Halloween is right around the corner! Need something to watch during the spooky season? Well Coraline, a 2009 film, should be the choice.

Coraline, is a stop motion animated dark fantasy horror children’s film. The film is directed by Henry Selick, who also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas, one of his other films. The movie is based on the novel Coraline, written by Neil Gaiman in which he published in 2002. It is said that although the film is for kids, it may be too scary for certain children. This is not because it has “disturbing” images, but because of the story the film tells.

In this film, Coraline Jones, the main character (voiced by Dakota Fanning), is an only child who moved in to the “Pink Palace” where she was unhappy and grumpy. Her two parents where always busy as they were gardening catalogues. In that house, she found a little door that led her to another world where she found herself in the same house, with the same neighbors, and met her “Other Mother” and “Other Father” but they all had buttons for eyes. Her other parents made sure Coraline enjoyed herself there. Due to the fact that Coraline was unhappy and her parents only gave her little attention, she constantly would go to the tunnel.

Everything was good until the “Other Mother” told her she could stay but she MUST make a sacrifice. That’s when Coraline figured out the “Other Mother” wanted to steal her from her real parents for one reason only. Coraline then decides to never go back because she realized, despite her imperfect life, her parents were the ones she really loved and appreciated. Later in the film, her real parents are in trouble and she needs to rescue them. Because of this, she learns to depend on herself to fight for those she loves and also fought her fears. The moral lesson of Coraline is that the relationship between both parents and their children is important. If you are into dark fantasy films or wanna find out how it ends, you should definitely check out this movie for Halloween or any casual day!