Contrary to what some in the Argonaut office may think, Nightmare Before Christmas is in fact a Halloween movie. The Christmas part of the story is just a backdrop for what is a romance (duh!) wrapped in the spirit of Halloween. The film isn’t just about Jack’s loss of inspiration and his growing tiredness of the same old thing. But there’s also Sally and her quest to win Jack’s heart. You see, while Jack is off searching for inspiration, Sally follows and observes. She watches Jack lurk and sing as the Pumpkin King. His natural state was filled with terror and sorrow. Oh, how couldn’t a corpse girl fall for that pile of bones? And with her heart, she reaches out and proclaims, “Jack, I know how you feel.” Don’t let her appearance of an incomplete girl fool you with her body in stitches.
Unlike the various other characters in Halloween Town, Sally understands what she wants and who she is—a rag doll with a heart. Sally may have been created to be the companion of Dr. Finkelstein, but she knows deep down that Jack is her soul mate. So, while the men tinker with their science and logic, looking for their answers, Sally uses her heart to make things right in the spirit of Halloween.
Throughout the film, logic is shown as the antithesis of the story. Jack uses the scientific method to achieve his goal of making Christmas his own. Oogie Boogie engineers’ contraptions of torture, Dr. Finkelstein uses his science for selfish reasons. Giving his creations agency yet not allowing them to act on it. Sally may have been created to keep the doctor company, but he keeps her locked up like a songbird in his lab. Keeping Sally away from Jack is what allows the Pumpkin King to make his biggest mistakes. He stumbles upon Christmas Town and is amazed by the differences that he sees. Jack sneaks his way through the town, none the wiser in his presence because Jack is natural at what he does. But look how he scares not a single soul. His wickedness is wasted while he dances and sings with glee.
Meanwhile, Halloween Town is in a panic; where is the Pumpkin King? Because this is a Halloween movie, fears and frights must make an appearance. Even when it’s the citizens fear life without their Pumkin King. When Jack returns, he spends all his time in his lab singing about what it all means. Despite showing his science, he still can’t answer what he is searching for. Because the answer is within himself, not something he can measure with vials and beakers. Sally knows that Halloween is about staying true to who you are deep down. But not a soul listens to her pleas of emotion; where is the logic in doing that? The scientists would proclaim! It takes Jack falling flat on his face, literally exploding, to finally realize the folly of his plans.
Thankfully, through a big spectacle, it’s never too late for true love to save the day. In the final moments of the film, the two lovers finally embrace under the full moon of Halloween Town, accepting themselves for who they truly are. And if none of that sways you, I leave you with this quote:
“We use this one enchanted night to perform the greatest feat of magic there is. We become ourselves. Halloween is true magic. It is the night we discover who we really are!”
– Dr. Orpheus
Richard Simmons can be reached at [email protected]