I just realized something
I was actually just sitting around, thinking about this movie. I have no clue why. I haven't seen in it's entirety in years but it suddenly popped into my head. But it just occurred to me not five minutes ago that this might be the only movie I've ever seen where a ghost actually MEETS their murderer and yet, can do nothing about it.
This film has an incredibly intense and fast paced climax. But the thing that has always struck me, for years in fact....actually, is the genuinely horrified yet powerless reaction Emily has upon seeing Barkis again. Someone who I'm quite sure she never expected to run into again. But this film takes it a step even further and does not head down the normal route of a ghost (or in this case, a corpse) exacting revenge on their killer. Of course she's still upset, but the murderous intent isn't really there.
And oh my god.... the DESPAIR on her face when he gives her the speech "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride". And worst of all: "Can a heart still break once it's stopped beating?" That line has stuck with me for YEARS. I can't think of a more sombre confrontation between a killer and a victim in any film, animated or not.
This film is probably my favorite of the Stop-Motion Animation genre. And of course only a film maker like Tim Burton could nail the whimsical yet very frightening tone of the film with absolute perfection. And because it's stop motion, the themes and tones of it really do WORK. Had this film been made with real, live actors, I doubt it would have been even half as successful. However, it doesn't even matter. Yes, this film has it's moments of necessary levity to keep it PG, but...the story as a whole was handled with such maturity you so often forget that they are only puppets.