FILMS

Creepy 'Coraline' too scary for kids

Reviewed by Rebecca Bostic | March 5, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

It’s common for children’s films to entertain not only kids, but also their parents.

Take Pixar’s animated films. They’re funny for both children and parents. And then there are other films, like Focus Feature’s “Coraline.”

The film’s message of gratitude is obvious. But the cruelty with which it is conveyed — involving the death of Coraline’s parents as a possible result of Coraline’s selfish wishes — is much too harsh for children of any age.

Even for adolescents and adults, the dark nature of the film is not justified by the positive lesson. Furthermore, the film’s plot and dialogue are not clever or original enough to fully engage adults. The film remains, in essence, a children’s film that is too frightening for most children to see.

Coraline, the young heroine, moves into an old house with her parents, who are busy writers. In fact, they are often too busy for Coraline and shoo her away.

Coraline eventually discovers a tunnel through which she finds a perfect version of her world — where all of her complaints about her parents are fixed. There her parents are willing to play with her, cook her favorite foods and spoil her with gifts.

Eventually the wicked creature pretending to be Coraline’s perfect “other mother” tells Coraline she can stay forever if she replaces her eyes with buttons (you see, all of the members of this alternate world have buttons for eyes).

Coraline tries to rebel, but it is too late. She returns to find her parents missing, learns of three other children this “other mother” has killed and then returns to save the day and battle the evil creature.

The ghosts of three children who were killed seeking their perfect world warn Coraline against seeking better. Coraline is forced to blame herself for the disappearance of her parents.

Beyond the importance of being grateful for the life one has, there is a much deeper message behind “Coraline” — most likely unintentional.

“Coraline” is a clear illustration of the way in which evil disguises itself as good and makes itself seem so very appealing. The character of Coraline gives into this temptation and nearly destroys her whole world.

As is written in the Second Vatican Council’s Gaudium et Spes, “A monumental struggle against the powers of darkness pervades the whole history of man. The battle was joined from the very origins of the world and will continue until the last day, as the Lord has attested.”

Three children prior to Coraline lost their souls to the beautifully disguised evil force. Although Coraline is able to battle this force with some success, the portrayal of evil is much too disturbing for children.

“Coraline” is interesting in terms of visual imagination, but that is where its merit ends. It is childlike in terms of narrative and dialogue, but the message, setting and atmosphere are frightening. It is neither a film for children nor adults — which leaves “Coraline” as an imaginative study in evil with little else in terms of content. 

--

Media critic Rebecca Bostic is a regular contributor to The Catholic Sun. Comments are welcome. Send e-mail to letters@catholicsun.org.