In America, the gothic movie subculture horror took off in the 1970s and 80s as a genre of thrill and fear. The 2009 Laika Studios film Coraline successfully uses horror tactics to unsettle and engage the audience to the story.
Although labeled under the fantasy genre, Coraline is a horror film because it includes horror elements such as mystery and suspenseful environment building.
The atmosphere of suspense is built through environmental factors such as creepy visuals, ominous music, and the emotional distress of the characters. For example, the story opens with an eerie, whimsical tune playing while a creepy mechanical hand sews a doll resembling the main character. The point of view changes to Coraline’s clone doll that changes places by itself. Coraline, produced by Laika Studios, was created using 3D models which gave it a unique art style that increased its unsettling nature. The already creepy art style enhanced the fog, bugs, and skeleton figure of the Beldam. The use of monster-like creatures also validates the horror genre concept. Whenever Beldam shows her true colors, she and the Other Father become terrifying creatures.
The aspect of looming mortal danger, present more near the end, also solidifies the “horror” title. The Beldam, also known as the Other Mother, infiltrates Coraline’s home, disguises herself, and pushes the actual parents away to gain power and a meal. Before Coraline ever encounters the door to the Other World, she comes into contact with an old well surrounded by a mushroom circle, foreshadowing the existence of another world and notifies the audience of Coraline’s future.
Before anything horrifying starts, Wybie’s grandma, Miss Spink and Forcible also foretell danger in Coraline’s future. The attacks of the Beldam, the evil garden, Mr. Bobo, Miss Spink, Miss Forcible, the Other Father, and the hand are all life-threatening. The film is also known for its frequency of jumpscares, which are a common trope in horror movies.
Coraline’ is simply more horror than fantasy. The indication of mystery through problems and concepts veiled in secrecy helps lay a foundation for the building of suspense. From there, suspense takes off with the encapsulation of world-building via music, art, and emotional eeriness. These elements, all unique to the horror genre, being present in this film makes it evident that fantasy is not suitable.
