The Other Mother and the Monster's Shadow: Coraline Through Cohen's Lens - Monster Blog BCM312

In the 2009 film Coraline, the main character, Coraline Jones, is an adventurous and curious girl who moves into a new home with her busy and inattentive parents. While exploring, she discovers a secret door leading to an idealised world that mirrors her own but features caring parents and where her dreams come true. In this "Other World," she is welcomed by the charming yet eerie Other Mother and Other Father, who seem to offer her the love and attention she craves.

However, Coraline realises this world is a trap when the Other Mother demands she sew buttons over her eyes to stay forever. She uncovers the truth that the Other Mother is a sinister being who lures children into her realm to control and consume them. The Other Mother is the 'monster' in this story, preying on the vulnerabilities and desires of the children she entraps. For Coraline, she does this by offering everything that her parents don't—attention, affection—and by creating a new reality with the comforts and fun she feels she lacks.​

This Other Mother character demonstrates many of the traits set out in Jeffrey Jerome Cohen's Monster Culture (Seven Theses). The Other Mother is more than just a supernatural villain—she represents fears about control, identity, and societal pressures. In Cohen's first thesis, "The Monster's Body Is a Cultural Body," he explains that monsters reflect the fears and values of the society that creates them. The Other Mother embodies the fear of parental neglect and emotional manipulation. At the start of the film, Coraline feels ignored by her real parents, who are too busy working to spend time with her. The Other Mother exploits this by acting loving and attentive, similar to how real-life emotional abusers often lure their victims with kindness before revealing their true nature.​

The film also illustrates another of Cohen's theses: that people are drawn to monsters even though they fear them. Coraline is initially fascinated by the Other World because it offers her things she’s missing in real life. Her desire for excitement and attention blinds her to the warning signs. This reflects real-world escapism, where people seek comfort in idealised versions of reality, such as social media or relationships that appear perfect but can actually be harmful. However, as Cohen also suggests, monsters often push people toward personal growth. Coraline's experience with the Other Mother forces her to face reality and appreciate what she already has, reinforcing the idea that overcoming challenges leads to real strength.​

Another of Cohen's ideas, "The Monster Dwells at the Gates of Difference," is reflected in the Other World, which allures Coraline by offering an escape from her mundane and uninteresting life. Her feelings of loneliness and unimportance make the Other World appealing, much like how people in the real world turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms like fantasy or idealised relationships to escape their problems. Fred Botting's Limits of Horror: Technology, Bodies, Gothic explores similar ideas, suggesting that Gothic horror exposes the dangers of consumer culture by showing how seemingly perfect things often hide something sinister beneath the surface.​

Lastly, the presence of children who were previous victims of the Other Mother, tricked into believing she would care for them before she took their souls, reflects another of Cohen's theses: that monsters are never fully defeated and instead reappear in different forms. This thesis, "The Monster Always Escapes," reflects a cycle of abuse and manipulation that continues when people fail to acknowledge or stop it. Just like historical traumas that are ignored until they resurface, the Other Mother's pattern of trapping children continues because adults, like Coraline's real parents and neighbours, overlook the signs. This demonstrates how fear and danger persist when left unchecked.​

In the end, Coraline shows that monsters are more than just scary creatures—they represent real fears about control, identity, and the danger of chasing perfection. The Other Mother tricks Coraline by offering love and excitement, just like how people in real life can be misled by things that seem perfect, such as social media, unhealthy relationships, or unrealistic expectations. She represents how some people use kindness to manipulate others and how chasing an illusion can lead to harm.​

By defeating the Other Mother, Coraline learns to appreciate her real life, even with its flaws. This shows that facing challenges helps people grow and become stronger. The Other Mother's cycle of trapping children is akin to real-world problems that persist when they are ignored, such as neglect or emotional abuse. Coraline reminds us that instead of running away from problems, we should face them, because real happiness comes from accepting life as it is, not from chasing something that isn't real.

References

Botting, F. (2008). Limits of Horror: Technology, Bodies, Gothic. Manchester University Press.

Cohen, J. J. (2018). Monster culture (seven theses). In A. S. Mittman & M. Hensel (Eds.), Classic readings on monster theory: Demonstrare Vol. 1. ARC Humanities Press.