Coraline (2009) 4K UHD Limited Edition Steelbook Review

5 star brilliant 15th anniversary release.

Coraline is a 2009 American stop-motion animated gothic fantasy film, based on the 2002 novella of the same name written by Neil Gaiman (Good Omens, Stardust). It is adapted for the big screen and directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) and produced by Studio Laika (Corpse Bride, Kubo and the Two Strings).

To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of it’s release, it is available to own in the UK on 4K UHD Limited Edition Steelbook, as well as Standard Edition Blu-ray from 2nd December 2024, courtesy of Anime Limited.

“You know, this house is a hundred and fifty years old…so explore it. Go out and count all the doors and windows and write that down. List everything that’s blue, just let me work.”

Coraline (Dakota Fanning – Ocean’s Eight, The Watchers) is a young teenager who has just moved into the remote Pink Palace Apartments with her mother Mel (Teri Hatcher – Sundown, Tomorrow Never Dies) and father Charlie (John Hodgman – Arthur, Baby Mama). They are both too busy writing their book to pay her any attention, giving her ample opportunity to explore this gothic and creepy building.

She meets local kid Wybie (Robert Bailey Jr. – The Happening, From the Rough), grandson of the owner of the apartments, as well as The Cat (Keith David – The Thing, Armageddon). Wybie gives her a doll he found in his Grandmother’s house which looks exactly like her, which she names ‘little me’. Her continued explorations turn up a small locked door, which opens up at night and allows her through to another world, just like hers but better. Her ‘other mother’ and ‘other father’ have plenty of time for her and this world is everything she wants. The only notable difference is that everyone has buttons for eyes. When she awakens the next morning, she is back in her own bed.

She meets her upstairs neighbour Mr. Bobinsky (Ian McShane – American Star, John Wick: Chapter 4), an eccentric Russian with a troupe of performing jumping circus mice. She also meets her downstairs neighbours, Miriam (Dawn French – Death on the Nile, The Vicar of Dibley (TV Series)) and April (Jennifer Saunders – Allelujah, Sing 2), aging spinster actresses who seem nice enough but never get her name right. She can’t resist returning to the other, better, world, but she will soon discover that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

“Coraline, we’ve been through this before. Your Dad cooks, I clean and you stay out of the way. I swear, I’ll go food shopping as soon as we finish the catalogue.”

Coraline is a brilliant film, a master class of horror for children. The original story, though changed slightly for this adaptation, is very relatable for kids, feelings of displacement, a sneaking suspicion that the grass is greener on the other side. Also the theme of giving in to temptation only to realise too late that you may have lost what you already had is disturbing even for adults. The image of buttons for eyes is haunting and stays with you long after the credits roll.

The stop-motion animation is breath-taking and shown off to it’s full potential by this excellent 4K restoration. A classic film which thoroughly benefits from a full restoration and will now continue to frighten children for years to come.

It is a PG certificate, so be warned it may not be suitable for more sensitive youngsters, but if you think they can handle it then this is the perfect stocking filling for Christmas this year.

“I’m your other mother silly. Now go and tell your other father that supper’s ready.”

Coraline is available to own now on 4K UHD Limited Edition Steelbook and Standard Edition Blu-ray.