The Nightmare Recurs This Halloween

Goths, geeks, and weirdos of the world rejoice: the theatrical re-release with a twist of Disney’s classic “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is nigh. The twist? You can now enjoy what was already a creepily realistic bit of masterful claymation in proper 3D. A new way to be drawn into the freakish world of Halloweentown or the saccharine splendor of Chistmastown.

On October 19th Jack the Pumpkin King, Sally, Santa Claus & the rest of the diverse, engaging characters will come to life in a whole new way for a mere three-week engagement, ending November 3rd .

I’ll admit it: I’m a huge fan of the film, though I don’t fall into any of the stereotypical “Nightmare” fan categories. But with undeniably catchy and infectious music and beautiful artistry to the strangely mesmerizing claymation creatures, “Nightmare” quickly became a staple in my movie collection. In fact, I watch it every Christmas. The idea that it doubles as a Halloween film? Even better.

And it’s that Halloween appeal that Disney’s capitalizing on with the timing of the 3D release. The tag line “so real, it’s scary” prepares us for what I fully suspect will be a borderline disturbing cinema experience. As much as the scenery and monstrous cast of characters are engaging, they’re also slightly unnerving. There really is an element of every child’s nightmares in Halloweentown, and when that crosses over to the purity of Christmas, it can catch you off-guard.

No doubt that’s the effect Disney is hoping will draw crowds to participating cinemas while the film goes head-to-head with other Halloween standards such as the inevitable fourth installment in the now-classic “Saw” series. For my part I’ll be there alongside teens in trench coats and Robert Smith hairdos, baffled kids whose parents are reveling in nostalgia, and maybe…just maybe…a whole new generation of “Nightmare” fans who will, a decade and a half since the film’s initial release, keep the movie relevant and exciting for decades to come.