The Nightmare Before Christmas is secretly the most chilling holiday film

Looking for the scariest place to spend Christmas Eve? Look no further than the North Pole, home of The Polar Express.

Many, myself included, now consider Robert Zemeckis’s 2004 festive adventure a classic. The animation was spellbinding at the time, Alan Silvestri’s score captured the magic of Christmas, and Tom Hanks took on an impressive seven roles. The film remains one of the highest-grossing Christmas films of all time.

As a child, I was captivated by the search for Santa and the holiday spirit. The train, glowing and ethereal, filled with anticipation and enchantment, felt like a dream.

Now as an adult, the movie's unsettling, almost chilling aspects become immediately apparent. Dear lord, those eyes... those eyes!

The Polar Express takes you to the uncanny valley

The Polar Express marked a significant milestone as the inaugural fully motion-capture film. While it has now become a common tool for filmmakers, utilized for characters like Andy Serkis’s Caesar or Josh Brolin’s Thanos, it was still in the developmental stages during the early 2000s.

Despite its achievement, the limitations of the content are apparent right away. Hero Boy appears impressive with his reflective eyes and strands of hair, but his little sister's facial graphics are haunting and reminiscent of the PS3 era, lacking in complexity above the nose, similar to L.A. Noire. The room quickly begins to shake as the radiator sounds like a steam train, signaling the arrival of the Polar Express in its thundering glory. Fortunately, unlike most people in reality, the protagonist does not become overwhelmed by swear-filled confusion as the massive locomotive barrels down his street, reminiscent of a scene from Inception.

The small details in this scene are unsettling; the mechanical toy store that Father Christmas runs seems straight out of a Goosebumps story, young Billy’s home is situated in a snowy wasteland, and some of the children have well-defined faces while others seem almost lifeless. And don’t even get me started on Billy and Hero Girl’s impromptu performance.

But my favorite part of the movie is the arrival of the hot chocolate, with Hanks’ captivating performance and the appearance of waiters who seem to defy all laws of gravity. I find myself singing this song every year, despite my friends’ annoyance. However, I can’t help but think about the potential danger of scalding hot cocoa being passed around the carriage and the possibility of first-degree burns.

Warner Bros.

Let’s discuss the homeless man perched on top of the train with his steaming cups of coffee. He's a mysterious figure who vanishes into thin air whenever he pleases or if he's struck by an overpass. He challenges Hero Boy's faith, all while coming to his rescue in times of danger. Is there a hint of Scrooge in him, symbolizing a future without belief in Santa? Could the Conductor be his source of happiness and hope?

Not as creepy as the 'forsaken and abandoned' toys at the back of the train, one grotesque puppet briefly terrorizes the young lad. It now joins Slappy and Dead Silence’s Billy on the naughty list.

As we reach our destination, the creepiness intensifies. When the trio is separated from the group, they find themselves in an area where the song "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" plays on an old record player, scratching and sticking like 'Quicksilver Girl' in The Strangers.

The elves, oh these elves. Why do they all sound like raspy old men from New Jersey and New York, like English-speaking Gremlins? And why do their faces look like they're just a step away from the creepy 'I Feel Fantastic' clip on YouTube? Why do so many of the characters seem lifeless?

However, despite the unsettling appearances and eerie moments, we will still embark on The Polar Express; a journey to the essence of Christmas, but also a journey to the dark side.

The Polar Express is available to stream on Max and Hulu. Please note that if you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Editor's P/S

As a long-time fan of Christmas movies, I have always held a special place in my heart for "The Polar Express." The film's enchanting visuals, heartwarming story, and memorable music have made it a staple of my holiday viewing tradition. However, upon revisiting the movie as an adult, I couldn't help but notice the unsettling undertones that had previously escaped my childhood perception.

The animation, while groundbreaking at the time, now appears uncanny and even disturbing in certain scenes. The characters' eyes, in particular, seem to hold a haunting quality that adds an eerie atmosphere to the film. The motion-capture technology, though innovative, has not aged well, resulting in some characters looking more like mannequins than living beings. The mechanical toy store run by Father Christmas and the lifeless expressions of some children further contribute to the unsettling ambiance.