Movie Review: Labyrinth (1986)

★★★★★

Labyrinth is weird, magical, and totally unforgettable. Bowie in that hair alone is worth the watch.

Kara L.

West Virginia

Some movies don’t just tell a story, they create a world you want to wander around in long after the credits roll. Labyrinth is one of those rare films. It’s whimsical, a little strange, and endlessly rewatchable, with layers of creativity that you only start to notice after multiple viewings.

As a reviewer for BoxReview.com, I’ve always loved that Labyrinth doesn’t try to sand down its odd edges to fit a typical fantasy mold. It leans into its weirdness, and that’s exactly what makes it timeless.

The Premise: A Race Against Time in a Magical Maze

The story follows Sarah Williams (Jennifer Connelly), a teenager frustrated with her responsibilities, who wishes her baby brother Toby away, only to have the wish granted by Jareth, the Goblin King (David Bowie).

To get Toby back, Sarah has 13 hours to navigate a vast labyrinth filled with shifting walls, strange creatures, and deceptive puzzles. Along the way, she’s joined by a ragtag group of allies, including Hoggle the grumpy dwarf, Ludo the gentle giant, and Sir Didymus, the fox-like knight with more bravery than sense.

Jennifer Connelly as Sarah: A True Coming-of-Age Heroine

Sarah’s journey isn’t just physical; it’s emotional. She starts as self-absorbed and resistant to responsibility, but as she moves through the labyrinth, she learns resilience, empathy, and self-reliance.

What’s often overlooked is how grounded Connelly’s performance is in the middle of all the puppetry and fantasy spectacle. She keeps Sarah relatable, which makes the fantastical world around her feel even more immersive.

David Bowie’s Jareth: Charisma, Menace, and Mystery

Bowie’s Jareth is one of the most compelling fantasy antagonists of the 80s, and not just because of the elaborate costumes or his commanding presence. He’s equal parts charming and threatening, offering Sarah temptation as often as he offers obstacles.

Under-discussed is how Jareth operates less like a typical villain and more like a trickster god, sometimes helping Sarah, sometimes hindering her, always pushing her toward self-discovery. Bowie’s musical numbers, especially “Magic Dance” and “As the World Falls Down,” weave his persona directly into the story rather than feeling like interruptions.

Jim Henson’s Puppetry: A World Built by Hand

One of Labyrinth’s biggest triumphs is its commitment to practical effects. Every creature from the Fireys to the Worm is a physical creation, performed and voiced by Henson’s team of master puppeteers.

What doesn’t get enough credit is how seamlessly these characters interact with Sarah. There’s a tactile quality to the labyrinth’s world that CGI can’t replicate. You feel like you could step into those rooms, touch those walls, and meet those creatures yourself.

The Labyrinth Itself: A Character in Disguise

The maze isn’t just a backdrop; it’s an active participant in the story. Walls shift, staircases defy gravity, riddles turn into roadblocks, and doors talk back.

One of the most clever sequences is the Escher-inspired staircase scene, where Sarah and Jareth’s chase feels like it’s happening in impossible dimensions. It’s a visual metaphor for Sarah’s journey: nothing is as it first appears, and the way forward often requires seeing things from a new angle.

The Tone: A Perfect Balance of Light and Dark

Labyrinth walks a tricky tonal line. It’s playful enough for kids but carries enough menace and mystery to keep adults engaged. Some creatures are adorable, others unsettling, but all feel part of the same cohesive world.

Jim Henson wasn’t afraid to give younger audiences moments of genuine tension, a respect for the viewer’s intelligence that helps the movie age so well.

Trevor Jones’ Score and Bowie’s Songs

Trevor Jones’ orchestral score gives the film a lush, otherworldly atmosphere, while Bowie’s songs bring personality and rhythm to the journey.

“Magic Dance” remains a joyful burst of energy, while “As the World Falls Down” is haunting and dreamlike, a bittersweet reminder that Jareth’s world has an allure Sarah must resist.

Underappreciated Element: The Theme of Growing Up

While the movie is packed with memorable set pieces, its emotional core is about Sarah letting go of childhood illusions while still holding onto the parts of her imagination that make her unique.

The ending, where she tells her fantasy friends she’ll still need them “every now and again,” is a beautiful acknowledgment that maturity doesn’t mean abandoning the magic in your life.

Why Labyrinth Still Works Today

Almost 40 years later, Labyrinth still resonates because it’s more than just a fantasy adventure; it’s a personal journey told through endlessly inventive visuals. The puppetry hasn’t aged a bit, the music remains iconic, and the themes of responsibility, temptation, and self-belief are universal.

It’s also one of those rare films that rewards repeat viewings. The first time, you’re swept up in the quest. The second (or tenth), you start noticing the details, the way Hoggle hesitates before betraying Sarah, the subtle changes in the labyrinth as she grows, the way Jareth’s power seems to shrink as hers grows.

Final Thoughts

Labyrinth is a testament to the creativity of Jim Henson and the magic of practical filmmaking. It’s strange, it’s beautiful, it’s funny, and it’s a little scary, exactly what a great fantasy should be.

If you’ve never seen it, prepare for a world where nothing is what it seems. And if you have, it’s always worth one more trip through the labyrinth.