Sumptuous horror classic

Rating: 10/10 (7 October 2015)

-31 Days Of Horror: Day 2
Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow is an unapologetically gory spook fest that although has genuinely scary moments, is mostly energized by a vibe of pure rollicking fun. Even the violence is a joy to behold, as countless heads are severed and fly about the landscape all throughout the film. Burton takes a rare dip into R rated waters here, and really goes for it. It's almost a throwback to the Hammer horror films of the past (Christopher Lee even makes a nice little cameo), wearing it's influences proudly on its sleeve and thrumming with a baroque, grand old atmosphere of misty grey and earthy brown, punctuated by frequent and ample gallons of crimson blood. Johnny Depp nervously plays Inspector Ichabod Crane, a twitchy detective sent from New York to rural upstate town of Sleepy Hollow, where someone is murdering people in the night, and taking their heads. There he finds intrigue, romance, unimaginable horror, and a bunch of townspeople who are less than exactly helpful, and have secrets of their own. Legend has it that the killer is a Headless Horseman, which Crane finds to be all too true when he digs deeper. The Horseman is played by, you guessed it, a demonic Christopher Walken (there's really no other choice when you think about it) looking like something that walked out of Where The Wild Things Are. Dumbledo- I mean Michael Gambon plays the mayor, Miranda Richardson is a standout as his conniving wife. There's also fine work from Jeffrey Jones, a ghostly Michael Gough looking like he's got one foot in the grave, Martin Landau, Vernon Dursle- I mean Richard Griffiths, Caspar Van Dien, Lisa Marie and Darth Sideo- I mean Ian Mcdiarmid. Christina Ricci is a vision as Katrina Von Tassel, the mysterious mayors daughter who Crane falls for. The film is one of the most absolutely gorgeous looking pieces of work I've ever seen, every frame a breathtaking storybook frame of wonder, menace and atmospheric Gothic horror. The plot becomes more complicated than initially implied, spinning a wheel of intrigue that gives each character something fun to do. And indeed, amid the bloody chaos and suffering, the film never loses its sense of fun, allowing moments of comedy and ironic edges to the violence. Burton beckons us into the haunted house he's so painstakingly created, and he doesn't let us down. It's my favourite of his films, and one hell of a ride.