“When you are scared, but you do it anyway, that’s brave.”
I’ve always loved animated films, be it computer animation, traditional hand-drawn, or stop-motion. So when I heard the graphic novel Coraline was being made into a film, I was intrigued to see how the dark storyline would translate to a kid’s movie.
I’m not usually a fan of scarier films. My imagination is already on overdrive 110% of the time and doesn’t need additional inspiration for finding shapes in the shadows at night. But I do enjoy an enthralling tale and a story that can really pull the reader in.
This movie was a great combination of relatable moments. Moments like Coraline annoying her parents, or exploring the house when she’s bored. It also had a heavy touch of twisted qualities. Every time I rewatch it, I remember it’s meant to be a “kids” movie and it surprises me all over again.
Some of the more pivotal moments border on disturbing when you think about them. If you end up watching Coraline for the first time after reading this post, I’m sure you’ll never look at buttons the same way again.
“‘What’s your name?’ Coraline asked the cat. ‘Look I’m Coraline. Okay?’ ‘Cats don’t have names,’ it said. ‘No?’ Said Coraline. ‘No,’ said the cat. ‘Now you people have names. That’s because you don’t know who you are. We know who we are, so we don’t need names.'”
I find myself fascinated by the “Other Mother”, and find her appearance especially intriguing with all of its sinister points and angles. But I feel more of a connection to Coraline, and how strong she wants to come off as, even when she’s afraid. Coraline tries to balance a sense of independence and freedom with her desire to be noticed. This is something I feel a lot of people relate to, no matter how they present themselves to the world. She also has a very strong personality, and it shows through in her style. I love that the film reflects her personality in her appearance with blue hair and matching nails. It also helps make for a recognizable character costume!
This is not only a great costume to put together, but it also makes a great Halloween movie, if you’re looking for something more on the tame side of scary. Even though finding a raincoat and rain boots for an adult under $50 each seems nearly impossible. I don’t remember how many times I uttered. “No I don’t want a designer coat, I just want something yellow!” Bonus points if you have a black cat that sits long enough to take a picture with while you’re in costume! I borrowed my roommate’s cat for a few shots.
Make sure to look into Coraline if you haven’t seen it before!
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