Great Spooky Flick for the Fall Season!

Rating: 8/10 (11 March 2014)

Although I respect Tim Burton as a great filmmaker, I'm generally not a fan of his films; they usually strike me as eminent examples of style over substance (which, in a sense, isn't his fault since he's not usually the writer). Plus the films he usually picks to direct simply aren't my cup of java (for instance, I have no plans to catch "Edward Scissorhands" anytime soon). But who can deny his talent for visuals and overall production? This guy knows how to make a film LOOK good, that's for sure.
As for "Sleepy Hollow," this is Burton's stylish 1999 take on Washington Irving's classic tale about Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman starring Johnny Depp as Crane and Christopher Walken as the Hessian horseman. The story is set in 1799 and involves Crane, a constable from New York City, sent to the Dutch hamlet of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of gruesome murders where the victims are decapitated. As usual, Depp is outstanding. He portrays sleuth Ichabod in a very human manner, e.g. he's afraid of spiders and amusingly passes out on occasion.
Other than Depp, four things really impress me about this picture: (1.) I love the spooky Fall atmosphere; it obviously takes place sometime in gloomy November. (2.) I always thought the concept of the headless horseman was insipid, but "Sleepy Hollow" depicts him (it?) in such a horrific/supernatural fashion that he's actually scary, not to mention skilled with weaponry and virtually unstoppable. I wouldn't want to run into him in a dark alley, or anywhere else for that matter! (3.) Miranda Richardson was almost 41 at the time of filming, but -- man -- is she gorgeous! Nuff said. Christina Ricci also looks great and so does Claire Skinner in a small role. (4.) "Sleepy Hollow" lacks the goofy vibe that some of Burton's films possess; the material is presented in a respectable, generally serious manner, albeit not as ultra-serious as, say, Hammer horror. Speaking of which, "Sleepy Hollow" strikes me as a modern Hammer film more than anything else. Maybe that's why Burton gave Christopher Lee a cameo. Needless to say, if you love Hammer -- and who doesn't? -- you'll appreciate "Sleepy Hollow."
The last half hour or so is packed with action so if your attention starts wandering, don't worry, it picks up big time. The plot's a whodunit and it gets kinda convoluted so you'll need to pay attention. Not that you HAVE to because "Sleepy Hollow" is such a cinematic feast you can enjoy it even if the complications of the plot lose you.
There's nothing else to say except to re-emphasize that "Sleepy Hollow" is definitely the ideal creep flick for the autumn, or any time really.
The film runs 105 minutes and was shot in England and New York.
GRADE: A-