Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is an underrated gem. I personally enjoy it much more than other staple Christmas films and books, and I think more people should get to enjoy this wonderful story.

At its core, it is a story about identity, curiosity, and the desire for something more. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, is bored with his routine of spooks. When he stumbles upon Christmas Town, he’s interested by its whimsy and joy — a stark contrast to the scary world he knows so well. Jack’s fascination leads him to try and recreate Christmas, but his struggle in understanding the holiday and the reluctance of the citizens of Halloweentown make it difficult.

As the story goes along, Jack’s intentions are warped as Halloweentown grossly misinterprets the spirit of Christmas. It’s clear that the citizens of Halloweentown don’t really understand the idea of giving gifts to others, and they begin placing horribly scary things under each other’s trees.

Jack wants to continue to show Halloweentown the warmth of Christmas, but his love interest Sally advises against it. She says that Halloweentown should go back to being Halloweentown. The story comes to a climax as Jack needs to rescue Santa, who has been kidnapped by the people of Halloweentown, the last perversion of Christmas.

What makes the story so special is how it bridges the gap between two very different holidays that often are presented individually. Halloween and Christmas might seem like polar opposites, yet the story shows their true contrast. In the very last scene on that iconic mountaintop with Sally and Jack, we can see how both aesthetics go together perfectly. I love it.

Like most Tim Burton movies, the Nightmare Before Christmas is fun for kids, teens, and adults alike. There’s strong themes and narrative power for people who like to pay attention to writing, but there’s also whimsical fun and comedy mixed in so you can just turn your brain off and watch. I’d say it might even be my favorite Tim Burton story.

My rating: 9/10

This review was written by Milo L. Quintana Senior 2, Godspell intern at KEL • We are learning so much with all your reading and researching! Have yourself a very nice Christmas 💙