Striking film by a creative director

Rating: Null/10 (24 June 2000)

Tim Burton has quite the reputation for being one of the quirkiest directors in Hollywood. His previous efforts include the bizarre "Beetlejuice", the melancholic drama "Edward Scissorhands", and the visually striking animation of "The Nightmare Before Christmas". One thing that every one of his films has in common is their sense of originality in one way or another, whether it be the storyline, the performances, or the visual aspect of the film. While most of it may not be very original, "Sleepy Hollow" still manages to execute a striking picture, yet still containing Tim Burton's quirky pace and direction.

It is 1799 and, and as the film states, the world is at the dawn of a new millennium (apparently the screenwriters got themselves confused with the mass hysteria of reality at the time of the film's release and incorporated it into the film). A hamlet in upstate New York known as Sleepy Hollow has become notorious and controversial for some bizarre goings-on about town. According to recent reports, there have been several bloody murders attributed to a serial killer known as the "Headless Horseman". This killer has become infamous for his method of beheading his victims to kill them.

Constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is a police officer in New York who does not believe in the big city's method of solving crimes: if a man is found in the water, he drowned. If he has a hole in his body, he was shot. Crane believes in sense and reason, and that there is a logical explanation for everything that occurs in society. He wishes that the New York City police department would allow him to do autopsies upon victims of crimes in the city. He appeals his ideals to a judge, who reassigns Constable Crane to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the murders occurring there.

Once in Sleepy Hollow, Crane is asked to stay at the house of Baltus van Tassel (Michael Gambon), the patriarch of the van Tassel family and highest member of society in Sleepy Hollow. Crane makes eyes at his beautiful daughter Katrina (Christina Ricci) as soon as he enters the house, Katrina returning the favor. Crane recollects what his superiors have told him about the crimes in the sordid little hamlet and then finds out that he had not been told the whole story. van Tassel informs him of the murders and the true story of them, the fact that they are attributed to the Headless Horseman, and Crane remains in reality, refusing to believe that a supernatural force could commit such crimes.

Crane, now having been in Sleepy Hollow a while longer, is called into question about his beliefs in sense and reason when he sees a beheading with his own eyes. While talking to the town's local magistrate, the horseman rides into Sleepy Hollow, sword in hand, and lobs off the man's head. Crane now doubts any belief in reality and starts to further examine these crimes. A large factor in his investigation is the fact that the horseman did not go after him when he beheaded the magistrate. He notices that the horseman is not exactly a random killer who beheads every person he sees, but that there is more to him, and that he may be motivated in some way or another.
As Crane continues his investigation of the beheadings, he finds himself more unwelcome in the town and sees that the citizens think he has uncovered too much. van Tassel and other high members of society in the town don't want him there much longer and plot to have him run out of the town, never having solved the mystery. Crane refuses these attempts to be rid of the town and thrown off the case and continues his investigation as fast as he can before the horseman rides into town and beheads another victim. Through Crane's investigation of this strange town, sparks will fly, fires will rage and heads will roll.

"Sleepy Hollow" was a throughly enjoyable film. While not for the weak at heart (or the weak-stomach for that matter), the film is an extremely well-plotted, performed, and spectacularly-visual film. Tim Burton's passion for the supernatural is ever-present in this film as he explores the other side of reality and the supernatural for that matter. The film is brilliantly designed and photographed, and seems to have an old-fashioned black-and-white feel about it, only a few colors emerging out of the film's dark theme and atmosphere. Johnny Depp is entertaining to watch in the lead role as a weak-hearted police officer who questions his own beliefs as he is drawn into a place that is both mentally and emotionally challenging. All in all, this film was spectacular and refuses to let its audience down when it comes to entertaining it. I give this film 3 1/2 stars on a five star scale.