Claudia Maciel
Block 2
2/14/13
Gothic Elements in Tim Burton’s Films
Tim Burton is an American filmmaker who is famous for his unique use of cinematic
styles. He grew up in Burbank, California watching monster movies that would later influence
his own films. Burton is famous for films such as Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before
Christmas, Corpse Bride, and many more. His style can best be described as gothic. He uses
sound, lighting and a mixture of romance and horror to create this style.
He uses sound to show the gothic style by adding creepy music to the scenes.
For example, in The Nightmare Before Christmas the intro starts in halloween town thats filled
with scary creatures, like one called Mr. Oggie Boogie during this scene he sings, “I am the
shadow of the moon at night, filling your dreams to the brim with fright.” These lyrics show that
Oggie Boogie brings darkness to the town and scares the children till they are filled with fright.
This gives the audience fear. Another example Burton uses the sound technique in his movies to
achieve the gothic style, is in his other great film Edward Scissorhands. In this movie there is a
scene where Peg goes into Edwards house during this part of the movie, Burton uses creepy
music again to put the audience in suspense fearing that something, or someone is going to harm
Peg.
Burton also uses low key lighting to achieve the goth style in his films. In Corpse Bride,
he uses low key lighting behind Emily to show she comes from a dark world of death, Victor
comes from the physical world which is also dark in some ways. In this film he uses lighting to
show that love is bringing two different individuals together from completely different worlds.
The lighting behind Emily creates suspicion that she is dangerous, when she really is a
passionate person. Another example is The Nightmare Before Christmas, this film has a lot of
darkness both visually and emotionally. After we are introduced to the monsters in halloween
town we see Jack in a cemetery on top of a hill, its really dark the only light you see is from the
moon, its behind Jack. This shows that Jack is idolized by many especially Sally because we see
that she really cares for him later in the movie.
Lastly, Burton uses a mixture of romance and horror in his films. For example, in the
movie Edward scissorhands he shows that Edward had a crush on Kim, but she doesn’t give him
a chance at first. This is an example of goth because this is a unusual love affair between a
normal girl and an outcast that has no communication with people. At the end of the film we see
that Kim developed feelings for Edward for being a kind-hearted person, and not based on looks.
Another movie the director uses romance and horror is The Nightmare Before Christmas. This
film shows a twisted love triangle between Jack, Sally, and her inventor Dr. Finkenlstine. Sally is
Jack’s love interest, she is worried about him mixing the christmas culture with the halloween
culture. She tries to warn Jack but she can’t help him because of Dr. Finkelstine and his
controlling ways, she tries to convince him to leave her alone but he refuses to give her up.
In conclusion Tim Burton’s style is gothic. He uses sound, lighting, and a mixture of
romance and horror in order to achieve the style.Tim Burton certainly is a unique hollywood
director that stands out from rest. People who watch his films think that he is a very dark person
and his movies are just about monsters, but his films have a deeper meaning. His films show that
its okay to be an outcast, or a “weirdo” as long as you are yourself people will notice you and
will accept you for who you are.