The Nightmare Before Christmas: ​ A Spooky Movie For All Ages By: Courtney Hauser Tim Burton, known for his gothic writing style, quite possibly hit the jackpot with the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. The movie follows Jack Skellington, otherwise known ​ ​ as the “Pumpkin King,” after he learns of Christmas. Though it may seem like a Halloween movie at first glance, director Henry Selick did a really good job combining such different holidays. Selick managed to find a perfect balance of keeping it spooky and Christmasy while still being family-friendly. Unlike most PG films, this movie is entertaining to all ages, and definitely worth the watch. The thing that sets this movie apart the most is the animation style: the distinct Tim Burton stop-motion animation. In recent years, stop-motions have been described as a bit underwhelming by movie critics everywhere; however, despite being a stop-motion, the set designers did not disappoint with the background details in this movie. The detail of the “What’s This” scene is insanely impressive with sparkling snow, townspeople running about and Christmas lights everywhere. Three painstaking years of work to animate this movie definitely paid off in the best way possible. My favorite part of the movie, however, is the soundtrack. The movie begins with “This is Halloween,” which, if you haven’t figured it out, is all about Halloween and what makes it so “spooky.” With it’s eerie background music laced with whispers and townspeople from the movie singing their own parts, it helps create the setting and mood of Halloweentown. At the end, there’s a “This is Halloween'' and “What’s This” mashup, which really ties the entire movie together. This film was created in 1993 and is still a staple for Halloween and Christmas time, and it’s clear to see why. With hundreds of unique characters, catchy, memorable songs and a plot that’s easy to get wrapped into, it’s hard to find anything wrong with this movie. If you’re looking for the perfect movie to get you into the holiday spirit, then you’ve come to the right place. .