Coraline (2009)

This stop-motion animation tells the story of Coraline, a girl who discovers a new space in her new home and enters another world through a small secret door. There live an 'Other Mother' and 'Other Father' who look exactly like her real parents, but are much more affectionate than her real parents and welcome Coraline by granting all her wishes. However, she soon discovers that a strange and sinister secret is hidden in that world. While it starts with a colorful and fairy-tale-like atmosphere that makes it enjoyable to watch, as the story progresses, the bizarre and dark atmosphere intensifies, making it a surprisingly scary film. I first saw this film when I was in elementary school, and even back then, setting aside the plot, the atmosphere itself felt incredibly frightening. The appearance of the Other Mother and the button eyes, in particular, seemed quite grotesque to my young self, leaving a lasting impression even after watching it.