Burton could employ the "less is more"-approach

Rating: Null/10 (25 July 2001)

This is a very fine film with wonderful visuals and acting. It´s nice to see a period horror film with this level of budget and attention to detail. But since viewing it for the second time on DVD, I´m a little less impressed. Though it is a homage to Hammer-style movies, Burton doesn´t quite manage to convey the suspense and true dread of many of those movies. He is very close but I sense something missing. Perhaps it is a bit too calculated. Elfmans score is generally fine, but used in too many scenes. I find it to be a bit monotonously orchestrated, the sound is always big, lacking contrast. It´s as if both Elfman and Burton could employ the "less is more"-approach. The first scene with the headless horseman could for instance have been dropped, saving his appearance for later. But these quibbles aside, it is a entertaining movie with top actors in fine form.