Corpse Bride is something of a successor to The Nightmare Before Christmas, the cult classic that showed the world what kinds of whimsically creepy stories iconic director Tim Burton could spin. While he is generally credited as the brilliant mind behind it, Burton came up with the idea for The Nightmare Before Christmas while he was working for Disney but did not end up directing it. Disney retained the rights to the story after Burton’s departure and revisited it after he found success elsewhere. Burton himself was then unavailable to direct, and the project was taken over by his collaborator Henry Selick.
Selick himself went on to direct other haunting stop-motion movies that are their own kind of follow-up to Nightmare, namely Coraline and Wendell & Wild. Movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas showcase its undeniable influence and thorny yet unmoving place in the cultural zeitgeist. By the 2000s, people would have been demanding something like it from Burton himself, leading to another animated adventure that reeks of classic horrors with a more child-friendly twist. However, this unique movie — with more music from Danny Elfman— is still very underappreciated.
Corpse Bride Was Tim Burton’s Spiritual Successor To The Nightmare Before Christmas
Corpse Bride Tells The Story Of A Man Who Accidentally Marries A ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Woman
After Tim Burton did not direct The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride seemed to be an attempt to make up for this missed opportunity, making it the movie’s spiritual successor. Corpse Bride features the same stop-motion style as Nightmare, following another unsure male protagonist who stumbles through some Halloween-themed scenarios before coming to terms with his mistakes and reaffirming his place. Like how Jack is complemented by Sally’s story, Victor (voiced by Johnny Depp) is accompanied by the intriguing female leads of Emily (Helena Bonham Carter) and Victoria (Emily Watson).
After Tim Burton did not direct The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride seemed to be an attempt to make up for this missed opportunity, making it the movie’s spiritual successor.
Against the backdrop of Victorian society, all three main characters are juggling expectations, primarily concerning marriage, while seeking their own happiness and trying to do right by each other. Burton really did ᴀssemble all the pieces of The Nightmare Before Christmas and tried to do it all over again himself, from the visuals to the story playing on Halloween tropes to the compositions of Danny Elfman. The result is actually a very interesting movie with relevant themes, which still holds an admirable 84% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Corpse Bride Didn’t Leave The Same Cinematic Legacy As The Nightmare Before Christmas
Corpse Bride Isn’t Getting Concerts Or Disneyland
However, Corpse Bride doubtlessly doesn’t have anywhere near the legacy of The Nightmare Before Christmas. For the most basic comparison, Nightmare has a higher rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Its characters have a much bigger presence in the cultural zeitgeist, with ᴀssociated events and insтιтutions still celebrating it decades later, from Elfman holding an occasional concert to Jack and Sally having taken over the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. Despite its lackluster original release, The Nightmare Before Christmas had become a beloved classic by the time Corpse Bride came out, and the latter never lived up to the former.
Why Corpse Bride Deserves (Almost) As Much Acclaim As The Nightmare Before Christmas
Corpse Bride Is An Across-The-Board Great Movie, If Not Nightmare’s Masterpiece
Which might even be considered surprising, when Corpse Bride arguably has more of a point than The Nightmare Before Christmas. Perhaps Corpse Bride‘s biggest weakness in terms of this comparison is its soundtrack, which lacks the sheer cleverness that still impresses people today with Nightmare‘s songs. Elfman returned with a few more strong compositions, but it’s nearly impossible to catch lightning in a bottle twice, especially when you are trying to do that. Yet The Nightmare Before Christmas’ circular plot has been noted by fans and critics alike.
Despite its weightier plot and the style to match The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride lacks the тιԍнтer pacing and sheer charisma that previously carried Burton’s vision to greater heights.
Jack Skellington has a midlife crisis, causes chaos, and comes to his senses, while Sally has the more interesting arc. On the other hand, Corpse Bride is about a real tragedy, of a young woman who lost everything seeking happiness in a new love that will free her. Others are struggling with the expectations placed upon them in a stringent society but realize that when they do find love, they have to chase it. Real monsters are hidden behind respectability while the initially repugnant denizens of the land of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ have a sweet moment with their living loved ones.
However, despite its weightier plot and the style to match The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride lacks the тιԍнтer pacing and sheer charisma that previously carried Burton’s vision to greater heights. There was a certain determination behind The Nightmare Before Christmas to make everything perfect and prove the industry wrong, and more personal strife was injected into the songs. Regardless, Corpse Bride still doesn’t get enough credit for its compelling story and artistry, largely because of this inherent compeтιтion.
