My favorite movie that awakened my love for the horror genre is "Coraline". Though I was only 8 years old when I first watched it, I remember not being phased by how creepy it was, but rather, inspired. I felt like this film was made just for me because it stimulated my thoughts while dancing perfectly along the thin line of children's horror and fantasy.
The uniqueness of this movie is that Henry Selick does not rely on jump scares or gore to unnerve the audience, but rather the buildup of suspense and tension by comparing reality against a fantasy world. The director is creative and progressive in the imagery and camera angles. For example, there are so many extreme close-up shots of the other mother's face to emphasize how manipulative and evil she is. The high-angle shots of Coraline throughout the movie suggest her vulnerability and weakness of being in such a terrible situation.
The framing of the movie contributes to how emotionally unsettling it is. Because it is a stop motion animated film, physical objects gain lifelike movements, combining the elements of unnatural jerky movements and lack of realism.
The concept that scared me when watching Coraline is the symbolism of the button eyes. When Coraline goes to the other world, she is unable to gauge anyone's human emotions or moral intentions. However, I always find myself tearing up at the end because this move taught me to be grateful for everything I have, no matter how imperfect it is.
"Coraline" is the perfect mix of mild horror, gorgeous visuals, and great storytelling. The idea of living in an ideal reality is thrilling, however, it is not possible. "Coraline" is an absolute masterpiece that represents freedom, mobility, and power while also teaching us that being brave doesn't mean you're not scared; it means you're scared and you do the right thing anyway.
