The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) is a classic film that most would usually watch during the Christmas season. It is a story by Tim Burton and is directed by Henry Selick. The musical film is not animated or live action; it is created using stop motion. The story revolves around the pumpkin king of Halloweentown, Jack Skellington. Jack grew tired of Halloween; it didn’t fulfill him anymore; he felt as if something was missing. Coincidentally, he stumbles upon a forest with trees each leading to a different holiday-themed town. Out of curiosity, he entered the tree leading to Christmastown. He was fascinated with how different Christmas is from their usual Halloween. This unfamiliar holiday ignites his spirits, and he is determined to bring this holiday to his hometown. Jack instructed his town’s citizens to do different tasks so they could “improve” Christmas. Sally, one of Dr. Finkelstein’s—Halloweentown’s mad scientist's creations, sensed that this plan would not turn out as Jack expected; however, he did not listen to her. Would their town’s preparation and efforts be in vain, or will their take on Christmas be successful? 

To start, the title itself is already interesting. There are two contradicting terms in the title: nightmare and Christmas. It is a bit unusual to put these two together since they are not connected at all. When we think of the word “nightmare,” most would probably think of monsters, the dark, or anything that can scare people. On the other hand, the word “Christmas” can be associated with happiness, gifts, and warmth. A title contradicting itself can draw an audience in. The film is not your typical Christmas movie, making it more alluring to the viewers. The plot is very creative since it also highlights other holidays, just like Halloween; you won’t see that in most Christmas films. The pacing of the film was just right in my opinion; it was not too fast that you won’t understand what is happening, but it also was not too slow that you can’t wait for it to finish. The cinematography was astounding, too. The dark and gothic color scheme of Halloweentown contrasts the bright and jolly colors of Christmastown, representing the two different holidays. The angles of every scene were just right. The sound effects used fit their designated scenes, making them  even more impactful. These factors helped bring out the utmost potential of the film.  

The songs used in this musical film were catchy and matched the mood of the scenes; they were enjoyable, and they will definitely be stuck in your mind for the next couple of days. The voice actors also did a good job of giving justice to their characters. The flooding emotions of Jack and the desperate emotions of Sally can be felt throughout the movie. The symbolism used the whole time was well thought out. As mentioned earlier, the colors and theme of the two different towns represented how contrasting the two holidays are. There were also a few character representations, too. Jack symbolizes people who were not content with what they had, leading them to yearn for more just like he did. Sally, on the other hand, represents those who would put themselves at risk to save the ones that they love, just like how she continuously warned Jack about his plan. This film isn’t just an enjoyable one, but it also leaves valuable lessons for us such as the need to plan and consider consequences before we do something and how important it is to recognize and take accountability for our wrong actions. 

 Overall, this film had a lot of applaudable elements. It is understandable why it remains on the roster of Christmas films to watch during the holidays. This film is recommended if you want a twist to your normal and cozy movie marathon.