On January 10th, 2016, fans all around the world mourned the death of musical icon David Bowie. An innovative, creative, and unique individual, Bowie constituted a voice for the voiceless and a hero for the misfits. While his originality can certainly be found among his many musical hits, it can also be found in the most unlikely of places: Jim Hensen’s Labyrinth (1986).
Labyrinth is a dazzling collaboration of three great forces in the film industry: Jim Hensen, master puppeteer and creator of “The Muppets”; George Lucas, creator of Star Wars; and, of course, David Bowie. It tells the story of teenage Sarah, played by young Jennifer Connelly, who wishes that her baby brother, Toby, would disappear, so she would not have to babysit him anymore. Much to her dismay, Jareth the Goblin King, played by David Bowie, whisks Toby away, giving Sarah 13 hours to navigate the infamous labyrinth and save him.
Although it is technically a children’s movie, Labyrinth still spooks me as much as it did when I was 10 years old. The characters are some of the eeriest looking puppets to ever come out of Jim Hensen’s Creature Shop, from the gnarly goblins to the nightmarish junk people. The music is generally ominous, foreshadowing danger with its ghoulish synthesizers, keeping the audience on edge. Finally, the labyrinth itself is a series of optical illusions. There are trap doors, hidden entrances, and riddles all along the journey. The combination of graphics and music incites both fright and suspense for the viewer who cannot help but wonder how Sarah will ever reach the end of the sinister labyrinth.
Perhaps one of the creepiest elements of this film is the odd romance between the almost 40-year old David Bowie as the Goblin King and the adolescent Jennifer Connelly as Sarah. In fact, it is nearly impossible not to sense the awkward sexual tension when Bowie spends most of the movie confidently strutting around in almost-glowing tights with perfectly wind-blown hair and sparkling makeup. The Goblin King is intelligent and powerful while Sarah is just a confused teenager playing mind games with an older man. This is most obvious when the Goblin King takes Sarah to a masked ball. They dance the night away in each others’ arms while Bowie sings to her “As the world falls down / I’ll be there for you,” hypnotizing Sarah even though knows she is running out of time to save her brother.
This hair-raising tale of adventure is a must-see for all David Bowie fans. Bowie himself is enigmatic, much like the labyrinth his character rules over. It is impossible not to feel spellbound by the Goblin King’s devilish grin and mysterious air of confidence. I guarantee you will find yourself at least tapping your foot along to David Bowie singing “Magic Dance” while his faithful goblins dance along with him. Bowie is an essential part of the success of Labyrinth whether he is singing, acting, or simply staring beyond the camera and off into the distance at his labyrinth. Even though he has passed, Bowie’s legacy will continue to survive throughout his films and almost-addicting music.
