The Coraline Door Theory

[@Kelaiah01]

I read one theory regarding why Coraline returns home after falling asleep in the Other World: it's because she didn't reject the real world. Notice how the first two times she goes, it's at night and she thinks it's a dream, so she's not fully committed to the Other World. But the third time, she intentionally goes during the day in an act of rejecting her life in the real world... and thus cannot go back like she used to.

[@purplelavender2848]

That's because the beldam shut down the portal to the bed of her going back to the real world when she wakes up because she probably thought that Coraline wouldn't return to her world but what was the point of doing that when she took her parents from the real world to try to make her come back to hers? she probably was testing Coraline to see how long it would take for her to accept the buttons hence shutting down the portal to the real world from the bed

[@badeggontheyoutube145]

Oooh I like that theory!!

[@Kelaiah01]

@@badeggontheyoutube145 Thank you! :)

[@imcrazy534]

To add to this, in broad daylight the other mother has plausible access to the parents beyond the tunnel because they might be around close to the door, and therefore within reach. Juxtapose this against Coraline having to be lured to the door at night by the mice for the mother to have her.

[@RedSaldana]

I get the thought process behind these theories but usually they can be explained by something very common- aesthetic. Having Coraline go to bed and waking up in her real room in the same position makes for a very pleasing time-lapse cut. Easier to animate. And having Coraline "walk around the globe" and having her come back to the front of the house is, again, just because it LOOKS nicer. This problem comes up a lot with movies in general- directors and editors just want pleasing aesthetics and then audience members take it as "oh that's wrong it has to mean something"

[@maximoesco]

honestly can’t even disagree with you, animation and especially stop motion take SO MUCH TIME, im sure even some times just out of being more efficient with time they just kept the same model for certain parts, and i agree with the aesthetic if she woke up in a different position the scene wouldn’t be as satisfying for the timelapse. I think it’s just fun to over think things and make the movie deeper than it was probably intended.

[@RedSaldana]

@maximoesco oh absolutely! It's a blast making theories for sure. I love watching videos about these things.

[@jacklynnielsen]

however the director or animator said everything in this movie is intentional. They had to animate everything, while yes it could be for looks, it definitely could mean something deeper. I mean they were also able to make rain which is hard to do for stop motion/claymation

[@syweb2]

@@jacklynnielsen "Intentional" also applies to aesthetics, though. Everything is manipulated to create the desired effect, and that includes making things less realistic if they look good or fit a desired narrative or visual theme.

[@hangingrei]

I'd agree with you if it wasn't for the many animation cuts they had simply because it didn't fit the atmosphere of the movie. Not only that, in the deleted scenes extra, the director mentions a dream that Coraline was supposed to have instead of simply waking up in her real room. Here's how the director described the scene: (Link to extra) kzbin.info/www/bejne/gn_ThWyOisyphqM "Coraline is meant to dream of these mice that come into her dream and they were going to sort of sing to her and then disappear-- and in shifting sequences around in the film that dream disappeared. We went right to Coraline going to the other world the first time she goes to bed." Knowing that the mice were the ones that led Coraline to the other world, it wouldn't make sense that they'd bring her back to the real one, especially after entering her dream and luring her further in with the song and dance.

[@natyc19]

I think someone mentioned this in their theory but the Beldam doesn't just want their souls but the love of the children bc it's more powerful that way

[@StarlasAiko]

There are plenty of old European folk tales and fairy tales in which the supernatural creature needs consent to victimise the targetted human. It's the Deal with the Devil kind of scenario. The Beldam seeking the child's love and consent might not be a matter of want but may be an essential physical requirement to be able to gain the child's soul.

[@TheAlbaner990]

The author commented on the story being a faerie tale which kin of confirmes the whole idea in my mind

[@MrAdryan1603]

The Fangirl's Coraline theories are the best I've heard since I first saw the movie. She's the first person I heard who had this theory. You must watch her 46 Coraline theories lol. They are amazing

[@hannahlarocco4699]

Wow

[@moomimi]

It was by The Theorizer he has a really fleshed out videos of Coraline. That brought this to light ages ago. That Coraline is stuck in Limbo and that Beldam feeds of the love from the children or them being there.

[@vionaelbe]

I always thought the first two times Coraline went to the Other World, it happened in her dreams. Dreams induced by the Other Mother, sure, but still dreams. The fact that she woke up in the "real world" every time, and the weird spiral things you can see through the windows when Coraline runs through the hallway in the real (dream) world... I never even thought twice about it.

[@badeggontheyoutube145]

woah... it makes sense! I never thought about it, I really like your theory!

[@Crafty_boy70]

Then how did her poison oak rash heal? I thought that was a plot point proving that the otherworld was real.

[@steamedhamlet]

I love thos theory. Makes sense and is in keeping with how magical seduction begins in a more ethereal and spiritual way like through dreams. As to how the poison oak was healed I wonder if Coraline didn't just dream but also sleep walked. Like she was walking around in the same spaces of the house but in a different dimension.

[@Rashnov836]

The only thing wrong with this theory comes when reading the book. There's a decent amount of things that are different such as Coraline getting the magic rock before going through the door for the first time in the book.

[@NeyamRye]

Oh

[@DeathnoteBB]

Well yeah Wybie isn’t in the book either. The book isn’t the movie

[@catpoke9557]

I think the empty part of the world is always there. Where you wind up when you leave it is irrelevant because nothing exists there. Nothing. Even direction is meaningless.

[@maximoesco]

I love how u worded that, i agree 1000%! it’s actually so scary thinking about it that way cause that means once u enter everything is just an illusion

[@catpoke9557]

@@maximoesco Yup!! It's really scary

[@Faulk425]

It's like a spider's web, she has to lure and wait for people to come through the door and get trapped (she cant drag them through), but she can also cut people out of the web and send them back. The door is an unreliable escape but it's either that or the beldam cutting you out.

[@maximoesco]

Love that, it's like the other world is just her big spider web.

[@aysealtn1669]

🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕸️🕸️🕸️🕸️

[@SupernaturalSalt]

i love how at the end he's just like "idk maybe i'm just overthinking"

[@shpaldi]

My theory is that when coraline met whibey there was mushrooms around the well and maybe she took them and is just tripping

[@maximoesco]

lmaooo thats such a funny theory

[@maruchanfideos]

this comment caught me off guard😭😭😭

[@pikachu-hd6lr]

Bruh🏃

[@Kijunn_]

That's probably the only explanation lmaoo

[@jm7781]

I got a simpler explanation, Beldam is a fairy and she needs to play by fairy rules. So she needs permission to take a soul, be it a "yes I accept" or a fair bet.

[@alandoyle1077]

Sorry if I’m being rude saying this but does your theory have any proof?

[@jm7781]

@@alandoyle1077 yes, but is way to much to put into a post. It goes from the fae imagery in movie and book to Beldam meaning beautiful lady.

[@pancakesxoxo1064]

Does your theory have something to do with the fairy circle? I need to know more 😭

[@pancakesxoxo1064]

What are the fairy rules exactly?

[@alandoyle1077]

@@jm7781 oh ok

[@rhyanjethro]

The other mother “loves a good game”, and the cat knows that. Maybe the “players” of the game aren’t the other mother and Coraline, but the other mother and the Cat. Coraline is merely the deck of cards that the players use in order to determine the winner, and the last scene basically just tells us who won 😂🤣

[@maximoesco]

dude this is such a cool theory

[@rhyanjethro]

The horror of it is that we are just pawns in a game between cosmic entities 😄

[@inplane9970]

That's actually the most plausible yet simplified theory to connect everything. The Cat is mentioned to be a powerful entity that even the Other Mother is cautious of, yet didn't do much to show why he's so powerful. And that's probably because the rules of the game forbade him from doing so or he had no reason to. It's just two god-like creatures making bets in their own pocket dimension.

[@Rara_baha]

Wait the cat won right

[@a_naotenhonome780]

6:31 My theory is just that perhaps a soul filled with love is stronger than a soul that was forced to be surrendered through fear, thus making a soul that loved her like a mother be nourishing so it makes her live longer than consuming a soul that instead of willingly giving in for her was forced through fear. This explains why she presents herself as a more caring version of the child's original mom, because she needs the child to love her and give up their soul by free will.

[@cellular7881]

My theory is that like demons the Beldam needs consent in order for her to gain Coraline's soul. Kind of like a deal with the devil.

[@wulkanichuj]

yeah and beldam is a fairy i think so she wants the consent rather than just simply taking the children

[@StarlasAiko]

Acording to one theory I have seen recently, the "barrier" between the real world and the Other World has been opened when Coraline steps into/damages that ring of mushrooms (Fairy Ring) around the old well. That is when the Fog started.

[@DrZalmat]

The parents had snow on their clothes because as we were able to see earlier it was very cold and icy behind the mirror. That is explained perfectly...

[@maximoesco]

Yes i know, but if Coraline was back in her real reality this wouldn’t have happened because its not realistic, As i explained once she found out Beldam was a monster her reality got weird, her parents being trapped in the mirror doesnt make sense because how can she control and take her parents if they never went through the tunnel? This would either mean she can control both realities or Coraline is still in Beldams reality

[@dadstealer69]

@@maximoesco what about the doll? you don't think the beldam used the doll of her parents to get them through the door to capture them??

[@sparkleyy9473]

@@maximoesco yeah exactly what I was thinking, beldam can't control the reality, even with the doll all she does is spy on her next prey, if she could control the reality then she wouldn't have to go through so much shit so I do like to believe that all the weird things happening in the real world such as her parents getting trapped in the mirror are actually happening in the other world

[@Thetransformerfan]

I saw a theory and they theorized that the Mist/fog was controlled by the beldam because it only set in when the door was opened.

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@maximoescoMy theory for that was the entire story is her imagination. She’s lonely and bored, so she imagined the mysterious door in her house leads somewhere else. Remember the house is an exact replica of hers. She’s just playing pretend in her own house.

[@badeggontheyoutube145]

I personally dislike the theory that coraline never left, not only because it makes no sense to me, but mostly because the book makes it very clear that she comes back to the real world. I think the cat vanishing is just a stylistic choice cause it looks dope. I think that if the beldam had the power to create a world that's exactly the same as the real one, without button eyes (because it creeps the kids out), she would have done it from the start. But I really enjoyed the video! I suggest everybody to check out the book, because it's very spooky and fun, and it's gives more source material for new theories! Like, the rats in the book are extra weird, I remember spending hours thinking what do they want. They can sing for some reason? But can't talk tho. They creep me out.

[@lixxiin777]

i agree but i also think she chose to have most of the characters have button eyes as a way to signal to coraline "look, everyones wearing them. nothing bad is gonna happen to you" maybe to make coraline feel like she sticks out

[@badeggontheyoutube145]

@@lixxiin777 oooh makes sense!

[@staydetermined6717]

And the mist/fog goes away after she escapes and it’s a clear day, before hand it always so Damn foggy

[@wulkanichuj]

maybe the button instead of eyes are kinda scary, but if you think ab it more theyre also really interesting and fastinating, especially for children that are bored all the time, theyll take anything

[@jtteope1178]

also the cat can just canonically travel between the dimensions, this is a reach

[@NightCloudI]

I'm so glad people are still making theories about this masterpiece. ❤

[@poolpaws]

magic exists in the movie so why can't Coraline be a witch? she could be a witch with sparse control of her powers rather than a normal human. maybe her powers work best in her sleep. she could be transporting herself back home through her own magic. after all, it would not make much sense for the other mother to want her to leave. I think its through her very own magic. and the cat only speaks to her, and is drawn to her for an "unknown" reason. he is her familiar. forgive me if this is too "fanfic"-ish, but it explains a lot, including why she was the victim of the other mother. a young witches soul must be extremely valuable (and nutritious) to a creature like that.

[@NeyamRye]

True true and with the stitching rod thing and fairy circle

[@poolpaws]

@@NeyamRye thank you for mentioning those hints as well!

[@thecookj454]

Ya'll are reaching

[@Lucasifii]

Interesting ideas. I had watched a theory several years ago that conspiracies on the idea that Coraline never left the Other World after "defeating" the Beldam, and that this again was part of the simulation, hence us seeing the cat go back through the other world at the end of the film; the idea that the other world is still existent after the final events. Said theorizer described it as the "Pink Palace Limbo" and it's at the very least food for thought. I'm inclined to believe it, because how realistic is it for a child to win this game that's set for her against a supernatural being? Furthermore,, demonstrated by a commentator, "On the cake, at the end, it says “welcome home” the “o” in the home is double crossed and when an o is double crossed, it means the person is lying. This means that that she is welcome but she is not home (this theory is from jessi vee,, i think)"

[@maximoesco]

woooooah the o thing is such a cool detail thats insane, and yea i’m saying!!!! like how could little ol coraline beat such a powerful being

[@chexfan2000]

Coraline winning is as realistic as the Beldam existing in the first place. Idk how you missed this but there aren’t actually magic portals to other worlds or talking cats or ghost children. Realistically, Coraline would just be bored in that house, end of the story. Suggesting that fairy tales become more realistic by changing their endings to be more cynical is absurd. Fairy tales are not ever realistic.

[@Lucasifii]

@@chexfan2000 With all due respect sir, the graphic novel and film are quite literally fictional thrillers. The book literally has a fairy in it, and the well is surrounded by a fairy ring. Regardless, I've been pretty neutral in most of my perspectives on the conspiracies of this film, as I've never been somebody who likes to take everything at face value and mimic the crowds. However, there are a lot of hidden details that stand out enough to get people thinking, and I think Neil and the movie directors did a great job with it, hence why people are still talking about it a decade and a half later. The Fangirl's theory is that yes, this fictional creature has already "won" in the sense that Coraline will never return, and she simply poses as her real parents (given that we've seen her do this without the use of buttons). I too see flaws with this argument, as how long can an act like that be totally pursued? What does "eating up their lives" mean? It's all food for thought, but I don't think we should disavow everything on the basis that it's fiction when it is quite literally a fictional movie lol

[@chexfan2000]

@@Lucasifii with absolutely zero respect, idiot, i was complaining about your use of the word “realistic” and wow looks like you didn’t address that one bit, in your little essay here. the beldam is clearly based in folklore and fairy tales, and thus it’s actually super “””””””””””””””realistic””””””””””””””” to expect the plucky young girl protagonist to defeat it by tricking it, because anyone who has the slightest familiarity with folklore and fairy tales knows they tend to follow story structure’s that don’t have twist “gotcha” endings or secret fake happy endings to trick the audience and only galaxy brained cynics know that actually the ending is a downer. it’s un”rEaLiStIc” to think that the book and movie have such an ending. it’s like the “rugrats are in hell” theory; it’s not based on anything suggested by the text, the conclusion was invented because such conclusions do well online, then justification was (thinly) devised to allow for the content creator to get clicks. It’s a cynical idea, created for cynical reasons, and cynicism is not realism.

[@egyptianflatearther6495]

If you read about space stuff, a blackhole sounds like a scary mythical monster that kills everything​@@chexfan2000so atheist fairy tales exist, they are just a lot more depressing and meaningless compared to religious tales (and I believe religion to be absolutely true)

[@King-Of-The-Demons]

My theory for why the Beldam need permission is that, like a demon, she can’t just take someone’s soul, because for whatever reason, that’s how it works with demons (at least in The Conjuring movies)

[@pug_frost7246]

No such thing as overthinking when it comes to stuff like this. I really enjoyed your take. I hope you keep sharing your thoughts.

[@maximoesco]

thank you so much pug that means a lot :D

[@rosezelecki1756]

I've never watched this movie. But now I feel I must! It certainly was a favorite of my children. I think your description makes me even more curious to know "why" they liked it so much! 😊

[@maximoesco]

should definitely watch it! gotta be one of my favorite movies, its a little creepy but the story and characters are amazing

[@-theHappiestPerson-]

@@maximoesco when I was younger I always chose i watch this movie, despite being horribly terrified.

[@Futurebound_jpg]

I had nightmares about this movie as a kid and it was still my favorite movie! It’s just so fantastical and beautiful, and unique! When every other kids movie is so formulaic, even the amazing ones like how to train your Dragon, this weird creepy movie really stands out from the crowd. I feel like it’s more of a moving art piece than a children’s film!

[@Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbebb]

I certainly hope you get what you deserve for not watching it

[@petraleopold2713]

​@@BbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbebbLmfao wtf chill😂

[@painterguy6469]

Honestly, I believe that the whole reason as to why Coraline kept waking up in the real world after falling asleep was due to the Beldam simply teleporting her to her bed; as to why or how, simple: she's in full control of the other world meaning that she could control who leaves and enters (except for the cat), essentially making Coraline leave so she experinces small doses of her perfect world, making her want more and making her return again and again until locking her in once she knew she wasn't very fond of having buttons in her eyes.

[@lunalee8174]

one thing i don't see people mentioning is that when coraline runs out of the other house and ends up in the empty part of the world, she leaves from the *back door*. she ends up at the front of the house because she left out of the back. so yes, she did go in a circle.

[@maximoesco]

whaaaat…. noooo.. cause.. noo.. right?? nooo… cause she…. nooooo…

[@Bamgeutcutiepie]

i think she gets back for real bc i don't think she got back when she was sleeping. i think throughout the movie she is in the fake world and only once we see her go through the actual door again, is she back for real. and i think the disappearing cat is either an easter egg type of thing. or whatever it's called. OR the cat can do whatever it wants in either world - and perhaps is the bell dame's helper.

[@naniengine]

"You can't sleep while there are enemies nearby."

[@maximoesco]

lmaooo

[@rebe3426]

Stop motion is insane

[@maximoesco]

its so insane

[@djupiter5343]

Super insane

[@NicolasMcGrogan]

Mega insane

[@JappoM-m2v]

Ultra insane

[@ugwtbmgf]

This is one of the best videos explaining this theory

[@maximoesco]

i actually appreciate that so much

[@jeniferjoseph9200]

I don’t really buy into this theory, and I’ll explain why. It makes a lot more sense that the rats are the ones who carried coraline back because as the cat explained their principle role is to keep watch on coraline and report back to Other Mother. The scene where we see that the parents are trapped in the mirror was always weird to me as a kid, and admittedly the Other Mother may have influenced what Coraline was seeing, but there’s too much evidence that the world in that scene and in other scenes like it is real. The Beldam is not creative enough to make up a store where the only thing Coraline likes are the gloves.

[@purplelavender2848]

The doll with the button eyes wasn't with her when they were at the store this would explain how the other mother didn't know coraline wanted gloves and not a sweater

[@coolbeans5911]

i just assumed it's because cats have always been associated with the supernatural and being "familiars". So the story played on the black cat superstition by adding one to a fairytale-ish world where the magic system is rather loose. Beldam kind of reads as a witch from old timey folktales (luring kids with treasures only to want to eat them) and adding a mysterious talking cat just fits the whole vibe, instead here the cat is not a servant to the witch but to the child. It would however be interesting to consider whether the cat was a Beldam sidekick at first but then changed their alliances as they became more connected with the human world and the kids that were preyed upon. The cat being otherworldly and able to still travel across worlds at the end validates the existence of the supernatural and that while this particular monster was defeated, we are never really safe and should always use our intuition to differentiate between what is true and good and what is a shiny lie Coraline is such a special tale because even though it has been YEARS, fans old and new are still speculating about it. These theories are so much fun

[@Inaya-Shakeira]

Each time another youtuber comes through with another theory, my heart rate just increases. Like goodness this movie really is just pure gold.

[@z.vfx__]

coraline leaves through the back door to go to the well which is behind the house, so basically she did walk around the world and the thing about how she moved to her room by going to sleep, i think magic was being used 😭this video has so many reaches but i enjoyed it!

[@maximoesco]

whaaaat…. noooo.. cause.. noo.. right?? nooo… cause she…. nooooo…

[@nervshmrv1245]

2:51 Nah, Coraline's mom takes her to a clothing store with hundreds of other people, so she couldn't have replicated everything

[@superhase3206]

Yes, exactly what i thought it must be real, my theory is the first 2 times she is dreaming, and the beldam influences her dreams, she has - as we know influence on the real world, as she "spawned" and moved the doll. I dont think the guy watched the movie xD haha

[@ebuzzy782]

one thing that ruins this theory for me is that; basically all of Beldam's creations always have buttons for eyes, so if she faked coraline's parents going missing wont the fake "real" parents have button eyes aswell?

[@maximoesco]

The reason all of Beldams creations have buttons for eyes are because she owns their souls. Also Beldam when in her final form doesn’t have buttons for eyes. Beldam doesn’t own Coralline’s parents souls and also if Beldam can create entire realities and houses and people and huge gardens and flying insects im sure she can create human eyes. If Beldam recreated her parents with button eyes Coraline wouldn’t have went back through the tunnel she had to make it believable for her to go back. I don’t know just my opinion thank u for watching and sharing yours:D

[@radioisactive7590]

I don't know if the other mother CAN take Coraline's eyes if she doesn't agree to it.

[@Maddier-pn1wj]

I took it as vampire rules, they need permission before entering your house lol

[@maximoesco]

YES exactly how I thought about it too! 🧛

[@Fountainova]

I like to think that the door is the one thing she cannot manipulate, like if you make a game you NEED to place a spawn point, so the Beldam can only move the door but not completely remove it. But you could argue that she could move the real door somewhere else, so the other possibility is that she cannot alter the actual house, she could manipulate how it looks but not actually change everything around, she HAS to have the same house as the victim, the exact layout. It is like the spawn point thing, but instead of a small little thing like a door/spawn instead it’s a whole model, a whole house. It could be a power limitation, she can manipulate things but she needs to work with the victims house and everything. It’s the only benefit they have. Knowing their house layout.

[@playitpurple007]

Honestly coraline one hits home for me because she’s the only child just like me, and her boredom and defensive curious actions is what she actually needs to maneuver around her strange reality 🤌🏽

[@saiyanc137]

I think Beldam is much like Pennywise from the It book/mini series/films. He could devour anyone at anytime. But that’s not good. That’d be like eating raw cabbage, lukewarm water, and stale bread. Sure, it would keep him alive, but the fear (especially from children) is what nourishes him, keeps him strong and it adds flavor. I think the same applies for Beldam but with love instead. And her game with Coraline was basically her settling for a basic salad. She tried “over cooking” her food and now she can’t get the flavor (love) she wanted. But she still has to eat.

[@maximoesco]

YESS Exactly! You described that so good! You’re right coraline wouldn’t be a tasty deserved snack if she didnt get the love and game out of it, and ur so right about the over cooking thing because when she realizes she wont get the love, she just settles and tries to just eat coraline even though it wont taste as good but yes still needs the plain salad to survive. And pennywise is such a perfect example. Thank you so much for sharing that and watching the video !!

[@Eshtian]

Who said the cat can't teleport in the real world? It's never stated that he couldn't

[@pimpedouthair]

They need to make a at least up to a part 5 for this movie to make sence!

[@maximoesco]

i wish !! If just one movie can have so many theories I couldn’t imagine 5

[@teacoon6399]

Beldam is most likely a sort of Fae. There are some Fae who can act without permission, but there's a lot of Fae who can't act without permission.

[@lukeketcheson]

thank you for getting to the point immediately

[@teeheeteeheeish]

I mean I guess, but in the end she is interacting with the quirky characters that live nearby which I think are represented as being quirky enough to be not replicate-able

[@delfoloveakadellasmissiona1369]

The book provides more explanation that fills in the gap. Including the corridor.

[@Miwi-cars]

1. Im not sure if anyone else has this theory it goes along with this one but I think that coralines parents are trapped from the start because her parents are trapped inside the magic mirror room thingy but if the world is actually a simulation they’ve been trapped since she walked in the room 2. I think that since coraline walked through the door that’s means that she is now if the simulation 3. It combats a theory I said but since bedlam controls that doll she was always in the real world and she can mess with the real world because part of her spirit is in the real world

[@Kitty_Girl_Candi]

"And have snow dripping off them when there is definitely no snow outside" They were trapped in a snow globe for crying out loud.

[@Jinbustu]

2:05 Unless if the other mother deliberately can MAGICALLY teleport her back into the real world on her bed

[@thethingiamrn]

some one on tiktok also made a point suporting the theory that coraline never left .Using the squid, in the regular world it has one point while in the other world it has cat ears, at the end when shes supposed to be in the regular world the squid still has cat ears meaning shes most likely still in the other world

[@maximoesco]

woooooah thats actually so crazy, its so cool people can find little things like that

[@Timmyjg2004]

Please do more theory’s on this movie and others like sponge Bob etc, I’ve subscribed in case you do!

[@maximoesco]

I will! Thank you so much for the support it means a lot!

[@KaitoKatterns-c4q]

I thought the cat disappearing was to show us (the viewers of the movie) that the other world and the bedlam exists.

[@AveryHyena]

Good all for except the garden looking like the beldam's face. It looks like her face because she was the original owner of the pink palace. Also, the beldam isn't a "supernatural spider creature". She is just a normal person. Or she used to be. What IS supernatural, is the other world that "was there before and will be there when you fall". The reason the beldam looks like this is because she's augmenting herself in order to survive, using the powers and rules of the other world. The beldam is a victim. She's just trying to survive.

[@PsychicEdge4812]

This theory has been debunk cause in the book the cat can disappear in the real world

[@elijahdiablo7310]

Yeah but the thing with movie adaptations of books is the director can change it to how they interpret and want to show the story. For example with American Psycho the book is a lot different to the movie

[@Laschietotsk]

"I dunno maybe I'm just overthinking" is the best outro to a theory video lmao

[@TheLaufeyfan]

TLC waterfalls is a really good explanation as the main line in the song '' dont go chasing waterfalls please stick to the rivers and the lakes that your used to'' is saying dont hope for things you you cant get/achieve as it will haunt you for a long time

[@TheAlbaner990]

The author actually kind of confirmed that the story is one about fairies. This kind of explains a lot, not only the powers but also the necessity of why she needs coraline and the premission, i think if you focus more on this lore piece you could make even more interesting theories.

[@maximoesco]

woah thats so crazy that was actually confirmed, thats so awesome to know

[@ikeschrager9903]

This movie used to creep me out as a kid I don’t think I’ve ever watched it again might have to check it out

[@marcelguinhos9022]

I think the correct explanation is that the first times she entered the door, it was a dream. And the last time she was actually there. Or maybe, she cant stay there, and when the other mother gives her the clothes she cannot go back by simply sleeping.

[@Editz_Shannon22]

5:17 im sorry but the way he said beldam lmao

[@syweb2]

2:28 I figured she was just teleported. 5:58 The snow is from the "inside" of the mirror.

[@tauqueishachester9844]

That’s true but why didn’t the parents feel the snow melting plus the dad was behind the mother he didn’t see the snow

[@MariiaSidorenkova]

Haven't heard about this theory from any sources, but ... When Coraline talks to other children they tell her "She ate up our lives". And their souls are still fine (yes they are scared and weak, but not eaten, not damaged as a persona, and very very salvageable). This made me think that the other mother is not hunting souls - they are just the leftovers from the meal - she is hunting lives. That is why, I think that the beldame allows Coraline to "escape" back to what Coraline believes to be her true reality to continue living her normal live - while actually this is another simulation created by beldame to consume Coraline's live (because she will be living it not in reality but in this simulation, which is some kind of a spider like slow digesting process). And the whole purpose of the game in the other world is to make Coraline believe that she did escape and ask less questions about her "real" life which will be slowly eaten up by the beldame.

[@Justyourregularskatergirl]

People who wish the film makers would just explain the entire story 👇

[@iantopia9132]

my theory is that Beldam can’t replicate things she hasn’t seen, for example, she doesn’t know how whyibe (or whatever you spell his name) voice sounds, so she CAN’T make his talk, She doesn’t know how the World looks After the pink palance, so thats why it’s white outside, BECAUSE SHE DOESN’T KNOW HOW IT LOOKS, All the things that Are made to spy coraline are Inside the house, not outside, plus what would be the whole point of the movie if coraline doesn’t escape?

[@Froggerpoggers]

I honestly just thought since she loved sewing buttons on dolls, she entered the door and her dolls came to life and it was like her lesson that dolls also want eyes or something

[@Lauren-thequeen]

0:18 was a jump scare

[@ender7278]

I'm pretty sure she just teleported back into her real bed. Seems perfectly reasonable given how magical the Other World is.

[@crazedblade2585]

beldam is not the btw , the entity is in charge . beldam is terrified of the entity

[@Shadowswolf9666]

6:40. No. Pennywise doesn't use "Love" as his secret ingredient, it is ALWAYS fear. He has self admitted and shown across all media that he loves the FEAR, of his victims, and doesn't "think love is better tasting" that is just nonsense you put in to make a flimsy theory seem stronger, but did the opposite. I don't even know why you showed the Georgie clip, as he intentionally makes the child very frightened by taking a lil nibble off the arm before dragging him to literal hell.

[@HopperYTRealChannel]

I think it’s like a dungeon trap you go in four times the first time you leave by an external method you stay inside thinking you left but you are still inside the dungeon but you go in 3 more times making you 2 floor

[@Fayanora]

The Bel-dame's world is like something in my own writing called a hollow hill. IE, a pocket universe. The main one I have in my writing is a grid of corridors that were anchored imperfectly, so they don't look like just a space that's larger on the inside than the outside. The corridor grid is 26 corridors going one way and 24 intersecting those. If you walk down, say, corridor A all the way past 1 through 24, the next corridor you will find is corridor 1 again. This is because it's a pocket universe that hasn't been made to conform to the topography or rules of the main universe. So the rules are different. I'm sure someone with a math or physics background could better explain what's going on there and why, but my main point is that if the Bel-dame's realm was a similar sort of pocket universe or pocket dimension, it would loop back around on itself like... like a Möbius strip. But a kid isn't going to necessarily know what a Möbius strip is, in fact many adults won't know either. So the cat used an imperfect metaphor to get across the gist of the idea. It's not perfect, but not everyone is going to realize what the imperfection is, especially not a kid. And being perfect wasn't the point, because it was just a metaphor, the best one Coraline was likely to be able to understand.

[@Lunar_enigma]

This isn’t like other theories. This isn’t one that doesn’t “line up” or not make sense. It perfectly adds up, and makes so much sense . And if this theory is true, Beldam was at-least nice enough to let her have victory. But it leaves on more question. What happened to the real parents and real realm…?

[@peytoncooke1334]

I remember seeing this but I believe she is still in the other world even when she returns through the tunnel. In the beginning of the movie her mother looks like she has a crooked or curved nose but every shot after that even when she’s in her supposed “ real world” her mother has a straight nose.

[@radiantkylie]

This was such a good theory. I wish it was longer lol

[@DanlB0]

The only reason Coraline didn’t wake up in the real world is because she pretended to fall asleep

[@yvonnejoachim5487]

0:18 is kinda spooky 🎃

[@DonCorleone139]

Just had a heart attack

[@annmariapaulson1310]

There’s a theory that coralline can only go back if the other mother tucks her in the first and second time the bedlam tucks her in but the 3rd and 4th time coralline doesn’t get permission from the bedlam 2 leave the other world

[@coreydx8602]

Its definitely a reach, plus, why was her hand the only thing that was able to move? If she was still in the fake world, you would use your entire body, not just her hand.

[@yourstrulykaai]

The reason why coraline was able to win was because the bedlam’s victims were going through real stuff. The boy in blue, most likely the Great Depression, Wybies grandma, segregation between whites and black ppl, and the one in pigtails, i can only assume she was just poor or something. Those children had real things to run away from. Coraline was just a bored kid. She doesn’t show signs of neglect. Plus she is a bit older. Think about child predators. They don’t target preteens or teenagers. They prefer a target who wont question things. Coraline questioned everything which is why she was able to win.

[@otamatonecomedy.6424]

The book says that when Coraline is exploring int the real world the mist is so dense that she unintentionally walks back to where she started, that is happening in the fake world as well

[@TotalContemplation]

I may be nitpicking, but "Beldam" isn't her name or title. It's another word for 'witch' or 'demon fairy' or 'old hag' or 'beautiful woman'... I got carried away. In this story's context, it's probably witch/evil fairy.

[@maximoesco]

I do refer to her in the beginning as other mother, but I know a lot of people referred to her as the Beldam, and even when looking up on Google what her name was it said "The “other mother” - also called the beldam" I think it's cool how many meanings Beldam can have though thank for you sharing I actually didn't know that!

[@TotalContemplation]

@maximoesco oh, yeah, the ghost kids call her "the Beldam". It's fascinating because, in the book, one of the ghost children is a fairy, and she is the one who uses the word "Beldam". It's created much speculation as to the origin of the word. I apologize, though. It sounded like you may have been using it as the Other Mother's name. I see now you were not.

[@maximoesco]

No need to apologize I did refer to her as Beldam for most of the video so It practically seemed like I was using Beldam as her name I apologize for that.. It was just shorter than saying other mother so I ended up sticking with it... The kid being a fairy is so interesting, I really need to check out the book it sounds so cool

[@TotalContemplation]

@@maximoesco oh, yes! The book is absolutely fantastic! It's different, but very well worth it. I believe Neil Gaimon, like Henry Selek, is very particular about what he adds into the story: nothing is incidental. Even the words he uses are carefully thought out. I'm working on a book analysis myself. Hey- thank you for responding! Keep up the good work!

[@briannahansen7641]

Well to be technical Coraline still got what she wanted and that was her real mother and father, and the cat did say even if Coraline did win the other mother would still get what she wanted, as a win win scenario, I think that's what the other mother was going for at the moment.

[@Peridot5XGandLapisLazuli]

aslo some people talk about the picture of the boy with ice cream in the real world the ice cream fell but in the Beldam's world the ice cream was in his hand while he was eating it and in 4:29 it was the same at the Beldam's so she could still be in the other world. Thoughts anyone?

[@teenagedreqm]

Exactly!

[@4TL4SZFL00FYZNS]

My theory is that she died going in of hunger because her real body was back at home, and it's her soul travelling through different diemonsions, different parallel universes...

[@Calypso694]

I like how coralline has become Blade Runner

[@luveroza]

underrated video ❤

[@maximoesco]

really appreciate that :)

[@TSM-Gandhi]

I have a theory building off of the theory in the comments that the other mother chooses to let go of coralline into the Rea world and because of this she gets a slight grip on the real world so because of this she can put the real parents into the mirror . Like a spider letting go of it’s prey in a web

[@no1z1bo1]

Is it possible the doll was also a sort key? A means of teleporting beings that weren't the Beldam in and out of the other world? Which would be why Coraline would wake up in her room in the mornings as well as why the Beldam could take Coraline's parents after she remade the doll into both of them?

[@warpathh]

Yes. You are overthinking it. Go read House of Leaves if you want an actual mystery.

[@robinpetel3273]

The well that they put the key in looks like the tunnel

[@airzclipz]

The relation of bedlam to pennywise is actually so accurate

[@sarahbutler542]

Also when she goes back to the real world and goes shopping with her mom there is a creepy lady staring at them from outside.

[@BeMoreWeird]

This is plausible to me, but I'd have to watch it again

[@natyc19]

Is this theory based on both the book and the movie or just the movie?

[@maximoesco]

i never personally read the book, but some theories i referenced could have been linked to the book

[@alexgassaway426]

Just read the book a little while ago and this theory could never work in the book version. In the book, she goes through the door one time, gets thoroughly freaked out, and leaves through the door. Then, realizing her parents are gone, goes back through, does the game and pretty much a different version of the second half of the movie, and returns through the door. She only sleeps in the alternate dimension once, the time where she also wakes up in it. Also, in the book the corridor is more of a character in itself - something both the cat and the Other Mother fear - so It’s unlikely that it’s an illusion. As far as the cat, it’s explained that the cat can travel through backdoors in the dimensions at will, and against the will of the Other Mother - ruling out the idea that he can only do it in her dimension. It’s also a prevalent theory that the mist (present in both versions) is a medium that she can travel and manipulate through, which would explain how she could abduct her parents from the other side.

[@Strawberry33d]

Her parents are way off at the start of the movie they just want Coraline to go away but at the end is a more realistic perfect world so Coraline would think it’s real.

[@rainbowprisimatic]

the reason her parents had snow on them was cuz they were trapped inside the snowglobe - though they thought they were in a freezer or smth - which is a critical part of the movie, as its how she learns her parents were specifically kidnapped to begin with (speaks to them through the mirror and then the camera pans to the snowglobe), and an object she aims to get back (so she can break it) in order to free them before they freeze to death. which is why she fights the other-mother at the end like she did, and why she even tried so hard to obtain the snowglobe at all despite the key seeming more important lore-wise.

[@maximoesco]

yes i know, what i was trying to say from bringing that up is that it was unrealistic and in the real world i don’t think that could’ve happened. This ties back to the theory that the end place coraline ends up at at is still the other world since theres still magic. Thank u for watching and taking the time to share ur knowledge hopefully what i said makes sense :D

[@rainbowprisimatic]

oooh i see! sorry for misunderstanding you initially, then. either way, your video was rather fun to watch ^^ @@maximoesco

[@jtotheulian708]

here is a thought: what if we all are part of the beldams world. The world we live in is made by her, everyone we know is made by her. we walk through a normal door and we are transported into that world. We don't know if the enterance has to be some fancy blue and purple tunnel it could just be normal. What if the beldam is just somewhere in the world and we have yet to see her. What if we see her just as we are about to die like she is the grim reaper

[@maximoesco]

stop ur scaring me

[@SimplyC.C.]

they were in a snow globe at 6:00

[@SebastianColomer]

When she goes into the tunnel what if she cut it? Would you see?

[@retrosprawl3022]

If you did not notice when she goes back to her real world, the picture of the boy with the ice cream is still exactly the same as it is in the other world he has all ice cream if you go to the beginning of the movie the little boy in the picture doesn’t have like the ice cream fell off of the cone, but when she goes back to thinking her real world the little boy still has all the ice cream on the cone 😮😮😮

[@AzaelRulz]

It being a simulation does make sense, most people would say, that's not possible because everyone in the Other World has button eyes, but we see that the Beldam is capable of imitating people WITHOUT them as she does with Mel to make Coraline believe it's really her. And especially the ending? Throughout the movie, no one in the real world had any sort of character growth. And as shown by Mel and Charlie not knowing they were in the snow globe previously and somehow not realizing they're covered in snow, they had no idea about what happened with the Other World or the Beldam. So for them in the real world who were directly affected, as well as everyone else that wasn't related to the situation in the slightest to suddenly change their ways without character growth? There's nothing to change them as they weren't affected, so they wouldn't SUDDENLY start calling her Coraline instead of Caroline, they wouldn't suddenly all be happy. It's just not logical, even for a fictional story.

[@maximoesco]

THATS WHAT IM SAYING!! Love that way u explained that! It doesn’t make sense how as soon as she beats other mother everything just becomes so perfect? and yes the way they all say her name perfectly is so suspicious. And whats crazy about that too is that her other button eyed neighbors called her coraline as well which kinda adds up to the fact her “real neighbors” now say coraline. It doesn’t seem like a big deal but knowing everything done in this movie was on purpose with a intention behind it i feel like them now saying coraline right after she “escapes” is so suspicious.

[@mathieuleader8601]

this showcases the strength of the Beldam as a reality warper