On Monday, January 12th and Tuesday, January 13th, Light House Cinema was alive with 1980s glam rock music and insane feats of puppetry that is Labyrinth (Jim Henson, 1986). It has been 40 years since the film was first released, but it was clear from the crowds of parents with children in the theatre that its magic will be dutifully passed on to generations to come. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the cult classic today, the film was initially Jim Henson’s biggest box office failure, spending $25 million and earning only $12. However, when the sheer scale of imagination through set, puppetry, and CGI is looked at, particularly in the context of 1980s films, this loss makes more sense. Today, Labyrinth is a cult classic. Even if you haven’t seen the film, you know of it, whether that is through Bowie’s song, Magic Dance, which did its rounds on TikTok, or Sarah’s unbelievably gorgeous ballgown, which can be found on many Pinterest boards.
Hand in hand, Jim Henson and David Bowie created a masterpiece. The magic of the film comes from both Henson’s infamous puppetry and wacky characters, and Bowie’s music and portrayal of Jareth, the goblin king. Henson is known for being an out-of-the box director, particularly when it comes to his use of special effects. He has created some of the most iconic puppets of all time, including those on The Muppet Show (1974 – 1981) and The Dark Crystal (1982). His ability to bring to life unique and uncannily real-looking characters never fails to astound. Labyrinth features a large cast of puppet characters, from Hoggle to Ludo to the Fireys, all of whom appear and move entirely differently. Hoggle has a limp that is so real it makes it incredibly difficult to understand how he could possibly be a puppet. His animatronic motion took a team of five puppeteers to make possible, with one inside the suit and four controlling the head and face. Ludo’s hulking form also does not seem very puppet-like; his movements were operated from inside by one person while three or four others remotely controlled his facial expressions and mouth movements.
Of course, this film would not be the cultural cornerstone it is today without Bowie. His music and unique aesthetic dates the film, but also makes it exactly what it is. The film is filled with iconic songs like Underground and As The World Falls Down. Bowie is also perfect as Jareth. His character is an amalgamation of all of teenager Sarah’s crushes, wearing leather to represent the rock star, but also a flowy white shirt to represent the love interests of romance novels like Wuthering Heights. His big hair, allure, and all together surreal nature aid in making him the perfect antagonist, but also someone who Sarah is understandably drawn to.
Labyrinth would be impossible to replicate or remake without Bowie and Henson. However, Robert Eggers, director of Nosferatu (2024) and The Lighthouse (2019), is attempting to do just that, as he has announced a continuation of the Labyrinth franchise is in the works. I believe that without the pivotal presence and magic of Bowie and Henson, even if it follows the same plot, it might as well be a different movie altogether.
