BURTON'S BEST IN AGES

Rating: Null/10 (22 February 2000)

This is an engagingly florid adaptation of the classic ghost story.
Know that phrase about trying to keep your head while all round you is losing theirs? That pretty much sums up the action here, as the decapitations come thick and fast.
Rather interestingly, Burton has chosen to film an American horror classic as a Hammer horror, complete with many of the stalwart British actors you'd expect to see in such a movie.
And it's enormous fun, with Depp investing a good deal of beguiling naivete and charm to his portrayal of Ichabod Crane. Good to see him looking relaxed for a change and almost enjoying himself.
His is the only developed character here though, the rest are all mere caricatures.
And here's a first - a pallid and very weak performance from Ricci.
Lubezski's lensing though is quite the best thing with its swirling mists, and Elfman gives full throttle to a full-blooded score.