Why Some People Find The Polar Express Creepy or Weird

By: Gabrielle Sewade

Since its release in 2004, The Polar Express has become a holiday classic, exciting audiences with its exciting plot and classic animation. Based on Chris Van Allsburg's 1985 children's book, the film follows a young boy's trip to the North Pole on a strange train that appears in front of his home. The train takes him to meet Santa Claus and through this finds the true magic and meaning of Christmas. For many, it's a touching story about faith, adventure, and the magic of the holidays.

However, some people find that The Polar Express comes across as unsettling or disturbing. They are more interested in the film's animation, including its use of motion tracking technology, than the actual story itself. While the film's visual creativity was revolutionary at the time, it also created an uncanny valley effect that some viewers find difficult to understand.

1. The Uncanny Valley

The uncanny valley phenomenon is a major part of The Polar Express' creepy feel. This idea applies to the unease or disquiet that people experience when they watch something that looks and moves almost but not quite like an actual person would. The characters in The Polar Express, particularly the human ones, have almost realistic facial expressions and body motions, but there's something off about them. They have a smooth, lifeless appearance that comes across as creepy and is giving them a weird, almost doll-like look.

The film animates the figures using motion capture technology, which, while groundbreaking at the time, produced some strange results. The figures' eyes lack the warmth and expressiveness of real human eyes, giving them an empty, lifeless appearance that disturbs many viewers. This gap between look and behavior triggers our deep-seated instincts to identify when something is "almost human" but not quite, causing discomfort.

2. Unsettling Human-Like Movements

While the animation technology was great, it had some limits, particularly in reproducing the specifics of human expression and movement. The characters' facial expressions and body language can appear stiff, almost like a puppet or mannequin. The lack of natural smoothness in their movements generates a strange appearance, which some viewers regard as unsettling rather than wonderful.

Even everyday behaviors, such as walking or talking, can appear stiff or mechanical. When characters look directly at the camera or talk in lifeless, too smooth gestures, the impression that something is wrong grows stronger, making it harder to totally suspend disbelief.

3. The Children’s Faces: Too Perfect, Too Blank

The kids in The Polar Express, particularly the main character and the other passengers, look nearly faultless but are emotionally vacant. Their faces are flawless, with no flaws, blemishes, or obvious signs of age. While this may appear to be a creative choice, the over-polished faces add to the film's unsettling mood, making the characters appear more like dolls or mannequins than genuine children.

Also, the children's blank expressions, particularly during moments that should elicit powerful feelings (such as when the kid is experiencing amazement or fear), can appear emotionally hollow. This emotional gap between the pictures and the actors' actions causes some viewers to feel alienated or uneasy.

4. The Santa Claus Dilemma

For many, Santa Claus is the heart of The Polar Express. His warmth, jolliness, and sparkly eyes make him a beloved holiday icon. However, while Santa's appearance in the film is mainly accurate to traditional images, it also has an artificial quality. Like the other characters, his features are absolutely smooth and polished, and his movements lack the emotional depth that one would expect from a real human performer.

This has made some viewers uncomfortable with the film's Santa. He lacks the "realness" that other images of Santa frequently communicate, and his exaggerated features—such as an almost impossibly flawless beard and an immovable, inflexible posture—make him appear more like a mannequin than a live, breathing person.

5. The Ghostly Train Ride

The Polar Express's premise is based on fantasy, but the train ride itself has a ghostly quality, especially when the passengers, who are largely youngsters, mysteriously disappear when the train is not moving. The idea of a mystical, ethereal voyage that appears to blur the lines between reality and fantasy is beautiful, but it's also extremely disturbing. The train's unexpected stops, along with the eerie silence and the flickering of weird, ghostly lights, create an almost eerie atmosphere.

For many spectators, the combination of the train's secluded, otherworldly atmosphere, the faceless people, and the film's surreal quality creates a sensation of unease that persists long after the film concludes.

6. Conclusion: A Matter of Perspective

Ultimately, whether The Polar Express is disturbing or magical comes down to personal preference. For some, the film's unsettling visual design detracts from the Christmas spirit, instilling a sense of dread that cannot be overcome. Others view the film as a great and engrossing examination of belief, wonder, and the spirit of Christmas.

What is obvious is that The Polar Express has ignited an ongoing debate about the limits of technology and emotion in storytelling. Its combination of breathtaking sights and subtle discomfort ensures that it will continue to attract and unsettle audiences for years to come. Whether you find it disturbing or joyful, the film has clearly struck a nerve, demonstrating that not all Christmas movies are the same.

If you watched The Polar Express and found it unpleasant, you are not alone. But for those who enjoy it, the eeriness adds to its allure—like a dream that is both magical and odd. And perhaps that is the best way to characterize this modern holiday classic: a dream that is both lovely and strange.