While, at first glance, Coraline appears to be a cautionary tale about appreciating what you’ve got and not falling for things that are too good to be true, the movie’s dark and twisted imagery hints to deeper concepts. As proved by the number of screenshots used in this article, the movie contains a wealth of subtle symbols that tell their own story, one that is laced with occultism and the dark process of Monarch mind control.
The entire movie is based on the symbolism of a menacing hand (representing the handler) manipulating a young girl, luring her into a world created to appeal to her psyche. When Coraline escapes (dissociates) to the Other World, the concept of buttons replacing eyes represent the illusory nature of this world and the blindness of those trapped in it. In the end, Coraline appears to vanquish her foe but, as subtle symbolism suggests, she might have simply done exactly what was expected from her all along.
This movie, which features visuals based on the comforting feel of arts and crafts, nevertheless alludes to mind control, the most sadistic practice known to man. In short, it is deception at its finest. As it is the case with many other works in mass media, Coraline‘s hidden meaning can only be understood by those who have “eyes to see”. Unfortunately, most people still have buttons.