As the spookiest night of the year approaches, a bit of scary inspiration may be required. Below is a selection of movies ranging from family friendly to spine-chilling — pulled from the most highly acclaimed stop-motion horror films of all time.
For those who need a crash course, stop-motion animation is a filmmaking technique that involves the physical manipulation of objects in small, careful increments to be photographed frame by frame. The frames are then played in order, making it appear as though the photographed objects are actually moving themselves. Although painfully time-consuming, this technique offers a different way to tell stories, that in itself is often described as uncanny.
So grab some friends, some popcorn and maybe a nightlight, because these films may make it hard to fall asleep at night.
“Alice” (1988)
Poor, poor Alice. Based off Lewis Carroll's novel, “Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,” Czech filmmaker Jan Svankmajer turns this fascinating tale into a living nightmare for Alice, who is the only real-life character in the film. Mixing stop-motion animation with live-action animation was the way to go for Svankmajer, and he did not fail to leave viewers startled. Just imagine various taxidermy animals harassing and imprisoning a little girl.
The general plot and characters mirror what has been done in more recent adaptations of Carroll’s novel, with the same dapper White Rabbit and size-changing “drink me” bottles. However, “Alice” takes a much more realistic approach on what it would actually be like for a young girl to come across these absurd terrors.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
The King of Halloween Town himself is in need of some spooky motivation. Henry Selick made his directorial debut with this classic, dark fantasy musical experience written and produced by Tim Burton.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” is the perfect blend of Halloween and Christmas, when Jack Skellington — commonly known as “The Pumpkin King” — stumbles upon a door leading him to the unfamiliar Christmas Town. Tired of the same-old ritual celebration of Halloween, Jack decides he wants to take over Christmas for a change.
As one can imagine, the goblins, demons and witches that inhabit Halloween Town have a little bit of trouble settling with this notion. Donny Elfman’s dynamic musical score captures the essence of both holidays, placing viewers right there with Jack and his tribe, as they attempt to turn their mysterious wilderness into a jolly wonderland.
“Corpse Bride” (2005)
Be careful whose finger you accidentally place a wedding ring on. Taking place in the late Victorian era, Victor and Victoria are deeply in love and set to be married. Things turn awry, however, when Victor places his wedding ring on a tree root — a root which turns out to be the skeletal Emily who proclaims herself as Victor’s bride and whisks him away with her to the Land of the Dead.
Mike Johnson and Tim Burton executed this bittersweet romance using Burton’s signature gothic appeal and dark undertones. The film encourages viewers to sympathize with each character, acknowledging that none of them are necessarily in the wrong. “Corpse Bride” is a wild roller coaster of events that can be interpreted as a love story and tragedy all in one.
“Coraline” (2009)
This blue-haired diva has quite a few tricks up her sleeve. “Coraline” is another film directed by the renowned Henry Selick — this one will likely inspire within viewers a newfound appreciation for their mother.
Coraline is tired of her mundane life, longing for a better home, a better routine and better parents. She feels hopelessly stuck, until she discovers a secret passage leading her into a parallel universe where everything she wanted and more is given to her. When Coraline meets her more caring “Other Mother,” she realizes something unsettling. Everyone in this parallel universe is identical to their real-world counterparts with one exception — they have buttons for eyes.
This surprise is only the first of many for Coraline during her time in this alternate reality, and she slowly realizes nothing there is what it seems. “Coraline” is a creative, yet horrifying concept that has no business being advertised to children, despite the seemingly child-like themes. Its details and intricacies will make audiences uncomfortable in the best way possible.
“ParaNorman” (2012)
Talking to the dead may have its perks. Taking a more comedy-horror approach to stop-motion, Chris Butler and Sam Fell introduce the story of Norman, an 11-year-old boy who can speak to the dead.
Norman feels alienated from the rest of his family and peers as a result of this gift, but soon discovers that his ability may be the only way to save his town from a terrible curse. As the dead begin to rise, Norman — with the help of his new friends — work together to end this chaos once and for all. “ParaNorman” is a heart-warming and action-packed series of events that highlights themes of friendship, heroism and self-discovery.
From child-harassing stuffed animals to evil mothers with buttons for eyes, stop-motion animation provides a uniquely freakish way to consume horror. Give one — or all — of these films a try, and the eerie spirit of Halloween will undoubtedly make itself known.
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