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Coraline: A Creepy Halloween Blu-ray Movie Review

Updated on September 21, 2024
TreasuresBrenda profile image

Brenda loves movies, music and related merchandise from many genres including this one.

Coraline Blu-ray Movie
Coraline Blu-ray Movie

Coraline A Haunting Scary Halloween Movie

Coraline is, in my mind, is a great choice of Halloween movie for young teens and some tweens who want to be scared and watch scary movies but who are not old enough or ready to watch horror movies.

Coraline is an animated 3D stop-motion film, which is based on the award-winning children's book of the same name by Neil Gaiman. The movie is definitely creepy and scary. The book, appropriate for a slightly younger age group.

On this page you will find reviews of Coraline from the experts and from ordinary movie goers like you and I. You will also find the movie trailer, information about how Coraline is rated and whether or not it is appropriate for your children, some fantastic Coraline pictures and great Coraline gift ideas. You will also have the chance to share your opinion on whether or not you think Coraline is appropriate for tweens and teens.

Writer Andrew Ellington calls Coraline visually stunning and emotionally profound...smart and charmingly creepy. He says that it is not suitable for all and cautions that children and a few adults may find it scary, although of course that is the reason for watching a film like Coraline.


Coraline Fast Facts & Information

  • ACTORS: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman, Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French
  • DIRECTOR: Henry Selick
  • WRITER: Henry Selick (screenplay), Neil Gaiman (book)
  • PRODUCERS: Henry Selick, Bill Mechanic, Claire Jennings, Harry Linden and Mary Sandell
  • STUDIO: Universal Studios
  • MOVIE RELEASE DATE: 2009
  • DVD RELEASE DATE: July 21, 2009
  • RUN TIME: 100 minutes
  • RATED: PG

Coraline Official Movie Description

Coraline is a movie about family, one that is dark and creepy. It was directed by the director of Nightmare Before Christmas and is based on the book of the same name by Neil Gaiman. This movie's claim to fame is as the first stop-motion movie filmed in Stereoscopic 3D. It figures odd looking characters with big eyes and evil grins teamed with spooky backgrounds and music.

The star of this film is 'Coraline' a teenager who is bored, bored, bored. She's been moved with her writer parents to a house located…well, nowhere. She meets a talkative boy, eccentric neighbours and a button-eyed doll who looks at least a bit like Coraline…

Eventually she finds a secret door, unlocks it and discovers…bricks. However, when she visits it again later those bricks disappear and she finds a path to a world that is what she wishes for. In this alternate world her parents are perfect and loving and have plenty of time and interest to anticipate and fulfill her every desire. At the beginning it all seems kind of perfect but soon it loses that lustre…and Coraline finds out some nasty secrets about these alternate parents and their world but it could be too late for her to return to the real world.

When Coraline revisits the door later that night, the bricks magically disappear and she discovers a strange pathway to another world where everything is just what she wishes for. In stark contrast to the real world where Coraline's parents just don't have time for her, her "Other Mother" and "Other Father" in this alternate world are the perfect loving, attentive parents who anticipate her every need and desire. Initially comforted and quite happy in this new world, suspicion that things may not be quite as they seem grows inside Coraline and her disquiet is furthered by the mute "Other Wybie" and a strange-talking cat that seems to move between both worlds.

"Coraline is a disturbing, intriguing film that both captivates and frightens."

HOW TRUE.

My Review of Coraline in 100 Words Or Less

I enjoyed Coraline and I'd be the first to say I have rather eclectic taste in movies because I like so many movie genres. Too much violence, sex or language is what puts me off a movie and, of course, Coraline did not have too much of any of those issues.

It is, however, a somewhat unusual piece in the style of The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach with the connection to those movies in the form of the shared director, Henry Selick. If you liked those films, you will probably like Coraline. Of course, if you are not a fan of them or of animated stop motion movies in general, this movie is probably not for you.

We purchased the blu-ray disc for home viewing and debated on whether or not to bother with watching the 3D version of the movie. Eventually we decided that we wanted to really enjoy the 2D version and, since Sound & Vision magazine recommended the 2D version because it provides a "truly high-def experience of rich color and impressive detail" that is the version that we chose to watch.

My family was split exactly as I might have forecast. Two of us love Tim Burton style films, two of us do not. As a result, two of us quite enjoyed Coraline and two did not. If you have children and are considering showing this movie to them, I highly recommend you take the time to read the discussion of Coraline in the rating for children section first.

More Reviews of Coraline

"...Coraline is a great film for families with kids over a certain age. The film has some dark elements that might scare some younger kids and even though this is an animated film, if you take very young kids to see it, you'll only have to leave the theater early when they get scared. I know some parents have difficulty taking their kids to films like 'Curious George'. If this is you, stay away from 'Coraline'. But if your kids are, oh, at least 10, this is a great choice for the whole family because there is something for everyone to enjoy and delight in." - Thornhillatthemovies

"Nobody can drench a book in creepy, dank atmosphere like Neil Gaiman, infused with humor and more than a little horror. Fortunately that flavour is kept alive in the movie adaptation of Coraline, brought to life by the talented Henry Selick. It's a haunting little dark fairy tale full of decayed apartments, dancing rats and eerie soulless doppelgangers, as well as a gutsy heroine who finds herself in this ominous 'other' world." - E.A. Solinas

Coraline Rated

Is the Coraline movie appropriate for children?

Coraline's official rating is PG. However, as a parent, I always wanted more guidance than that. In the case of the movie Coraline, you need to know that it has some downright scary and disturbing moments and that this movie is definitely not for young children.

Some children might find the images disturbing. Others may be upset by some of the themes. Still others may be reassured by the brave heroine. Children do react to movies differently and it is up to you to know your own child.

I have seen Coraline recommended for children aged 11 and up but I have also seen recommendations for middle school aged children and up.

The New York Times said, "As long as it doesn't go too far toward violence or mortal dread, a film that elicits a tingle of unease or a tremor of spookiness can be a tonic to sensibilities dulled by wholesome, anodyne, school-approved entertainments."

Coraline is not exactly a family friendly movie and should be previewed before letting your children watch it if you have any qualms about the scariness of this movie. It is definitely a horror movie for OLDER children.

If you want to read more about the rating of Coraline, I highly recommended The Movie Mom's review of Coraline's appropriateness for children which unfortunately is no longer available. On her discussion of whether or not Coraline is too scary for children, The Movie Mom had a whopping 72 comments from concerned parents so you know that this movie stirred up some discussion. The Movie Mom's final recommendation? That this movie is appropriate for middle school aged children. If you are concerned about what you show your children, her reviews are an excellent resource.

Coraline Blu-ray Gift Set

Coraline Blu-ray Gift Set
Coraline Blu-ray Gift Set

Neil Gaiman's Coraline Book

Of course, there is a book version of this story. It's by Neil Gailman and it has a bit of horror story that is interestingly creepy. It's unique being a blend of sci fi and mystery story that creates a good scary story.

(Tweens are sometimes definted as 9 to 14 year olds.)

Do you think Coraline is appropriate for tweens?

See results

© 2010 Treasures By Brenda

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