempting to celebrate Christmas and I feel like they spend more time on Christmas than anything else.” As much as there are Halloween characters there is also Santa, reindeers, eleves, and even a snowman.
I believe that it is more of a Halloween movie. I say this because the characters are from Halloween Town and they are Halloween characters. The story is Jack Skellington going to Christmas Town so that he can kidnap Santa and do his job. Then at the end of the movie he realizes his true love is Halloween, not Christmas. Overall, It is all based on Halloween!
No matter what time of the year you watch this movie, it is will always leave the audience members in a festive spirit!
