Visually stunning, one of Tim Burton's best

Rating: 9/10 (6 January 2008)

Sleepy Hollow is a fantasy/horror rich on visuals and plot and featuring outstanding performances from all actors involved. Sleepy Hollow is Tim Burton's adaptation of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This movie is a feast for the eyes from the spooky, Gothic-like town of Sleepy Hollow, the fog that is everywhere and the dark, foreboding woods where the Headless Horseman emerges from to claim his victims (and their head).
Which brings me to the story, which is rich and packed full of twists. Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is New York Police Constable sent to the farming village Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of bizarre and gruesome murders. The victims are decapitated and their heads taken. Here he meets and falls in love with Katrina van Tassel (Christina Ricci), the daughter of Baltus van Tassel (Michael Gambon), the head of the village. He also meets Reverand Steenwyck (Jeffrey Jones), Magistrate Philipse (Richard Griffiths), Doctor Lancaster (Ian McDiarmid) and Notary Hardenbrook (Michael Gough) who all tell him the story of the Headless Horseman, the villain who is responsible for our headless people.
All of these actors, especially a troubled Johnny Depp and Christian Ricci, are excellent in their roles. The costumes the actors wore also need to complimented, they were excellent and they definitely deserved the Oscar nod they got. The special effects were excellent, with plenty of bloody decapitations and sword fights. Also on that note, the Headless Horseman was a very creepy, brutal character and portrayed very sinisterly by Christopher Walken when he had a head.
Kudos must go to Burton for his direction, though. Without his style this movie would not have been half as good as it is. The dark, Gothic style really suited the story and the mood he created. Sleepy Hollow is highly recommended to anyone that loved Tim Burton, Johnny Depp or excellent fantasy/horror.
4½/5