The most streaming children's horror movie is nightmarish fuel for all ages

The author Jonathan Klotz
| Published 1 hour ago

A truly disturbing horror film doesn't necessarily have to involve gruesome murders like those found in the Terrifier series, the grotesque imagery of a David Cronenberg film, or the fear of Scream; in fact, they can be perfectly animated and colorful, as is the case Coraline. It can be hard to explain to someone who hasn't seen the film just how disturbing the film gets, but that's part of what makes it such a great and fantastic introduction to horror. The story of a young girl who stumbles into another world begins gently, but like a frog in a pot of boiling water, the audience realizes too late what they are about to experience.

Gothic horror movies for kids

Coraline is a bored 11-year-old girl who discovers a strange passageway in her family's new home that leads her to a world just like hers, except here, her parents pay attention to her, smother her with love, and everyone is weird. buttons above the eyes. The “Other World” is filled with temptations to make her stay, and her “Other Mother” makes such an offer, except she has to sew buttons on her eyes to stay. Honestly, it's not too much of an offer, and it's very clear that “Other Mother” isn't good, but it's no secret; it's gothic horror.

Gothic horror focuses on the eerie and unsettling feeling that something isn't quite right, and the changes in animation, lighting and color palette between the real world and the 'Other World' capture that sense of unease before you see all the doppelgangers acting 'off'. Coraline eventually introduces ghosts, another staple of the genre, before it all comes together for a happy ending.

The truly disturbing part Coraline not the visual, but the temptation of knowing that “Another World” is wrong, but you can feel the young girl weighing her options and thinking about it. In addition to the supernatural and macabre, Gothic horror is about heightened emotions and passions that overwhelm all common sense, and that's what's disturbing about this story. We know it's dangerous, we know it's wrong, and Coraline knows the same, but there's still that little part that thinks, “What if?”

Handmade horror doll movie

Although the disturbing setting and powerful story of Coraline have helped it build a lasting fan base, the visuals certainly help. Animation by Laika, a studio originally founded by the legendary animator Will Wintonthe stop-motion style images reinforce the sense of unreality that permeates the entire film. Although CGI images were used, thousands of models were created for the film, with over a hundred physical sets created to support the exquisite puppetry that works not only for the main characters, but even for background elements, from dancing flowers to creepy paintings.

Coraline is an impressive display of practical special effects, but it's also helped by a voice cast that includes Dakota Fanning as Coraline and Teri Hatcher as both versions of her mother, joined by Judge John Hodgman, Keith David and Ian McShane. But most impressively, the film was re-released this year, once in the summer and again Halloweenin which it grossed over $53 million. in 2024, 15 years after the original 2009 release.

Between the bright, relaxing yet gorgeous visuals and the well-crafted story, Coraline has become a cult classic and has become the most successful stop-motion animated film of all time and a true cinematic classic. If you've ever wanted to introduce someone to horror, there's no better movie than this. Even if you're an enthusiast with a favorite Michael Myers, it's still a fun film that's easy to watch at 100 minutes in and will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Coraline now streaming for free is Tubi.