Review of The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) by K Nife C — 31 Oct 2016

What happens when the limelight no longer satisfies the ego? How do we mitigate our inherent talents with our societal expectations? Does inspiration come from within, or are we simply regurgitating our influences? These questions and many more are constantly posited by Walt Disney's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (inspired by actual Tim Burton/Danny Elfman cartoons/whistling).

In this gorgeous live action film, an anorexic fascist opera singer slips into ennui after his annual ego-stroking festival is put on by Bauhaus cosplay enthusiasts. Meanwhile, a young woman with self-harm issues gets her Hannibal Lecter/Dr.

Strangelove father drunk so she can stalk her village's narcissistic, singing leader and comment to herself about his manic and nihilistic ruminations. After hallucinating from a lack of sleep (and possibly nutrition), the thin white duke decides to co-opt the culture of a utopian winterland.

His bleak, gothic perspective lends a jaded and violent hue to the simulacra he constructs. Ultimately, he orchestrates highly organized terrorist attacks on the children of American citizens during the Christmas holiday season - which provokes a military response.

Failing in his quest for power, he settles for a mundane coupling with his silent female watcher and relegates himself to the amenities of mediocrity back in his small dysfunctional village. The subtleties of the human condition in this film would make Werner Herzog weep.

Even the most jaded heart must realize the marketing potential of this film. It is, however, odd that it would only be released for two viewings on Halloween. It's a bold move, but I imagine that the modern viral nature of art will ensure that this will see a DVD release after its very brief and limited theatrical run.

If not, I suppose I will feel smug enough in being one of the few and fortunate folks to have seen this film unfettered by mainstream success.