A new 2023 novelization of a 1993 classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas has been converted, frame-by-frame, into the impressive prose of bestselling novelist Megan Shepherd.
For those unfamiliar with the art of novelization, the mission is not to reimagine a film but to literally put it into words without too much disruption of the cinematic product. In consequence, the result is more external-based than internal, like a traditional novel. If you're hoping for vast internal monologues revealing deep motivations from Jack, Sally, Oogie Boogie, or other iconic characters, you may be disappointed.
That said, Shepherd does an excellent job of replaying the film back in slow motion, taking care to analyze every frame so that you "see" the movie in a new light, despite there being no additions or subtractions.
At times, her "close reading" of the film does work to reveal motivation of the characters, however. I, at least, didn't know that there was conflict between Oogie Boogie and Jack because many years prior Oogie had wanted to be the "Bug King" of Halloween.
There's also more clarity as to why Jack longs for something more than being Pumpkin King year after year. This is definitely in the movie, and told through song, but the novel spells it out better so even super fans will have new appreciation for character development told through subtext.
Just how "slowed down" is the novelization? Well, the film clocks in at an hour and thirty-seven minutes. The audiobook is just shy of five hours. Again, that is with no scenes added or subtracted. With the level of detail prose is able to provide, you can't help but experience the film in a new way through this medium.
Speaking of the audiobook, the narrator (MacLeod Andrews) really goes out of his way to make this an experience. He has a miraculous ability to mimic all the film's original voice actors, from Jack to Sally to the witches to the Mayor. It has a very '90s feel about it, and I had to look him up to see if he was somehow involved in the original movie. He definitely wasn't, being surely too young.
Personally, I think audiobook is the way to go with this one. But whatever way you prefer, Nightmare fans will not want to miss this fresh experience of their favorite movie. For me, at least, it was almost like watching it again for the first time.
If you read it, let me know what you think!