The deeper, Christian meaning of Home Alone
ON the surface, Home Alone is a beloved Christmas slapstick comedy. But perhaps it's more than that.
There’s something special about this film that’s made it resonate for millions of people since it was released in 1990. And that something special is that, beneath the surface, Home Alone is actually a Christian film about Kevin McCallister finding faith.
The film starts off with Kevin mad at his family because he didn’t get his fair share of the (pizza) pie. When he complains to his mother about how unfair his family is, Kate McCallister sarcastically says: “Then maybe you should ask Santa Clause for a new family.” Kevin goes upstairs and makes an evil wish for his family to disappear. The camera then cuts to a storm outside and to the family’s Christmas wreath, featuring a sinister looking Father Christmas idol.
Kevin wakes up home alone and overjoyed to see that he made his family disappear. At first, he enjoys his time without his family. With no one above him in the dominance hierarchy, Kevin rises to the challenge and discovers that he is far more competent than others gave him credit for. He is able to shop, prepare the house for Christmas and scare off robbers impeding on his territory. He has access to all the junk food, cheese pizzas and violent movies he wants, and yet his heart desires something more than the material. He realises that he misses his family’s love and yearns to be reunited with them.
He goes to meet with Santa to ask for his family back, but upon meeting the local Mr Clause impersonator, he realises that Santa is a false god who cannot help him.
Walking away, disillusioned by Santa and disheartened by the sight of other families gathering on Christmas Eve while he is alone, Kevin walks by a beautiful church and hears a heavenly choir singing O Holy Night. Upon entering this candle-lit sanctuary, he is approached by his frightening neighbour, ‘Old Man Marley’. Kevin’s brothers have told him that Marley is dangerous, and Kevin has fled whenever he has encountered Marley in public.
Marley is the representation of God.
The camera makes it very clear on two occasions that Marley has a piercing stigmata wound on his hand. With his injured hand, he greets Kevin and asks if he has been good, telling him a version of the prodigal son story.
Kevin returns home from the church changed.
He makes dinner and prays to God at home before his final confrontation between good and evil. He is flanked by two golden angel ornaments, positioned like the two angels on the ark of the covenant. The home he is defending is now a Christian household.
The climactic battle against the wet bandits ensues, and while Kevin is almost victorious, the robbers catch him and are about to kill him. Before they can, Marley emerges, knocks out the bandits and saves the boy.
Kevin’s family returns home the next day to see a new, mature Kevin.
The final shot of the film shows Kevin looking out of a window, a common motif used to show the spiritual condition of a character. Standing there, he sees Old Man Marley reuniting with his family. Marley waves at Kevin with a hand that has now been healed. Where there was disunity, communion now exists.
Kevin’s victory is not just over the robbers but his sinful nature, and by conquering that and turning to God, he is reunited with his family and gets to experience the true meaning of Christmas.
This isn’t a wilful interpretation of the film; it’s the author’s intention.
Writer and director Chris Colombus is a devout Catholic and earlier versions of the script had Marley talking to Kevin about the importance of church, how he looks forward to reuniting with his wife in heaven, and teaching Kevin how to pray.
Watching the film, you will see other references scattered throughout. Kevin’s mother going on a Marian journey where there is no room in the inn/flights; the Kings of Polka, traveling westward; Kevin hiding from the robbers in a manager disguised as a shepherd…
In Paradise Lost , Satan declares that it is “better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven”. Home Alone playfully reveals the truth about the world, that all the material possessions, power and junk food one can obtain are meaningless without love and reverence to God. Kevin is the prodigal son who has a change of heart, reunites with his family and, more importantly, unites with his true Father.
Merry Christmas!
This article was first published in Bournbrook’s December 2023 print issue (XLIX).
